Wolseley 15/60

Infobox Automobile
name = Wolseley 15/60 and 16/60


manufacturer = BMC
production = 1958-1971
87,661
class = FF Mid-size car
body_style = 4-door saloon
engine =
successor = Wolseley 18/85
designer =
related =
wheelbase =
length =
width =

The Wolseley 15/60 was the first of the mid-sized Pinin Farina-styled automobiles from the British Motor Corporation (BMC). Launched in December 1958, the design would eventually be shared with seven other marques. All of the cars were updated in 1961 with a larger engine and new model designations. The Wolseley 16/60 was the last in production in until 24 April 1971.

Note that there were two other Farina-styled car lines launched by BMC at the same time — the compact Austin A40 Farina and large Wolseley 6/99/Austin A99 Westminster and derivatives.

Wolseley 15/60

Infobox Automobile
name = Wolseley 15/60


manufacturer = BMC
production = 1958-1961
24,579
class =
body_style =
engine = 1.5 L "B-Series" I4
successor =
designer =
related = Austin A55 Cambridge
MG Magnette Mk. III
Morris Oxford V
Riley 4/68
Di Tella 1500
wheelbase = 99 inches (2514 mm)cite book |last=Manwaring |first=L.A. |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Observer Book of Automobiles |year=1960 |publisher=Frederick Warne |location=London ]
length = 178 inches (4520 mm)
width = 63 inches (1600 mm)
height = Auto in|59.25|0

The first generation of the mid-sized unitary construction Farinas was introduced with the Wolseley 15/60. Within months, the similar Riley 4/68, Austin A55 Cambridge Mark II, MG Magnette Mark III, and Morris Oxford V appeared as well. With its leather seats and polished wooden dashboard the Wolseley was positioned as the up-market non-sporting version in the range.

All five cars used the 1.5 L (1489 cc) "B-Series" straight-4 engine, though different tuning gave varying power output. The Wolseley, together with the Austin Cambridge and the Morris Oxford, was at the bottom and with its single SU carburettor gave just 52 hp (39 kW). The front suspension was independent using coil springs with a live axle and semi elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The brakes were by Girling, hydraulically operated, with Auto in|9.|0 drums. A cam and peg steering system was used.

The upholstery was in leather and had individual front seats that were set closely together to allow a central passenger to be carried allowing the car to be advertised as seating six although there was a floor mounted gear lever. The handbrake was between the driver's seat and the door. The rear seat had a folding central armrest. Wood veneer was used on the facia and door cappings. A Smiths heater was fitted as standard. Either single or, as an option, two colour paint was used.

Later, the Farina design was licensed in Argentina and produced as the Di Tella 1500/Traveller/Argenta. Austin Cambridge CKD kits were assembled in The Netherlands (Molenaar-Amersfoort), Rhodesia, New Zealand and Australia.

A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1959 had a top speed of convert|76.6|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 25.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|31.0|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £991 including taxes of £331. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Wolseley Fifteen-Sixty| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = January 21 1959]

Wolseley 16/60

Infobox Automobile
name = Wolseley 16/60


manufacturer = BMC
production = 1961-1971
63,082
class =
body_style =
engine = 1.6 L "B-Series" I4
successor =
designer =
related = Austin A60 Cambridge
MG Magnette Mark IV
Morris Oxford VI
Riley 4/72
wheelbase =
length =
width = Most of these cars lasted only until 1961, though the Di Tellas remained for four more years. The models were replaced with a slightly modified Farina body style and most were renamed. These were the Austin A60 Cambridge, MG Magnette Mark IV, Morris Oxford VI, Riley 4/72, and Wolseley 16/60. These mostly remained in production through to 1968; with no rear wheel drive Wolseley-badged replacement produced, the Wolseley model remained until 1971.

The 16/60 models generally used the 1.6 L (1622 cc) "B-Series" engine. Again, the Wolseley tailed the pack at 61 hp (46 kW).

Clubs

An enthusiastic and active worldwide owners' club, the Cambridge-Oxford Owners Club, caters for these cars and their related BMC siblings. The club aims to keep the cars on the road, provides advice, spares and a social forum for enjoying the cars.

ee also

* Wolseley 24/80 — a six-cylinder car derived from the British model and produced in Australia between 1962 and 1965.

References

External links

* [http://www.co-oc.org/ Cambridge-Oxford Owners' Club]