Wolseley 1500

[StaffsMoggie]

Anyone else got one? (Or a Riley 1.5.) These are a part of the Minor story and a lovely car to drive with that high gearing. They still show their Moggie roots but are great on a long fast run, mine is quite happy at 80 odd mph on a decent motorway. I have seen over 90 on many on occasion.

It is such a shame that there are so few Wolseleys still about in regular use, mine enjoys keeping my Moggies company and exchanging stories of motoring past with them.

[alex_holden]

I think Chris Barrie drives one.

[StaffsMoggie]

Yes I think he does, he has mentioned it in Practical Classics a few times.

Great little cars.

[DaveC]

I know someone in Suffolk who has one in bits and wants to get rid of it. All parts are under cover, I think it would be very cheap as well..walnut dash, chrome...

[dunketh]

I've always fancied one.
Looking at pics it appears that the sills are a more conventional sealed box structure as opposed to the engineering nightmare that the minor has.

Is this true?

How do they differ from the mog? I know they're supposedly the same floor pan but I'm guessing a lot has been changed to include better suspension, 1500 engine and all the extras found in a more 'upmarket' car.

I especially like the bonnet badges.

[StaffsMoggie]

The Wolseley sills are indeed simpler than the Moggie, although the floorpans are similar. The front suspension looks the same, but the vertical links are different as the steering arm is in a different position. The bottom trunnions are the same as a Minor.

The rear suspension is the same as the Mog, the axle is the same but has the Wolseley's nicest feature, the high ratio differential which makes cruising much more relaxed, many a Wolseley diff has been fitted to a Minor.

These Wolseleys and Rileys are very pleasant to drive, the handling feels very much like a Minor but the ride is smoother, presumably because of the greater weight. Fast runs are very much quieter than in a Moggie, due to the bigger engine and high gearing, although a Wolseley with second gear syncro intact is rare!

The 1500s really have nice performance, especially the Riley with it's twin carbs, but both models are great fun, they surprise drivers of modern cars with their acceleration!

Every Minor fan should try one, they would feel at home with the driving experience and enjoy the quieter more luxurious interior.

The parts situation is not as good as the Moggie, but mechanical spares are no problem and there are a couple of very good suppliers.

As well as Minors, I have been a great enthusiast of these little Wolseleys for years, they look lovely and compliment the Moggie very well.

[MGFmad]

I remember my mother having one back in the early 70's it was immaculate in a dark blue with one previous owner who always started it with the starting handle - he did not approve of those new fangled starter motors, my mother did not continue that trend though!

[StaffsMoggie]

Well, little Wolseley just did a 150 mile round trip, a delightful way to travel.

Every Minor owner should have one!

[youngun]

Im looking to replace my day to day runabout with a decent classic, it seems like a much better investment than buying a modern car and will also get me in the right frame of mind for driving the mog once its done!
A 1500 is on my list of possibles, but they seem to command a fairly high price even for tatty but MOT'd ones??

[StaffsMoggie]

While it is true that prices have been rising for the very best ones, there are still some decent 1500s about for sensible money. For years they were always cheaper than Moggies. It is well worth joining the Wolseley Register as there are always a few for sale in the club mag.

I have been using mine daily for the past few weeks, they are just as usable as many modern cars - a Minor with a nicer interior and more power sums them up.

If only the parts situation was as good as the Minors! Mechanicals are no problem but panels can be, front wings are very hard to find and many cars have glassfibre ones, not a problem unless you are keen on originality.

Rileys are rarer, fewer were made so they do command a small price premium usually, just make sure it still has the correct engine, many have lost theirs to MGAs and the like.

[youngun]

Im ideally looking to spend about 1500 quid tops, so ive been looking at all sorts from the BMC line. Can 1500 get me a decent MOT'd 1500?!!
Ive also been looking at Mk1 and Mk2 Ford cortinas, as there is a great fan base and stock of parts for them.

[StaffsMoggie]

My 1500 was 350 quid with MOT!! The sort of budget you have got will buy a very nice one. Wolseley 1500s (and even better 15/50s) are a much better car than the farina range, those really drive rubbish and the banger racers are welcome to them. As for the Cortinas, they are ok but are getting very over rated and certainly very over priced, stick with BMC.

There are plenty of sound Wolseley 1500s about for less than 1000 quid, its a case of waiting for one to come up. That is the beauty of Wolseleys, they have never been hyped up like MGs/Jags/Ford etc so are still a bargain.

[dp]

Are these essentially the same as the Morris Oxford that became the Hindustan Ambassador?

[alex_holden]

Are these essentially the same as the Morris Oxford that became the Hindustan Ambassador?

I don't think so; it's the Riley 1.5 and the Australian Morris Major and Austin Lancer that were all closely related to the Wolseley 1500. The family was intended to replace the Morris Minor but the Minor outlasted them.

[youngun]

My 1500 was 350 quid with MOT!! The sort of budget you have got will buy a very nice one. Wolseley 1500s (and even better 15/50s) are a much better car than the farina range, those really drive rubbish and the banger racers are welcome to them. As for the Cortinas, they are ok but are getting very over rated and certainly very over priced, stick with BMC.

There are plenty of sound Wolseley 1500s about for less than 1000 quid, its a case of waiting for one to come up. That is the beauty of Wolseleys, they have never been hyped up like MGs/Jags/Ford etc so are still a bargain.

Sticking with BMC does seem the way to go. Mk1 cortina's are ridicuously overpriced and for 1500 quid i would only be able to get a 1500, which is rubbish performance wise!
Ill sit around and wait for a 1500 to come along

[onza100]

I have 2 of them one of which I paid £1500 for back in 1998 it has 16,000 genuine miles on it and doesn't go out in the rain!
The other i need to do some welding on and get mot'ed then sell as 11 cars is far to many!

[youngun]

I have 2 of them one of which I paid £1500 for back in 1998 it has 16,000 genuine miles on it and doesn't go out in the rain!
The other i need to do some welding on and get mot'ed then sell as 11 cars is far to many!

Well if you rekkon you'll have the welding done by the end of the summer Id be very interested in having a look at it with a look to buying. As Liskeard is'nt much of a drive for me

[onza100]

If you wanted it I could speed up the process! its a mk1 by the way 1958 in cream and black p.m me if you'd like a look

[youngun]

PM sent

[StaffsMoggie]

One little Wolseley 1500, sweet aren't they?[img]

<a href="http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... CF0272.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa14 ... CF0272.jpg" border="0" alt="Wolseley 15"></a>[/img]