• 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 Vacancy
      • 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
    • Visit our shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • My Shop Account
    • Track your order
  • Forum
  • Library
    • Wolseley Register Manuals
      • Reference Manuals List
      • Duplicate Manuals for sale
    • 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 Summer Tour – 6-8th August 2021
      • Wolseley Register National Rally 2021
    • Future Regional Events
      • Midlands Region Programme for 2021-2022
    • 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

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.

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

Primary Sidebar

Wolseley Register

4 days ago

Wolseley Register
New items added to our Regalia shop: our popular sweatshirts are now available in burgundy (crew neck or v neck). Order yours today and be ready for the classic car season ahead! https://www.wolseleyregister.co.uk/product/sweatshirt-new-styl/ (The models say please excuse our lockdown hairstyles!) ... 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 our Summer Tour at the Fat Lamb!
  • See the latest updates on this year’s National Rally in Norfolk

OTHER NEWS!

  • Register members can now purchase the Register’s duplicate reference manuals here!
  • FBHVC clarifies the introduction of E10 petrol for historic vehicle owners

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.