Wolseley 1500

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By the mid-1950s, the Morris Minor was getting a bit long in the tooth and the BMC board decided they had better start planning its replacement.

However, as the good old Moggie continued to fly out of the showrooms, they changed their minds and decided to offer a more upmarket version which could be badged as a Wolseley and a Riley instead.

Using the Morris Minor floorpan, suspension and steering as a base, they fitted the larger 1,489cc B-Series engine and the 4-speed MG Magnette gearbox, clothing the lot in a compact and well-proportioned 4-door saloon body. Both versions looked basically the same but had slightly different front end styling and interiors.

Some 103,400 Wolseley 1500s were made in total before production ended in 1965, although only 788 are still registered in Britain today.

This 1963 model was acquired by vendor as a winter project in 2011 from a gentleman in Macclesfield. Much work ensued, with general tidying and repairs needed to bring the car up to roadworthy condition.

This included a respray from grey to cream over green in 2013. The leather upholstery has worn well, with that delightful patina that only age can provide.

It was used regularly, before ill health sadly curtailed its use which is the only reason that the car is now for sale. A recent pre-MOT check included fitting new front and rear offside wheel cylinders, new front brake shoes as well as a new battery and new rear axle seals and gaskets. The bill for this work, which included taking the car for its MOT totalled £584. The test was passed with just two advisories and expires in May 2019.

Still wearing its Cheshire ‘TU’ registration number, which is transferable, it is offered at No Reserve, so the highest bidder buys the car.