1932 Wolseley Hornet Sports

Estimate: £18,000 - £22,000*

Reg No: GW 5426 MOT: Exempt

Chassis No: 105274

The vogue for creating small cars of big performance pre-dates today’s ‘hot hatches’ by many decades, of which the Wolseley Hornets of 1930 to 1935 are ample proof. The trick was to insert six-cylinder OHC engines of 1271cc into unsuspecting modified Morris Minor chassis and then provide them with relatively lightweight bodies and wheels to create cars with considerably more get-up-and-go.

‘GW 5426’ was first registered in 1932 by Surrey Council and remained in the first owner’s care for 68 years. The second keeper, from the Salisbury area, purchased the very original but sadly dilapidated Hornet in April 2000, its sorry condition is captured by a few old photographs within the history file. During her second ownership, she was brought back to life, substantiated by invoices on file showing c.£12,000 spent on bodywork and associated parts. This pretty Wolseley Hornet which is on offer today presents well and retains some of that original patina and character, it comes complete with V5C, buff registration booklets, invoices for repairs and a few photographs.