Wolseley 6/80 And 6/90
Discussion
What a car ( the 6/80 ) and Yet Another great British car of the 50s ( Inc The Jowet Javelin and Riley Pathfinder ( or Ditchfinder lol ) with such a Very low survival rate.
The Police were Very fond of them, Hendon had one for the skid pan , and a quick car for their size and day. Only Built I beleive from 49-54 ?
I saved a very nice, Original black with red leather 52 or 53 example I'n the Early 90s. It had been Originally suplied new to Jersey . And it had a Lovely sticker in the rear window which said " Temporary Visitor From Jersey " never seen another one of these . How it got here I never managed to find out.
It featured I'n Popular Classics magazine , Nick Larkin ( the magazine editor ) was kind enough to give me a some spare front seats he had as mine were missing along with the Engine. I found an Engine locally , but moved it on to a chap who I beleive still has her.
The Police were Very fond of them, Hendon had one for the skid pan , and a quick car for their size and day. Only Built I beleive from 49-54 ?
I saved a very nice, Original black with red leather 52 or 53 example I'n the Early 90s. It had been Originally suplied new to Jersey . And it had a Lovely sticker in the rear window which said " Temporary Visitor From Jersey " never seen another one of these . How it got here I never managed to find out.
It featured I'n Popular Classics magazine , Nick Larkin ( the magazine editor ) was kind enough to give me a some spare front seats he had as mine were missing along with the Engine. I found an Engine locally , but moved it on to a chap who I beleive still has her.
You're so right about these cars neutral. I would love to own a really nice 6/90. The interior finish in particular was superb; real hand made coachwork.
To keep you going for a while, this is a 6/110 of newer vintage complete with warning bell on the front bumper. It's a '64 traffic car, and if you had this clanging in your rear view mirror you had a problem!
I've got some similar pics of a 6/80 police car somewhere, but just can't find them at the moment. I'll post them up later.
J
To keep you going for a while, this is a 6/110 of newer vintage complete with warning bell on the front bumper. It's a '64 traffic car, and if you had this clanging in your rear view mirror you had a problem!
I've got some similar pics of a 6/80 police car somewhere, but just can't find them at the moment. I'll post them up later.
J
neutral 3 said:
What a car ( the 6/80 ) and Yet Another great British car of the 50s ( Inc The Jowet Javelin and Riley Pathfinder ( or Ditchfinder lol )
Lovely cars - designed by Gerald Palmer who was also responsible for the MG Y and Z types and the Wolseley 4/44 
He was succeded at BMC by Alec Issigonis - what did he ever do???
Anorak mode off
My dad had a 6/80 as his first car, sometime around the early 60's I think. Got written off by a guy in a Holden Torana that ran a stop sign. Other driver did the dirty on him with insurance and it was going to be too expensive for dad to get repaired on apprentice wages so it got sent off to the wreckers.
Apparently he bought it in the dark thinking it was a dark red. Turned out to be some sort of pink! It was also heavy on fuel...
Have never seen or heard of another 6/80 here in Aus, I don't think many survived over here.
Apparently he bought it in the dark thinking it was a dark red. Turned out to be some sort of pink! It was also heavy on fuel...
Have never seen or heard of another 6/80 here in Aus, I don't think many survived over here.
Ime pretty sure a fair few were sent to OZ and New Zealand. Must surely be some I'n the Older more remote salvage yards out there ?
The 6/80 was built I'n Series 1 and 2 versions ( S2 versions 1951 on , I think )
They sometimes had a problem with the Camshaft, but can't recall exactly what the problem was.
The 6/80 was built I'n Series 1 and 2 versions ( S2 versions 1951 on , I think )
They sometimes had a problem with the Camshaft, but can't recall exactly what the problem was.
My uncle had an black ex-police 6/80 for several years - we toured Wales towing a caravan for two weeks. Eventually bought a beige one myself but didn't actually use it (passing on to a friend) - four speed and column change. 2.2 ltr OHC engine was unusual for its time when so many cars still had side valve engines - I seem to remember (and like some aircraft engines) the exhaust valves were sodium filled (for cooling reasons)
It's a long time ago but I've just come across this 6/80 and 6/90 post.
Great photos! I had two each, 6/80 and 6/90, both the 6/90's were series one cars with steering column gear change and coil spring rear suspension - not the best setup and later modified, along with the right-hand gear change from series two, also fitted to the Riley 2.6 and four cylinder Pathfinder.
If the beautiful 6/90, in the photos, is an ex police vehicle it will have a grommet in the roof where the radio aerial was fitted, unless it's been taken out for aesthetic reasons.
The 6/80 did, as mentioned, suffered from exhaust valve burning. They were not sodium filled. Although it is now 50 years since I decoked my 6/80 I seem to remember that, because they are "pegged" to the upper valve spring housing, (so that the valves could be held whilst adjusting the clearance) in operation the valves did not easily rotate.
This, along with poor cylinder head design, left the valve at mercy of burning at its hottest point. Two of mine were badly burnt, I remember. (Not helped by my hard driving of course).
When you consider the engine design, peculiar to the 4/50 and 6/80, a complete diversion from normal ohv engines available at that time, it must have been madness from a cost point of view.
Wolseley had made Hispano Suiza aircraft engines and it is said that the verticle shaft drive ohc inspired the 6/80 unit design. Certainly the engine looks vintage.
I have considered having another but maybe it's just a dream now.
Great photos! I had two each, 6/80 and 6/90, both the 6/90's were series one cars with steering column gear change and coil spring rear suspension - not the best setup and later modified, along with the right-hand gear change from series two, also fitted to the Riley 2.6 and four cylinder Pathfinder.
If the beautiful 6/90, in the photos, is an ex police vehicle it will have a grommet in the roof where the radio aerial was fitted, unless it's been taken out for aesthetic reasons.
The 6/80 did, as mentioned, suffered from exhaust valve burning. They were not sodium filled. Although it is now 50 years since I decoked my 6/80 I seem to remember that, because they are "pegged" to the upper valve spring housing, (so that the valves could be held whilst adjusting the clearance) in operation the valves did not easily rotate.
This, along with poor cylinder head design, left the valve at mercy of burning at its hottest point. Two of mine were badly burnt, I remember. (Not helped by my hard driving of course).
When you consider the engine design, peculiar to the 4/50 and 6/80, a complete diversion from normal ohv engines available at that time, it must have been madness from a cost point of view.
Wolseley had made Hispano Suiza aircraft engines and it is said that the verticle shaft drive ohc inspired the 6/80 unit design. Certainly the engine looks vintage.
I have considered having another but maybe it's just a dream now.
lowdrag said:
I remember coming across a Pathfinder in a barn in Meonstoke and have always wondered why the gear change was to the right of the driver next to the door. Does anyone know?
Well I can't give a definitive answer but for many years of automotive history we had right-hand gear levers so some would say it's a reversion. There is a case for RH levers as more of us are right-handed than left-handed and I can't think of a LHD vehicle with a LH gear lever.However in the post-war couple of decades cars designed to seat three abreast in the front seat needed the gear lever to be out of the way of the centre-seated passenger. Many designs used steering-column mounted levers which could be tricky to use when controlling a four-speed 'box. The Pathfinder/2.6 and Wolseley 6/80 and early 6/90 had a mechanism similar to a column-change controlled by the RH floor lever. With shorter and less complex linkage than the column-shange the RH floor-change worked well, once you got used to it.
Oh, and Derby/Crewe Bentleys had RH change.
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