Description
WOLSELEY 18/ 85 S-FAB CONDITION- MOVIE STAR FROM" THE IRON LADY" WITH MERYL STREEP
SIMPLY A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE LUXURY WOLESLEY 1885
“THIS VERY CAR FEATURES IN THE 2011 "PATHE" MOVIE "THE IRON LADY" IN WHICH MERYL STREEP PORTRAYS BARONESS LADY MARGARET THATCHER, INCLUDING SCENES OF HER DRIVING THE CAR.”
THIS STUNNING LIME FLOWER WOLSELEY 18/ 85 S MKII IS THE VERY CAR THAT GRACED THE SILVER SCREENS, DRIVEN BY MERYL STREEP IN THE FEATURE FILM 'THE IRON LADY'. LSE 256J IS A MATCH FOR WHAT MARGARET THATCHER DROVE MANY, MANY YEARS AGO AND THIS RARE CAR NOW GIVES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SOMEONE TO BECOME CUSTODIAN OF A PIECE OF BRITISH HISTORY. THIS RARE, COLLECTABLE CAR NOT ONLY HAS PROVENANCE, BUT SINCE SELLING BY THE LAST OWNER IN 2013, HAS HAD A REMARKABLE £8, 000 SPENT ON MAKING THIS AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING EXAMPLE WORTHY OF ENTERING SHOWS AND RALLIES WITH THE LIKELY HOOD OF BEING "A WINNER".
THE WOLSELEY 18. 85 MKII S WAS BRITAIN'S TOP OF THE RANGE HOME GROWN TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED FAMILY SALOON CAR AND SURVIVORS TODAY ARE RECORDED (2025) AS MERELY 6 IN NUMBER OF WHICH THIS IS ONE AND LIKELY THE VERY BEST. ACCORDINGLY, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY RARE CAR AND WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR, HAVING HAD SO MUCH RECENT EXPENDITURE, MAKES IT AN IDEAL COLLECTOR'S PIECE. THE 'LAND CRAB' AS THE CAR BECAME KNOWN, WAS LAUNCHED IN 1964 AS THE AUSTIN 1800 AND LATER MORRIS 1800, HOWEVER THE TOP OF THE RANGE WOLSELEY VERSION DID NOT REACH THE MARKET UNTIL 1967 AND WAS MUCH MORE UPMARKET WITH MORE LUXURIOUS TRIM AND CLASSY STYLING. THE 18/ 85 FEATURED A RE-DESIGNED NOSE, ADDITIONAL CHROME TRIMS, RUBBER FACED OVER-RIDERS WITH THE INTERIOR FEATURING MUCH HIGHER QUALITY SEATS, WALNUT DOOR CAPPING'S AND DASHBOARD WITH DIAL TYPE INSTRUMENTS. THE MKII WAS INTRODUCED IN THE SPRING OF 1969 AND LATER THAT YEAR SAW THE LAUNCH OF THE 'S' WHICH BOASTED TWIN CARBURETTORS, A DIFFERENT MANIFOLD AND EXHAUST SET UP. THIS EXAMPLE HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO A MORE FUEL EFFICIENT SINGLE CARBURETTOR BUT DOES STILL CARRY THE RARE METAL SIDE RUBBING STRIPS AND SPORT S EMBLEM ON THE REAR SETTING IT APART FROM OTHER WOLSELEY 18/ 85's.
PRIOR TO SELLING DURING 2013 THE PREVIOUS OWNER TREATED THE 18/ 85 S TO VARIOUS NEW PARTS TO INCLUDE BALL JOINT GAITERS, FRONT TIE BAR RUBBERS, METAL BRAKE PIPES, CV GAITER, REGULATOR, NEW LOWER ENGINE STEADY BAR RUBBERS, FRONT BRAKE FLEXIBLE HOSES AND REGULAR SERVICE ITEMS. SINCE THEN £8000 HAS BEEN SPENT ON SUBSTANTIAL BODYWORK THAT INCLUDED CUTTING OUT POOR METAL WORK, LETTING IN NEW SECTIONS AND FULLY PREPARING THE BODY FOR A COMPLETE BARE METAL RE-SPRAY TO A HIGH STANDARD, AS A RESULT THE WOLSELEY LOOKS STUNNING, IDEAL FOR SHOWS OR EVEN A MUSEUM. THE UPHOLSTERY HAS HAD OVER £1000 SPENT ON IT INCLUDING NEW CARPETS, A NEW HEADLINING AND PROFESSIONAL SEAT REPAIRS. THE WOODWORK HAS BEEN REMOVED, RE-VENEERED AND POLISHED AND RE-FITTED. SO, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR IS TRULY FIRST CLASS WITH SEVERAL THOUSAND POUNDS ALSO SPENT ON MECHANICAL WORK TO INCLUDE A NEW CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER, REAR SUSPENSION WORK TO INCLUDE HYDROLASTIC VALVES, NEW DYNAMO/ PAS BELT, NEW WASHER PUMP, TRACK ROD ENDS AND SERVICE WORK. THE RADIO HAS BEEN RE-WIRED, THE CLOCK AND SPEEDO SENT AWAY FOR RE-CONDITIONING AND HAVING HAD THIS EXPENDITURE, THE CAR IS NOW AS IT SHOULD BE, SIMPLY STUNNING !
LSE 256J DRIVES AS YOU WOULD EXPECT AN ALMOST NEW 18/ 85 TO DRIVE. IT IS SURPRISINGLY FAST, THE POWER STEERING FEELS PERFECT, THE CAR HANDLES, BRAKES AND RUNS SUPERBLY. THE GEAR CHANGES ARE SMOOTH, THE CAR SOUNDS FANTASTIC AND WITH A STUNNING, GLEAMING PAINT FINISH IT REALLY DOES TICK ALL THE BOXES. THIS IS A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY, SOMEWHAT UNREPEATABLE CONSIDERING THE RARITY OF THESE CARS, THE RECENT EXPENDITURE AND OF COURSE THE FILM/ MOVIE HISTORY. THE CAR COMES WITH ORIGINAL HANDBOOK, WORKSHOP MANUAL, 'THE IRON LADY' PRESS CLIPPINGS AND INVOICES FOR THE RECENT WORK CARRIED OUT.
ALL BODY PANELS ARE STRAIGHT AND TRUE. THERE ARE NO DENTS ETC. THE GLEAMING LIME FLOWER PAINTWORK IS IN EXCELLENT ORDER PROVIDING A DEEP SHINE. THERE ARE NO SCRATCHES, SCUFFS OR MARKS. THE CAR IS WIND AND WATER TIGHT. THE ORIGINAL WHEELS AND CHROME TRIMS SIT ON MATCHING TYRES WITH AMPLE TREAD. THE GLASS, CHROME WORK AND OTHER TRIM ETC ARE IN GREAT SHAPE. IN ESSENCE, THIS IS A TRULY STUNNING AND RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WOLESLEY 18/ 85 S AND PROBABLY THE VERY BEST OF THE VERY FEW (6 IN 2025) REMAINING EXAMPLES.
THE INTERIOR IS ALSO OF VERY GOOD ORDER, OF IT'S ORIGINAL APPEARANCE, CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED. THERE ARE NO TEARS, UNSIGHTLY SCUFFS OR MARKS, SIGNS OF WEAR OR DISCOLORATION. ALL IS IN TACT, FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED, COMFORTABLE AND VERY PLEASANT TO THE EYE.
THE CHASSIS AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN AND SOLID IN ALL AREAS, AS ARE THE FLOOR PANS ETC. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ROT/ RUST ANYWHERE.
THE BOOT - AGAIN VERY CLEAN, SOLID AND UN-CLUTTERED.
ENGINE BAY - AS PER THE BOOT.
ENGINE - THE ENGINE IS RELIABLE, AGILE AND RESPONSIVE, STARTS FIRST TIME OF ASKING EVERY TIME. IT SOUNDS GREAT THROUGH THE GEARBOX AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.
TRANSMISSION - THE 4 SPEED ALL SYNCHROMESH MANUAL GEAR BOX IS LIKE THE ENGINE, AGILE, RESPONSIVE AND SMOOTH TO THE CHANGE.
BRAKES -SPOT ON !
FULL SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN.
ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A FANTASTIC WOLESLEY 18/ 85 S WHICH IS MUCH ADMIRED AND SUCH A PLEASURE TO DRIVE OR BE DRIVEN IN. THE CAR ALWAYS BRINGS AN INSTANT AND ENDURING SMILE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A PIECE OF GENUINE BRITISH MOTORING AND FILM HISTORY.
THE BIG WOLSELEY COMES WITH IT'S CURRENT V5c, A LARGE BUNDLE OF INVOICES EXCEEDING £11, 000 IN VALUE, MOT CERTIFICATES FROM 1998 T0 2017 AND OLD SCHOOL ROAD TAX DISCS TOGETHER WITH A FULLY ILLUSTRATED BL OWNERS MANUAL.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SIMPLY CALL ME ON – the details below. TELEPHONY IS MY PREFERRED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S NICE TO TALK ! I AM A WELCOMING, COURTEOUS AND POLITE INDIVIDUAL. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SEND EMAILS AND TEXTS ARE MERELY FILLING THEIR TIME AT THE COST OF MINE.
I HAVE VIDEOS WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SEND UPON REQUEST FROM GENUINELY INTERESTED PARTIES WITH "WHATTSAPP."
DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND AREAS CAN BE ARRANGED SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON COST AND FULL ADVANCE PAYMENT.
THANK YOU !
