Wolseley Hornet Special Club - History

History of the Wolseley Hornet, 1930 - 1931

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A vogue for small six – cylinder engines led to the introduction of the Wolseley Hornet engine, which had its origins from the First World War, when Wolseley Motors made Hispano Suiza engines, under license for fighter aeroplanes like the S.E.5a.

Post the Great War the 10 hp. Wolseley had an overhead camshaft and by the late 1920’s it had evolved into a small 4 cylinder O.H.C. 848cc engine, which was subsequently the basis of Cecil Kimber’s M type Midget. In 1930 Wolseley Motors added two more cylinders to the Minor’s 848 cc engine, producing a six cylinder O.H.C. engine of 57mm bore and 83m stroke giving 1271cc’s, with a vertical dynamo driving the camshaft. This engine was used to power the first Hornet saloons produced in 1930, the chassis of which was on an extended Morris Minor chassis. With its O.H.C and hydraulic brakes, it broke new ground and from 1931 it was also made available in chassis form. It was not long before the sporting potential of this light car was realised and soon many of the 60 or so coach builders around in those days, such as Swallow Side Cars, tried their hand at designing a sporting bodywork on the chassis, producing both two and four open seater cars and coupes. One of the earliest produced was an Abbey bodied car, built for the London based dealer Eustace Watkins Ltd. (EW), which were characterised by a slatted radiator that you could control the airflow through. The vertical dynamo, 3 speed gearbox and central accelerator pedal. Specialist tuners such as Derrington and McEvoy were also quick to see the potential of this Hornet’s lively 1271cc engine, and they developed a remote control for the 3 speed gearboxes, an improved camshaft, twin carburettor conversions and even superchargers to extract more power.

The Hornet engine became the basis of all six cylinder O.H.C. M.G. engines, the F type was the same engine as the early Hornet. This engine had all the ports to the valves on the same side (not crossflow) and a single carburettor. Later Hornets moved away from the vertical dynamo, which the M.G.’s retained.

Picture of an Abbey bodied Hornet Sports for Eustace Watkins DV9087

History of the Wolseley Hornet, 1932 - 1933

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In April 1932 the Wolseley Company bowed to the inevitabe and marketed the Hornet in chassis form only to become the Hornet Special. Even more coach builders became involved and the Hornet was now available in a wide variety of guises to suit every taste.

The Wolseley Special chassis was slightly different to the 1931 extended Morris Minor one; which now had 12-inch hydraulic brakes and a 4 speed gearbox with remote control as standard. Other engine modifications included a change to chain drive, which shortened the engine, from the vertical dynamo drive, twin carburettors and an oil cooler. From 1932 these Hornet Specials sported a new radiator design that was characterised by a single chrome embellishment vertically down the middle of the shell.

Some of the Wolseley Hornet Specials were entered into various sporting events of the time, with perhaps the most notable being the 1932 double twelve relay race at Brooklands Race Track at Weybridge. It was here that they won with a respectable average speed of 77.57 mph, with the fastest member averaging 82m.p.h. The winning team was entered by F.S. Hutchens and the supporting drivers were B.H. Wickens and E.J. Erith. The team comprised of two E.W.- Daytona cars (named after the American Beach which hosted world record breaking events) and a 1931 E.W International bodied car (not a Special chassis).

In 1933 Wolseley made some more changes to the drive train making it more robust (and heavier), but the chassis and engine were largely unchanged. The typical cost of an E.W. Special was £298 in 1933.

The 3 cars at Brookland Double 12

Picture from Bill Boddy’s Archive courtesy of R H Dupuy

History of the Wolseley Hornet, 1934 - 1935

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In late 1933 ready for 1934 season, Wolseley Motors announced a new Hornet Special chassis. It was an under slung arrangement of the rear axle, with a cross bracing design, which was expected to reduce some of the flexibility that had been experienced in the previous over slung chassis.

There were also more changes to the engine, mainly a new cross flow design cylinder head, still with twin carburettors, and a new block. The gearbox now incorporated synchromesh on 3rd to 4th gear and a free wheel arrangement, (which was only retained for 1934). The radiator design became more rakish and was characterised by a U shaped chrome embellishment, where the earlier cars only had a single strip. The bodies however had now put on a lot of weight, but with only a small increase in performance (45bhp). The Wolseley Hornet specials had become more touring cars than sports cars.

In 1935 Wolseley Motors installed the 14hp engine of 61.5 mm bore and 90mm stroke with a full 12 port cross flow head giving the engine 1604cc. The chassis remained basically the same as the 34 car but the free wheel had disappeared. The engine whilst still retaining the original 1" inch and 1/8th S.U was now up to 50bhp but the engine somewhat restricted them. These 1935 cars had yet another new radiator shell which was deeper to accommodate the taller radiator, and had reverted back to a single vertical chrome embellishment.

Throughout its life the Hornet Special has represented variety, value for money, and fun. By 1935 the car industry was beginning to hit troubled times again, and Sir William Morris decided to rationalise his car production. MG retained sports car production as by now the marque had built up a solid reputation in competition which aided their sales. The Wolseley Hornet Special disappeared, as did the O.H.C. engine Morris replaced the MG with an over head valve pushrod engine.

Left: 1935 Eustace Watkins Daytona Four Seater. Note the deeper radiator with single vertical embellishment, the absence of a headlamp cross brace bar.

Right: 1934 Eustace Watkins Daytona four seater. Note the U shaped chrome radiator embellishment with the new illuminated Wolseley badge with white background.