Case histories
We test the classics that you can buy
WOLSELEY NINE
Year of manufacture 1934 Recorded mileage 7111 Asking price £10,995 Vendor Robin Lawton, Hampshire; tel: 07710 364945/07979 244195; www.robinlawton.com
WHEN IT WAS NEW Price £179 Max power 30bhp Max torque n/a 0-50mph 27 secs Top speed 59mph Mpg 29
This delightful little saloon was restored by its current owner and put back on the road in 1996; he’s only selling because he’s restoring another car.
It’s holding up well, with a very good standard of finish for a vintage or PVT car. The body is straight, and there’s just one small paint run on the left side of the scuttle. The vinyl roof is in good shape and the sliding sunroof still works. All the chromework is smart, the doorhandles being original. The trafficators still work, and there’s a removable warning sign on the back saying: ‘No flashing indicators.’ The tyres are well-worn Commanders, unused on the spare, behind which you’ll find the jack and tools still in place.
Inside, it’s nicely appointed, with a surprising amount of room in the back, and even the delightful fabric inserts are wearing well. The whole job looks as if it was done fairly recently, but is actually more than 20 years old. The leather to the front seats is just wearing in, the door trims and headlining are very good, and the roller blind on the back window still operates from its crank handle. The only real signs of wear are the heavily used pedal rubbers, plus some of the timber could do with refinishing, but that’s an easy job to do at home.
The small overhead-cam motor is tidy, with new spark-plugs. The coolant is to a good level, the oil cleanish and near maximum. It starts easily and is sweet to drive, with good brakes for a 1930s car. It pulls well and offers more torque than you’d expect from just 1018cc. The back-to-front gearshift pattern is easy to adapt to, though the first-to-second change needs learning; 1935 cars had preselectors. Oil pressure on the move is 60psi, and the temperature gauge on the radiator cap reads normal. Even the grille badge still illuminates, 1934 being the first year that this feature appeared.
The Wolseley will be sold with a cancelled green logbook, plus handbook, wiring diagrams and a comprehensive file detailing the restoration and mileage since, all presented in a British Airways Engineering folder – which may be a clue to the quality of the restoration.
SUMMARY
EXTERIOR
Very straight and a good finish
INTERIOR
Nicely trimmed and wearing well
MECHANICALS
All rebuilt; mileage may be since restoration
VALUE ★★★★★★★★✩✩
For Characterful, a bit different and goes well
Against You may want to add discreet modern rear lights for safety
SHOULD I BUY IT?
A saloon with good brakes and a touch of luxury for the price of an average Austin Seven. We can’t see a downside