• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Wolseley RegisterWolseley Register

The Club for Wolseley Car Owners and Enthusiasts

WOLSELEY REGISTER

The original club for Wolseley owners and enthusiasts!

Member login

MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Join Now
  • The Register
    • Introducing The Register
      • Register Committee
      • Technical Advisers
      • Committee Vacancies
      • Local organisation of the Register
      • Chairman: Colin Briggs
      • Wolseley Register’s Constitution and GDPR Policy
      • Accounts 2019
    • Membership List
    • Useful Links
    • Valuation Service
    • F Y Wolseley’s Grave
  • Wolseley Cars
    • Veteran and Edwardian Wolseley
    • Vintage
    • Post-Vintage
      • Hornet & Hornet Special
      • Other Six Cylinder Models
      • Nine & Wasp
      • Series II & III
    • Nuffield & Early BMC
      • 4/50 & 6/80
      • 6/90
      • 4/44 & 15/50
    • BMC
      • 1500 Mark I – III
      • 15/60 & 16/60
      • 6/99 & 6/110
      • Hornet & Crayford Hornet
    • Late Wolseley BMC & BLMC
      • 1100 / 1300
      • 18/85 & Six
      • 18-22 (Wedge)
    • List of Recorded Wolseley Vehicles
    • Wolseley Car Production Notes
    • History of the LoRV
  • Wolseley Spares & Repair
    • Autojumble
    • Wolseley Spares
    • Trade Discounts
    • Recommended Traders
  • Wolseley Register Classifieds
    • Submit an Ad to Wolseley Register
    • Wolseley Register Public Adverts
  • Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • My Shop Account
    • Track your order
  • Forum
  • Library
    • Wolseley Register Manuals
      • Reference Manuals List
    • Wolseley Technical Literature
      • Original Factory Literature
      • Technical Advice Articles
      • Original Wolseley Patents
    • Brochures & Catalogues
    • Miscellaneous Articles
      • Miscellaneous Images – Pre 1930
      • Miscellaneous Images – 1930-1948
      • Miscellaneous Images – 1948-1960
      • Miscellaneous Images – 1960-1975
      • Miscellaneous Articles – Pre 1936
      • Miscellaneous Wolseley Articles – 1936-1960
      • Miscellaneous Articles – Post 1960
    • Reviews, Roadtests and Price Lists
    • Wolseley World
    • Wolseley Register Archives
    • Period Adverts for Wolseley
  • Events
    • Future National Events
      • Wolseley Register Spring Tour – 16-18th April 2021
      • Wolseley Register National Rally 2021
    • Future Regional Events
      • Midlands Region Programme for 2021
    • Calendar
    • Wolseley Regional News
    • Previous National Events
      • 2020 Wolseley Register AGM
      • Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery – 8-10 November 2019
      • Footman James 19th Classic Vehicle Restoration Show
      • 2019 National Rally – 17/18 August 2019
      • Morris Register & Morris Vehicle Association Rally – 9/11 August 2019
      • The Footman James 40th Bristol Classic Car Show 2019
      • Welsh Touring Weekend – 10th to 13th May 2019
    • Other News
    • Long Service Awards
    • Wolseley Register Loan Car Project
  • My Account
    • Personal Details
    • My Cars
    • Membership Renewal
  • Contact Us

1500 Mark I – III

Wolseley 1500

By Wolseley Register member Dick Peters.

This is the big one!

In the Spring of 1957, Wolseley re-entered a sector of the market from which they had been absent since the war.  In April of that year, they introduced a ‘luxury compact’, which was to become the biggest selling model ever to bear the hallowed name.

Wolseley 1500 Mk I

Surprisingly, however, but fortuitously for BMC, the Wolseley 1500 was not originally conceived as such.  Designed around the Morris Minor chassis/floorpan and therefore benefitting from all the positive handling characteristics of that model, our subject was originally intended as a re-style of the Minor, but strong sales of the latter (the rest is history) led to a re-think, and the idea to launch what we might now term a small sports saloon, was born.

 

Wolseley 1500 Mk I

At first, the new car was to have a 1.2 litre version of the ‘B’ series engine, and, indeed 110 such cars were produced solely for the Republic of Ireland market (do any still exist?).  It was quickly realised, however, that this chassis could easily handle more power and henceforth, it was equipped with the 1500cc unit in its absolutely conventional form.  A single SU carburettor was provided, and with a low compression ratio (7.2:1), only 43bhp at 4,200 rpm was originally produced, although subsequent modifications raised this to 50 and 52 bhp by the end of the model’s run.  Contemporary adverts trumpeted ‘Twin-top’ Performance in their wording to re-create a 1930s concept which would appeal to traditional Wolseley buyers, and, indeed, the model’s ability to cruise at 60/70 mph is much appreciated by owners today.

Wolseley 1500 Mk II
Wolseley 1500 Mk II

The car had a neat and pleasing style; (leather) seating for four, attractive walnut veneer finish, good luggage space and excellent pace and performance for the era, and it sold very well. Apart, then, from an increase in tyre size, no noticeable changes were made until the introduction of the Mark II in the Spring of 1960.  These changes, however, were primarily cosmetic, with the boot and bonnet hinges being hidden and with the side chrome strip being altered.

Wolseley 1500 Mk III
Wolseley 1500 Mk III

A more noticeable change came with the advent of the Mk III in 1961 when a new front grille was introduced; the suspension was lowered; there was a new, more luxurious trim and revised colour schemes and new tail-lamp clusters. Disappointingly, however, our car never received the 1622cc version of the ‘B’ series engine, which many owners consider would have benefited the car considerably.

Wolseley 1500 Mk III owned by members Peter & Pauline Cope

For Wolseley 1500 enquiries, ask a question on the forum

You need to be logged in to see this part of the content. Please Login for access.

Primary Sidebar

Wolseley Register

2 days ago

Wolseley Register
Lovely footage and feedback from a satisfied customer! ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

EVENTS NEWS!

  • Join us on the Register’s 2021 Spring Tour!
  • See the latest updates on next year’s National Rally in Norfolk

OTHER NEWS!

  • Please help the Register – YOU can do it!
  • Very rare, genuine FX keys for your Series II or III 6/90 now available! 

Footer

Register Secretary

Anne Heywood
secretary@thewolseleyregister.com
10 Denbigh Close
Leyland
Lancashire PR25 4YY

Phone Contact

If you prefer to contact any of our officers by phone, please go to Contact us to find your required contact.

General Enquiries

enquiries@wolseleyregister.co.uk

Web Support

webmaster@wolseleyregister.co.uk

Classified Adverts

ads@wolseleyregister.co.uk

Spares

sparesconsultant@thewolseleyregister.com

Wolseley World

editor@thewolseleyregister.com

Online Shop

regalia@thewolseleyregister.com

All content © 2021 The Wolseley Register · Website by Northerwood

This site uses cookies: Find out more.