Forgotten Classic Car: The Wolseley Six Was BMC’s Most Comfortable Car

The Wolseley was the premium vehicle that perched proudly atop the line, and while few people knew it at the time of its introduction in 1975, it would be the final car to wear the illuminated logo, lasting only six months.

The Wolseley was only available with the 2227cc six-cylinder engine brought over from the Wolseley 'Landcrab' Six (Austin and Morrises also had four cylinders). The iconic Wolseley grille and light-up badge were downsized at the front due to the car's unusual design, which left little room for anything larger. The interior was as opulent as it had always been (albeit velour had replaced leather), and the finesse was outstanding.

This was a very technically intriguing classic car, with transverse front-wheel drive — rare for a straight-six – and Hydragas suspension. The Austin, Morris, and Wolseley models were rebranded the marqueless Princess instead, with the Wolseley being replaced by the 2200HLS, due to British Leyland reorganization in 1975.

An Overview Of A Forgotten Classic: The Wolseley Six

'Having the correct background gives Wolseley elegance.' At first inspection, this appears to be a great example of 1972-era automotive elitism, aimed at the type of driver who thought crazy paving was the peak of architectural success. Nonetheless, the Six, the current flagship of BL's "Landcrab" series, was a truly magnificent machine.

The first Austin 1800 was introduced in 1964, but despite being named Car of the Year in 1965, it was constantly misinterpreted by the British public. In 1966, BMC introduced a Morris version, and in 1967, the top-of-the-range Wolseley 18/85. In the following year, a revised Mk. II was released, followed by a Mk. III in March 1972. The availability of a 2.2-liter E-Series engine, which was initially used in the 1970 Australian-built Austin Kimberley/Tasman, was big news for the third-generation Landcrab. The Wolseley was only available with a 2,227cc engine, and the Six was a late replacement for the 18/85 and the RWD Austin 3-Liter. It was also the first six-cylinder Wolseley since the 6/110 Mk.II was discontinued in 1968.

The "bus driver" steering wheel made it clear that the Six was related to the Mini, but the whole impression was dignified enough for the manager's parking lot. 'Wolseley Six says exactly what you want it to say about your business,' Leyland asserted. "You'd trust the man behind the wheel as much as the car itself," Leyland further says. The enlarged engine, according to Car of April 1972, improved the Landcrab's "fundamental qualities, although extra power can be exploited to trigger understeer." The Six 'took me as quickly, as pleasantly, and as safely on a normal long non-stop run as any car of its price I have encountered recently, and it is gloriously individualistic, in a world of increasingly similar saloons,' according to Bill Boddy of Motor Sport.

In comparison to its rivals, the Six appeared to be significantly more eccentric than the Rover 2000 or Triumph 2000 Mk II, was far less showy than a Vauxhall VX 4/90 FE, and was far more understated than a Ford Granada 2500 Mk. I. The Triumph 1500 was another BL FWD saloon, but it was much smaller than the Wolseley, so a possible buyer would have looked at the Renault 16TS or perhaps the Citroën DS Super 5 from abroad. Neither, though, delivered that one-of-a-kind mix of Wolseley opulence and Alec Issigonis engineering.

The Six was, unsurprisingly, the best-selling model in the Mk. III line-up until 1975, when it was replaced by the 18-22 "Wedge." It's all too easy to point fingers at the British Motor Corporation after the fact, but the Landcrab had so much potential. Perhaps more buyers would have appreciated its numerous and varied qualities if it had been sold from the start as a Wolseley with a six-cylinder engine – and power-assisted steering. The Wolseley Six is a reminder of pure automotive independence in the 1970s as it is. It was a car for the type of person who proudly admitted to watching BBC2. Not to mention transportation for the discerning individual who valued "the world's only car with its name up in lights."

Powertrain: A Drift From The 18/85 To The Wolseley Six Engineering Masterpiece

The Wolseley Six, together with the Austin and Morris 2200, was introduced in 1972. The Wolseley replaced the 18/85 four-cylinder model, unlike the Austin/Morris vehicles, which continued alongside the older 1800 versions. With dual SU carburetors, the Wolseley Six used a six cylinder version of the existing E series 1500cc OHC engine, first seen in the Austin Maxi, to produce 2227cc and 110 BHP.

It also had a four-speed manual or automatic transmission. The majority of the changes from the 18/85 were cosmetic, such as seat materials and the removal of wood door tops. The model was produced until 1975, when the Wolseley 18-22 'Wedge' was introduced.

The Wolseley's cabin space and standard of decor were two important selling factors - for a car shorter than a Renault 12, the Wolseley's spaciousness was rather astonishing. The front compartment was made even more spacious by selecting the optional automatic transmission with its fascia-mounted selector lever. The Six's showroom attractiveness was further improved by a walnut wood dashboard.