Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6QN
9:30 am – 4:00 pm 22-23 June 2019
The Footman James Bristol Classic Car Show is the longest-running event of its kind in the UK. The Show is supported by numerous classic car clubs putting on different displays and many classic car owners take advantage of the reduced-price entry for arriving in a classic car. This makes the classic car park an added attraction. The weekend culminates with the Charterhouse Auction.
The halls house a wide range of independent traders including specialist suppliers of parts, tools and vintage memorabilia, along with service providers. One of the largest areas is dedicated to a huge indoor autojumble.
The Wolseley Register will be showing 3 very different exhibits from pre and post war eras, each having been well-loved and maintained by their owners/former owners. The oldest car has a long association with the South West area while the other two exhibits have been long term same-family cars.
1933 WOLSELEY 21/60 ‘COUNTY’ – YJ 502
This car has recently returned to the South West Region having been a prize-winning exhibit at the 1987 Bristol Classic Car Show when it was owned by a previous Wolseley Register Member. It was first registered in Dundee but in 1939 it transferred to the second owner who lived in South Devon. During the war years the car was licensed and used as a Hackney Cab. The car’s owner then moved to Cornwall where he used the vehicle for many years as his every day car before it went into long term storage.
By the time the car went to a new owner in Bristol in 1978 the service documentation has been lost but the car was re-commissioned and minor restoration was carried out including a repaint in the original blue over black. The next owner acquired the car in 1987 and used it regularly for weekend pleasure including attending many classic car shows. It went back into long term storage and re-emerged in 2005 having been re-commissioned again and put up for auction. The new owner rebuilt the engine following a valve breaking which damaged the piston. New pistons, valves, and valve springs were made. The ignition system was replaced with an electronic type, which made the car more reliable. The car was then used regularly by a wedding car business in Kent as well as having appeared in many films and TV productions over the years – most recently in The Darkest Hour starring Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill.
YJ 502 retains all the original period features including the scuttle mounted Wilcot direction indicators and side mounts. Over the years it has been extremely well preserved and maintained to a very high standard. In 1933, the County model had been updated, still using the six-cylinder 2677cc engine and the two chassis lengths of earlier models, but utilising a more modern body design which was offered in fewer styles, including saloon, landaulet and limousine. This model also saw the introduction of the famous illuminated Wolseley badge, previous badges being enamel.
1939 WOLSELEY SERIES III 12/48 – GAU 11
This is a family car belonging to the same family for all of its 80 years. It was bought brand new in 1939 in Nottingham by the present owner’s grandfather and when he retired to Dorset of course the car came too. The car was subsequently passed down the family and was transferred to the current owner in 1970.
Since then it has been used and enjoyed as a running restoration. In 2013 it was decided to have a respray which turned into a full body-off restoration! The 12/48 was one of the first Wolseley Series III models launched at the 1937 Motor Show.
1960 WOLSELEY 15/60 – XAA 959
Colour: Yukon Grey, Interior: Red Leather
This car was purchased in 1960 and had the same owner from new for 54 years until he had to give up driving in 2014. The car then moved from Aldershot to Westerham, where its second owner lived. The 3rd owner is a Wolseley Register Member from West Sussex who purchased the car in November 2018. Having covered only 27,000 miles, the car is still very original, having never been welded or painted.
The 15/60 model with its 1489 cc engine, was a new step in BMC production, replacing the 15/50 which had been designed by Gerald Palmer. The 15/60 was subsequently replaced after 3 years by the 16/60 with the 1622cc engine.
The Wolseley Register stand welcomes club Members and visitors to the Show where technical and membership advice will be available from friendly, experienced and enthusiastic club personnel. The full range of club merchandise will be on sale. Advance orders can be placed with the Regalia Manager for collection at the Show.
For more information visit – www.bristolclassiccarshows.com
Advance Ticket Price: £10 (Adult 1 Day)
On the Gate Price: £13 (Adult 1 Day)
CLASSIC CAR DRIVER £5 (Note. This is for drivers arriving with a Classic Car paying on the gate. Passengers can still buy advance price tickets here and save on the gate price.)
Children 15 years and under – FREE entry!
Those who do not wish to purchase an e-ticket to print off should call customer services on 01507-529529 to purchase a regular ticket. Closing date for advance e-ticket sales is 08:30 Monday 17th June 2019.
J R RYDER 16/04/19