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The Club for Wolseley Car Owners and Enthusiasts

WOLSELEY REGISTER

The original club for Wolseley owners and enthusiasts!

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Hornet & Hornet Special

Wolseley Hornet & Hornet Special

by Robert Burrows, Founder of the Wolseley Register
and Anders Clausager, former Wolseley Register Historian and archivist to the BMIHT

Wolseley Hornet Special
Wolseley Hornet Special undergoing restoration

Of course the Hornet was launched in April 1930 so, strictly speaking, the early examples of this model were vintage cars!  However, the Hornet and Hornet Special models are the most famous Wolseleys of this period.

Read about Wolseleys in the 2011 VSCC races and speed events!

Both models had overhead camshaft engines, but the 1932 Hornet had chain rather than shaft drive.  Wolseley introduced their forward engine mounting with these models and illuminated radiator badge was new for 1933 (except for the Hornet Special which only lit up for 1934).  On the other hand, the ‘back-to-front’ gearchange was on the way out.  The Hornet acquired a synchromesh gearbox mid-way through the 1933 season and freewheel in 1934.  The Wolseley Hornet (saloon) became the New Hornet in 1934-35, and was also sold as the Wolseley Twelve and the New Twelve, prior to becoming a Fourteen with an enlarged 1604cc engine.

1932 red & black Wolseley Doctor's Coupe
Wolseley Hornet Doctor’s Coupe owned by member Mike Stanley

It appears that in the past, there have at times been difficulties in deciding what is a Hornet and what is a Hornet Special.  Of course, not every Hornet with a special body is a Hornet Special; many of the 1930-1932 period cars were fitted with special bodies when new or nearly new, and for the 1932 season, Wolseley offered a standard Hornet ‘chassis supplied to coachbuilders’ for special bodywork.  This was still not the real Hornet Special which happened mid-way through the 1932 season.

Light blue Swallow bodied Hornet
Swallow bodied Hornet, owned by member Lorna Mountford

The Hornet Special always had two carburettors, and most of them are likely to have had centre-lock wire wheels although the Special was also offered with bolt-on wire wheels.  The standard Hornet had but a single carburettor, and bolt-on wheels.

Eustace Watkins Wolseley Hornet Special
Wolseley Hornet Special with Eustace Watkins style body, owned by member Paul Dawson

For Wolseley Hornet & Wolseley Hornet Special enquiries,
ask a question on the forum.

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Wolseley Register

3 days ago

Wolseley Register
Calling all cars - particularly veteran and vintage Wolseleys! We would love to see you at our National Rally in Warwickshire on 21 August. Non-Wolseleys also welcome. Read more and apply online https://www.wolseleyregister.co.uk/wolseley-register-national-rally-2022/ ... See MoreSee Less
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EVENTS NEWS!

  • The MVA rally will be held over 24th to 26th June 2022, and we will be attending as usual!
  • We will be attending the BMC and Leyland Show 2022 at Gaydon on 10th July
  • Join us at the Oulton Park Gold Cup event on 29th to 31st July! Advance booking is essential, so book your place here now. (Do make sure you book in for the Wolseley Register club display, rather than as an individual!)
  • Read about our 2022 National Rally and apply online to join us!
  • Read about the Register’s 2022 Spring Tour!
  • See our stand at the recent Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show with Discovery!

OTHER NEWS!

  • Brand new Wolseley 1500 / Riley 1.5 Mk2 & 3 bonnet hinge seals now in stock!
  • Members can now purchase our brand new 6/90 bonnet scripts!
  • 1500 stainless exhaust systems now back in stock!
  • Think about your Wolseley’s carbon footprint and consider joining the FBHVC’s tree planting scheme!

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Register Secretary

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

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