Wolseley Hornet Special

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The Wolseley Company was taken over by Sir William Morris in 1927 and the Wolseley Hornet was their first new car.

Launched to the British motoring public in 1929 as an overhead-camshaft six-cylinder version of the very advanced Morris Minor, it used the same engine that was fitted to the F, L, K and N Type MGs, meaning there is a plentiful source of parts as well as a fair turn of speed.

Between 1932 and 1934 the factory supplied a series of chassis called the 'Hornet Special' to a variety of coachbuilders for bespoke bodywork, the low-riding chassis lending itself perfectly to the fitment of stylish, sporting bodies. Twin carburettors, a three-branch exhaust manifold and an oil-cooler were just part of the enhanced specification, the Hornet Special chassis costing some £175 ex-factory prior to despatch to the coachbuilder of choice. Some 2,300 of these sporty, high compression versions were supplied to Avon, Corsica, Swallow, Cunard and Eustace Watkins, who all produced very appealing sports bodies.

Most sporting of all was the gorgeous Corsica Sports, a close-coupled two-seater with a rear-hinged ‘Hornet-like’ tail that looked like it was doing 100mph when standing still. Corsica’s coachwork was always beautifully proportioned, the Corsica Street, Kings Cross-based firm producing designs to match the world's finest, including the famous ‘Tulip Wood’ Hispano-Suiza.

This particular Hornet started life in 1932 as a more humble saloon, the body for which disintegrated many years ago. Restored as a rolling chassis in the early ‘80s, its owner decided to copy the Corsica design for its new bodywork. A professional trimmer by trade, he had branched out into full coachbuilding and produced this stunning car out of traditional ash and aluminium.

The current owner, a long-term Hornet enthusiast, had always hankered after a Corsica-bodied Hornet Special, having read and re-read the June 1933 Motorsport test, so when this car came up for grabs in 2007 he had no option but to add it to his collection.

It uses a slightly later (and more robust) 1,380cc engine and a taller 4.89:1 back axle ratio – the vendor reporting that it goes extremely well indeed. It is accompanied by a large file of information, including numerous bills, notes and photographs of its restoration.

The recent acquisition of several other pre-war vehicles meaning that garage space is now at a premium, he has reluctantly decided that as this is the car that gets the least use, it is the one that must go. Complete with its original buff logbook, handbook, lubrication chart and original specification brochure, this supremely pretty and rapid Hornet is ready for immediate use.

Bidders are advised that an HPI check shows that this vehicle was subject to a Category D insurance claim in 2005, 'damaged, repairable'.