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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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Wolseley Register Loan Car Project

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restoration

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationHaving been off the road since 1991, this 1958 1500 Mk I was acquired by Graham Ryder, Deputy Chairman of the Wolseley Register at the end of 2018.  The car was exhibited at the 2019 Practical Classics Restoration Show where work was undertaken consisting of the rebuilding of the front torsion bar suspension. The car was then stripped down and work undertaken included a full brake replacement; significant repair to front wings and front panel; replacement sills and suspension rebuild.

Graham offered the 1500 to enable the Wolseley Register to join the Classic Car Loan Project which is primarily aimed at younger enthusiasts (minimum age 25) or people new to the hobby who have never previously owned a classic vehicle. The project has grown since its inception in 2017 and the 1500 became one of twenty cars put forward for 2020.

In late 2019, Warren Grove read about the Classic Car Loan Project in the Practical Classics Magazine and made his application.  Having met the scheme criteria, a meeting was held with members of the Wolseley Register committee in January 2020.  This was Warren’s first encounter with a Wolseley 1500, as Graham arrived in a working Mk III model – one he had prepared sometime earlier!

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWarren’s first meeting with the loan car Wolseley was a view of it on its side, on a rollover frame in Graham’s garage workshop.  By this point Graham had performed many hours of labour, the car being completely stripped and metalwork and welding mostly finished.  Warren was delighted to be able to help by undertaking some panel preparation, while Graham continued finishing the new sills.

The car took shape over the next few weeks, then one Friday afternoon the car was turned back onto its wheels and Warren finally saw it upright.  By mid-February the panel preparation was complete and the 1500 was dispatched to the paint shop for a full body respray.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restoration

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationGraham and Warren continued to work together on the engine, slowly dismantling it from the head to the crank.  Everything looked pretty good and was set aside to evaluate.  While Graham set to work on the engine, Warren helped grind the valves into the head, after which the motor was assembled and given a lick of green paint. The engine was fitted into another project car to set it up to run while waiting for the paintwork to be completed on the loan car.  After initial starting problems and the provision of a new battery, the engine was running in preparation for reinstalling.

At this point the coronavirus lockdown halted joint working but Warren had the very tired wooden dashboard at his home along with the door cappings and screen pillar covers.  He initially lightly prepared the old surface to refurbish, however once this was varnished it looked worse than before, as it highlighted all of the imperfections of the old wood.  So, over a couple of weekends it was stripped back and started again from scratch.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restoration

During lockdown the paint shop was fortunately able to proceed with the final preparations prior to painting and some pictures arrived with the car in primer.  After another week the photos came thick and fast with the final transformation seemingly only taking a few hours.  The finished shell finally returned on 16 May so work could begin on reassembling all the parts that are stored in many boxes.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationOnce the car is fully reassembled, a handover will be arranged and Warren will keep the car for a full 12 months, during which time classic car events will hopefully recommence.  Graham will continue to support and mentor Warren, who is now a full member of the Wolseley Register.  Warren and his family are looking forward to meeting other club members and joining in local and national activities.

The Classic Car Loan Project (CCLP) is the brainchild of long-time car enthusiast Bob Wilkinson who said, “I am delighted to have a Wolseley 1500 in the project thanks to the generosity of the Wolseley Register. I appreciate the hard work which has gone into the restoration to make this a delightful car again. My late father’s last car, which I enjoyed driving, was a 1958 Wolseley 1500 so this will bring back many happy memories.”

Find out more about the CCLP and follow all the cars at www.classiccarloanproject.co.uk

23.5.20

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There has been a lot of progress over recent weeks:

The new disc brake conversion, which uses Ford Escort xr3i callipers was fitted along with the rear axle and telescopic shock absorbers.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationThe new wiring loom went into place, along with new servo and brake pipes.  These were all individually made by Graham and Warren, using Graham’s pipe bender to get accurate bends for a really great finish.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationAudio sound deadening was also fitted on all the inside panels. The bellhousing and gearbox were given a final coat of paint before reinstalling the engine back into the car.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationWolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationNew correct fasteners for the propshaft were sourced before refitting it. The seats and rear number plate were back in place by late June.

The wheels were painted in champagne beige to match the body, then fitted with new tyres and look fantastic.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restoration

GKR/WNG 4.7.20

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Recent progress has included fitting the front panel; wiring in the lights and fastening the side trims with handmade stainless steel M4 nuts and bolts, having shaped the heads to slide into the stainless steel strips.  The strips are spaced away from the body using a closed cell foam pad to allow drainage – this wasn’t too much work – only 60 bolts!!  The wind-up window weather strips are the current focus of attention.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationThe engine bay is now almost complete with just a problem with the dynamo circuit still to be resolved.

The final stage of the restoration will include fitting the carpets and the rest of the interior trim.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restorationGKR/15.1.21

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The car is now nearing completion with rear screen, seat belts and carpet having recently been fitted and an MOT has now been granted.

Wolseley 1500 Mk2 loan car restoration

The car will be officially handed over to Warren at the BMC & Leyland Show at the British Motor Museum on Sunday 11 July.

GKR 18.6.21

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The handover finally took place on Sunday 11 July on the Wolseley Register stand at the BMC and Leyland Show at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon.    Several Wolseley Register Members were on hand to meet Warren and cheer him on as he received the keys from Graham Ryder, watched by Bob Wilkinson, Project Manager and Peter Seaword.  Peter is the club’s Historian and he fully supported the Register’s participation in the project. He liaised with Bob Wilkinson, led the interview panel, and encouraged Graham throughout the restoration.  Bob was delighted to be present at the handover and gave some background information about the Project to the audience.

The finishing details have been quite time-consuming, but the car is now complete and MOT’d. Warren is really pleased to finally have custody of the car for a full 12 months. Graham will continue to provide support and mentorship to Warren, who hopes to attend many club events to meet more Wolseley Register members.

Wolseley 1500 Mk1 loan car handover

GKR 22.07.21

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Graham and Warren made a return visit to the British Motor Museum with the Loan Car and another Wolsley 1500 for the Footman James Coffee and Chrome event on Sunday 17 October:

GKR 23.10.21Wolseley 1500 Mk1 & Mk3 at Gaydon

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Wolseley Register

1 week ago

Wolseley Register
Thanks to all who expressed their opinions and details of their historic vehicles and ‘future classics’ through the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs National Historic Vehicle Survey - more than ever before. The analysis is now underway, and the full report will be published in the autumn. ... See MoreSee Less
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EVENTS NEWS!

  • Come and join the Register at the 2025 MVA Rally!
  • Read about our National Rally on 16-17 August and apply online to join us!  
  • See how we got on at the recent Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show 2025!

OTHER NEWS!

  • We have now listed all of our duplicated Wolseley manuals available to members, see the website Library for details.
  • Brand new 6/90 rubbers, not available in the UK for many years, now available! (Only a small number of each, so place your orders now). Rubber parts include: engine/gearbox mounts; front/bump stops; steering column bushes; front/rear suspension rubbers; brake servo grommets and gearstick lower ferrules.     Look at the appropriate website pages for pictures, and then contact the Spares Consultant!
  • Now in stock – Brand new bespoke solid steel exhaust clamps to fit 1500s, same as the original cast clamps! See the Engine Ancillaries page for more details,then contact the Spares Consultant!
  • Also in stock – Brand new 1500 Bonnet Bulkhead Seals. See the Body & External Trim – Post 1948 – 4/50, 6/80 to 1500 website page and contact the Spares Consultant!
  • Just obtained! A genuine NOS steel front o/s wing for the 1500! See the Body & External Trim – Post 1948 – 4/50, 6/80 to 1500 website page and contact the Spares Consultant!

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Register Secretary

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

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