1956 - Wolseley - 6/90

The Wolseley 6/90 was a car from the British Wolseley Motor Company, produced from 1954-59, which replaced the 6/80 as the company's flagship model.
Though Wolseley was then well under the control of Lord Nuffield and BMC, and would soon be heavily involved in their badge engineering, the 6/90 seemed a true Wolseley. It was based on the work previously done for the Riley Pathfinder though it did without the Mark I Pathfinder's sophisticated rear suspension. The 6/90 used the BMC C-Series straight-6, an engine that produced 95 hp (71 kW). It rocked Wolseley traditionalists with a grey striped formica instrument panel and central large chrome "cheese-cutter" speaker grille.
It is also somewhat notorious for leading to the sacking of its designer Gerald Palmer (by BMC's Leonard Lord) in favour of Alec Issigonis.


Series II
Series II 6/90s, introduced for 1957, included leaf springs on the live axle in the rear, a more conventional walnut dash and a floor-mounted gear lever — unusually on the right-hand side, on right-hand-drive cars. In production for only 8 months, the Series II gave way to the Series III in 1958 after only 1024 had been made.


Series III
The Series III included larger power brakes and a larger rear window. This design was also available, rebadged, as Riley's Pathfinder replacement, the ill-fated Two-Point-Six. 5052 were made.

6/90 production ended in 1959 with the introduction of the Pininfarina-designed 6/99.


Specifications
• Engine: 2.6 L (2639 cc) C-Series I6, 95 hp (71 kW)


Launched in 1956 the Series II 6/90 made a brief appearance as an improved version of the earlier 6/90. Main differences were confined to a restyled facia, revised rear suspension and a side-mounted floor gear change. The floor change was a welcome addition as it disposed of the previous, woolly column change arrangement.
In typical, almost laughable fashion the Wolseley 6/90 Series II was a panic reaction to the earlier cars weaknesses, which had been flagged up by dealers and customers. Because some other modifications were also needed the Series II made way for the Series III 6/90 after only 8 months of production in 1957.
In 1954 the new Wolseley 6/90 was introduced with a new BMC twin SU Six cylinder engine, called the 'C' series, of 2693cc and four main bearings. It used the same 89mm stroke of the 'B' series, and also shared its timing sprockets, chain, and cover, with the smaller 'A' and 'B' series. This 95bhp Wolseley was a fast car, and many Police Forces purchased them. The sister car, the Riley 2.6, gained the same engine in 1956. Prior to the better known Wolseley, a Morris 'Isis' six cylinder car was shown at the 1954 Motor Show. It had an 85bhp 'C' series engine with a single SU carburettor.
The new engine was a product of Morris Engines, not Austin, and things like the camshaft being on the opposite side to the 'A' and 'B' series, a proper Reynolds chain tensioner, as well as solid little ends, show the design differences. However, Morris Engines had put the cylinder head holding down studs through the cast-in-situ inlet manifold, not good practice for good airflow. This six cylinder engine gave the big BMC saloons the edge on their Ford and Vauxhall competition, as it had more torque, even though the Austin A90 version in late 1954 still used a down-draught Zenith carburettor.
It was about this time BMC were improving the Riley Pathfinder that used the high-camshaft Riley four cylinder engine. The replacement model was to be called the Riley 2.6, and used the BMC 'C' series. An M.G. version was almost made as a development car, but never taken seriously. More interesting was a 'Z' Magnette fitted with a 'C' series engine giving very good straight line performance.
Healey had been using the big BMC saloon running gear, in the 2.6 litre four cylinder Austin Healey 100, and in 1956 adopted the 'C' series to make the sports car the 100/6. This was the Austin A105 engine with the Wolseley twin SUs and 102bhp, giving excellent performance. The cylinderhead was soon improved with a decent manifold, and power grew to 117bhp @ 4750rpm.

....And, when you turn on the lights...it lights up...!!!!

All the wheel cylinders sleeved, new fuel lines. Most of the mechanicals have been done...!

Other then the driver's seat, cleaning should help a lot...should be able to do a patch under that tear on the seat bottom...Rear package tray needs repair but other then that a good clean will help!!!!!

Strangest lines I've seen in an English car...hmm..ugly?...interesting???...neat???...not sure????...

Will be interesting to see what a complete polish and clean will do!!!!. Anyway, it drove out under its own power and drove back in...can't be all bad!

All the wood has lost most of the finish...!

The passenger seat and rear seat are still in pretty good condition!!!!!

The 6/90 has an Austin Healey (BMC-Series C) engine with dual SU's...engine turned over and started after 2 years...seems to run like a clock!!! It had bearings/rings about 5 years ago and hasn't been run much since. Have a sticking float and the mile long trip home was a treat...what a shifter!!!!

Well, two hours working on the front fenders and bonnet... dirt was embedded in the paint... anyway, bit of elbow grease and cleaner and wax helped a little bit....now the doors, rear end and top...!!!!

The 1953 MGTD and the 'new car'.!!!!

Well, a new battery and a new SU fuel pump and it seems to keep running...took it out for a 10 mile drive today, August 8th/07...!!!! Fairly smooth...bit of play in the steering...gear change linkage needs a lot of adjustment... engine seems smooth and strong...ran a tad hot, but not bad for an 80 degree day!!!

Hard to keep it below 50.!!!!

Used the roll of Wolseley Vinyl (Rexine?) to fabricate a new rear package tray'.!!!!

Didn't have quite enough for the 'security pouch in the rear window (what were they thinking)!!!

Ready for a car show...just have to polish the rust.!!!!

Pulled all the wood except the main dash panel.!!!!

Someone had added varathane or something over the factory finish...like iron.!!!!

Now to stain and varnish.!!!!

Replaced the padded dash piece along the upper dashboard!

1st coat of varnish.!!!!

Wood window side pieces.!!!!

A trip to the local 'Wolseley 6/90 Leather Supply Shop' got me a new leather shifter boot!!!

The glove box door is also veneered!!!

Test fit of new wood...

Refinished air cleaner assembly and polished intake...

Wheels sand blasted, primed and re-painted

Rim-embelisher (?) installed...!

Doing one wheel at a time...shouldn't have thrown away the old tire...

Pulled the valve cover and stripped and painted it...

All 5 wheels sandblasted, primed and painted....

Now to decide on the cream colour, both are pretty close....

A Photoshoped version of what it might look like in ivory....

Bushings all finished and headed back to the garage....

Not that Tom didn't say "Get that thing out of my garage...."

Time to repair the driver's seat...quite a job just to get the leather off the frame!"

Adding foam to the 'waffles' worked well on the TD seat...seems to have firmed this one up as well...."

Had help sewing the new piece of leather in place...now for the back of the seat. (That seat is quite something to take apart...over an hour to strip it....!!!)

Well, the new leather is sewn in place....and had to rebuild the armrest...the old foam had turned 'crunchy'...!!!

After having a new seam split, i stripped the seat and redid the seams...

Talk about a tricky seat...won't try that again!!!!

The new rocer panels/sills a company in town formed...

Got it to the body shop and spent a couple of hours stripping some trim!

The passenger sill is almost done after 2 days!!!!

The whole side is almost done... one more to go, then the rear door and fender!!!!

The passenger side almost ready to prime...!!!!

The driver's side was much better and about half the time...!!!!

The safety has been done and the new plates are on...!!!!

Back home from the body shop...phase 1 done...!!!!

One panel at a time...sanded and primed..still bodywork to do on it...!!!! Really just want to change the colour...!!!!

Two hours to make a bracket to hold the radio blank...

Slowly changing the colour...to primer for now.

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Wolseley 6/90 Photo Library Click Here.