This article is about the 1930s Wolseley Hornet. For the 1960s Wolseley Hornet, see Wolseley Hornet (Mini).
Motor vehicle
Wolseley Hornet
SOHC 6-cylinder 4-door 6-light saloon registered October 1932
Overview
Manufacturer
Wolseley Motors Limited
Production
1930–1936 31686 made[1]
Assembly
Ward End Works, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style
2-door 4-light saloon
4-door 6-light saloon
2-door Occasional Four coupé
open 2-seater
chassis for customer's choice of coachwork
Special chassis for customer's choice of coachwork
Powertrain
Engine
single-overhead-camshaft inline six-cylinder
1,271 cc (78 cu in)[2] and Special
1,378 cc (84 cu in)[3] used in standard cars only
1,604 cc (98 cu in)[4]Special only
Transmission
A single-plate dry-type clutch and three-speed gearbox form a single unit with the engine; there is a ball pattern central change-speed lever; the propeller shaft is open with fabric disc joints; the spiral bevel driven back axle is three-quarter floating and has a two-pinion differential gear[2]
announced September 1931, a 4-speed gearbox with a quiet third gear.[5]
announced August 1934, single-plate clutch, 3-speed preselector gearbox (finger control by steering wheel) an additional lever controls forward neutral and reverse, freewheel and Startix[6]
by September 1935, single-plate dry clutch with cushion drive and torsional spring dampers, four-speed centrally controlled gearbox, synchromesh on third and top.[3]
Dimensions
Wheelbase
90.5 in (2,299 mm)[2]
95 in (2,413 mm)[7]
track
42 in (1,067 mm)[2]
45 in (1,143 mm)[7]
48 in (1,219 mm)[3]
Length
133 in (3,378 mm)[2]
141 in (3,581 mm)[8]
Width
51 in (1,295 mm)[2]
55 in (1,397 mm)[8]
Height
63 in (1,600 mm)[2]
unknown
Kerb weight
977.95 kg (2,156 lb) 19¼cwt[9]
990.65 kg (2,184 lb) 19½cwt[3]
Chronology
Successor
Wolseley 12/48[10]
The Wolseley Hornet is a six-cylinder twelve fiscal horsepower lightweight automobile which was offered as a saloon car, coupé and open two-seater as well as the usual rolling chassis for bespoke coachwork. Produced by Wolseley Motors Limited from 1930 until 1936, the Hornet was unveiled to the public at the end of April 1930. Wolseley had been bought from the receivers by William Morris in 1927.
This car's tiny six-cylinder engine, Motor Sport magazine described it as a miniature six, reflected the brief vogue for less vibratory 6, 8, 12 and 16 cylinder engines soon superseded by greatly improved flexible engine mountings. Their overhead camshaft engines were so good that cars built on their Hornet Special chassis developed an outstanding reputation on the road and in club competition.
The initial offering was something of a quart in a pint pot, tiny but powerful for its size. Furthermore, four passengers might be fitted into the very lightly constructed car. However the market soon required more room and more comfort and the car's nature changed. This was countered by making and selling the Special with a more highly tuned engine. The last Hornet was replaced, following acquisition of Wolseley by Morris Motors, with Morris's badge-engineered Wolseley 12/48, announced 24 April 1936.[10]
^Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.
^ abcdefgCite error: The named reference TT44510 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abcdCite error: The named reference TT47166 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Cite error: The named reference TT47028 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Cars Of 1932". The Times. No. 45917. 2 September 1931. p. 10.
^"Cars Of 1935". The Times. No. 46835. 17 August 1934. p. 10.
^ abCite error: The named reference TT46577 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ abWolseley Hornet brochure 1933
^Cite error: The named reference TT46368 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ab"New Light Motor Cars". The Times. No. 47357. 24 April 1936. p. 11.
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