Wolseley 6/90

Infobox Automobile
name = Wolseley 6/90


manufacturer = BMC
production = 1954-1959
11852 madecite book |last=Robson |first=G. |title=A-Z of British Cars 1945-1980|year=2006 |publisher=Herridge Books |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 1-9541063-9-3]
class = FF Mid-size car
body_style = 4-door saloon
engine = 2.6 L "C-Series" I6
successor = Wolseley 6/99
predecessor = Wolseley 6/80
designer =
related = Riley Two-Point-Six
wheelbase = Auto in|113.5|0
length = Auto in|188|0
width = Auto in|678|0
height = Auto in|62|0 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) coupled to a four speed manual transmission. It rocked Wolseley traditionalists with a grey striped formica instrument panel and central large chrome mesh "cheese-cutter" speaker grille. The hand brake control was under the dash to the side of the steering column and the gearchange was column mounted opposite the dip switch. The leather trimmed front seats were munted closely together and the rear bench had a fold down centre arm rest.

5776 were made.

The Motor magazine tested a 6/90 in 1955 and found it to have a top speed of convert|96|mph|km/h|abbr=on and acceleration from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 17.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|21.6|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £1063 including taxes. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Wolseley 6/90| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = July 13 1955]

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.

eries 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. Overdrive and automatic transmissions were available as options.

In production for only 8 months, the Series II gave way to the Series III in 1958 after only 1024 had been made.

eries 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.

pecifications

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

Die-Cast Models

A model of the 6/90 was produced by Lansdowne in 2007.

References