1923 Wolseley A9 Colonial Tourer

Lot details
Registration No: SV 5430
Chassis No: 55170
Mot Expiry: April 2006

Introduced in 1919, the Wolseley 15hp was a singularly advanced design. Drawing heavily on its maker's WW1 aero-engine building experience, it featured a 2.6 litre OHC four-pot engine (complete with detachable cylinder head) that was claimed to give "a sense of unlimited power either on hills or on the level, yet . . . is only rated at 15.6hp and has a correspondingly low fuel consumption". Based around a robust ladder-frame chassis equipped with quarter-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension and rear wheel brakes, it initially employed a three-speed manual gearbox and worm final drive (though, these latter two were soon supplanted by four-speed and spiral bevel components respectively).
Finished in blue over black with blue leather upholstery, this particular example is variously described by the vendor as being in "good" (engine, four-speed gearbox, electrical equipment, chassis, bodywork, paintwork) or "excellent" (interior trim, wheels / tyres) order. According to its accompanying Heritage Certificate, chassis 55170 was "apparently ordered by Prosser of Glasgow originally, but went to Bryants of Birmingham on consignment before being returned to the Works and shipped to New Zealand via London on 31st January 1924". Perhaps with unmade antipodean roads in mind, it was fitted with a "wide track chassis, extra petrol tin and carrier, magneto ignition and low rear axle ratio". Returning to the UK in 1991, the Wolseley was in remarkably original if tired condition. Acquired by its previous keeper in late 1993, it was subsequently treated to an extensive 'chassis up' restoration. However, while its front axle was badly worn, the car's back axle and gearbox were deemed to need little more than cleaning. Given a bottom-end rebuild and new camshaft timing gears etc, the engine turned out to be the factory-fitted unit! Similarly only two of the original numbered floor panels were found to need replacement. In addition to the above work carried out by David Palmer, the Wolseley was resprayed (£2,074), retrimmed (£4,000) and shod with new rubber (£1,048). In all the refurbishment is estimated to have cost £25,000 but proved good enough for chassis 55170 to take "second place in the 1995 Wolseley centenary rally". In the current ownership since 2002, the car was returned to David Palmer last year for a "service and engine re-tune" (£1,234). Consequently said to be "running very well", this rare Second Series A9 Colonial Tourer (reputedly one of two known survivors) is offered for sale with photographic restoration record, history file (sundry bills, November 1995 Automobile magazine feature article etc) and MOT certificate valid until April 17th 2006.

PLEASE NOTE: We have not had this vehicle running.