Description
For sale is my 1965 Wolseley Hornet MK2 with a 998cc A Series engine. Finished in Maroon B, with a grey roof and a Dove Grey leather interior. 98, 000 miles, tax and MOT exempt. I've got the original owners manual, brochure from 1965, workshop manual and a few bits of memorabilia, all can be seen in the photos. But unfortunately no history before the stack of history I've accumulated in my ownership. The car has a great backstory, being a 1 family owned car from new, until I bought it in 2018. He taught his children to drive in the car and it was also his daughter's wedding car. The tow bar fitted to the car was used to tow his motorcycle on a small trailer to family holidays in Cornwall! The previous owner did all of the cosmetic and mechanical work himself, including a light restoration in the early 1990's. He was a very "mend and make do" sort of gentleman, so it was never a pristine job, but it's a testament to his maintenance that it's still here today!
The mechanicals:
I've just given the car an oil service and fresh spark plugs. It runs like a sewing machine, always starts and pulls well. Being a typical A series engined car, it leaks oil in several places. I've just refreshed the cooling system with a new radiator, radiator cap, water pump, thermostat, bottom radiator hose and OE coolant temperature sensor. Dynamo is working well, as is the starter motor. Clutch is positive but does judder when you pull away occasionally. The car goes through the gears very well. Steering is alittle wayward. I've replaced the engine steady bushes, tie rod bushes and a track rod end, but there still some play in the NSF, so I think it'll need ball joints and possibly a wheel bearing. The tyres all need replacing, they're pretty old and very flat spotted, causing a shake at speed. Brakes all work fairly well, but I'm sure they could do with a good clean and grease to get them back to full stopping power. I rebuilt the carb in 2019 and had it tuned in 2023, it pulls well with no pinking. The hydrolastic suspension system takes bumps well. I had the nearside rear displacer replaced and a hose repair done in 2023, and I've just pumped the suspension up to the correct ride height.
The cosmetics:
The paintwork is not the best. On the whole it's pretty glossy, but there's paint chipping off a few of the panels. Mainly the doors, wings and bootlid, I have tried to show the main areas in the photos. The 1990's paint refresh is showing its age, but it does give the car a very original patina. It's definitely had some filler in it's life, as you can see by the side photos. A few dents and scuffs here and there, to be expected for her age. The chrome is presentable and undamaged. There is no terminal rust to be seen on the body of the car. The previous owner coated the underside and wheel arches in lashings of underseal and used engine oil, which has preserved the car incredibly well. There's just the odd patch of surface rust that would need treating and coating. The interior is well worn, but original. The floorpan is absolutely spotless, as are the inner sills. All it's missing is it's door cards. I removed the old bowed ones to fit Newton Commercial replacements, but unfortunately never got round to it. It's got a very 1970's shag pile carpet set in the car and even in the boot, this was fitted by the previous owner. He even included the rubber wear patches under the driver's feet and under the front seats. It still has it's original leather seats that have been re-dyed. The headlining has sagged, so I've propped it up a wooden stick, to keep it off my head whilst driving! The original sliding windows are stiff, but do work. The runners need regular greasing to keep them moving freely.
I've owned the car for 7 years and it's time to part ways. I've come to realisation that I will never be able to get the car to the standard I want it. The car would make a great restoration base for someone. It'd also make a brilliant starter classic for someone who wants a running and driving project to get stuck into! Parts are super easy to get hold of because they share near enough everything with Mini's of the same era. There are plenty of dedicated Mini parts suppliers to choose from. They're also a doddle to work on.
I'm looking for £4500, but open to sensible offers. Please feel free to message/ text me for more photos and information! Located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. This car has lived a very full life! The gentleman I bought her off, met his wife through this car. She used to bring it in for servicing in the garage he worked in. It was used the daily family for many years, got used for family holidays to Cornwall for 30 years, their children were taught to drive in it and it was on wedding duties for their daughter's wedding! Being a keen tinkerer and mechanically minded, he lightly restored the car in the 1990's. He did all of that work himself and even painted the car in his garage. Due to ill health he decided to sell the car in 2018. I spotted her at the London to Brighton Mini run, when a friend of his took it along, with a for sale sign in the window. I just had to have her and the rest is history. I've taken her to all of the major Mini shows including Brooklands Mini Day and Stamford Hall Mini fest, to name a few!
I always loved Wolseley Hornet's abecaue they are a great alternative to a classic Mini. They're much less mainstream, meaning they stand out a the crowd of classics. Parts supply is still plentiful because it shares near enough everything with an early Mini.
This Hornet, being a 1965, is pretty much a MK1 Mini. It shares the charming exterior door hinges, sliding windows and "magic wand" gearstick, for a fraction of the price. An equivalent Mk1 Mini would be £10-15, 000.