Wolseley 6/90
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| Wolseley 6/90 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BMC |
| Production | 1954-1959 11852 made[1] |
| Predecessor | Wolseley 6/80 |
| Successor | Wolseley 6/99 |
| Class | FF Mid-size car |
| Body style(s) | 4-door saloon |
| Engine(s) | 2.6 L C-Series I6 |
| Wheelbase | 113.5 in (2883 mm) [2] |
| Length | 188 in (4775 mm) [2] |
| Width | 678 in (17221 mm) [2] |
| Height | 62 in (1575 mm) [2] |
| Related | Riley Two-Point-Six |
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)[2] 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. [1]
The Motor magazine tested a 6/90 in 1955 and found it to have a top speed of 96 mph (154 km/h) and acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 17.3 seconds. A fuel consumption of 21.6 miles per imperial gallon (13.1 L/100 km/18.0 mpg US) was recorded. The test car cost £1063 including taxes. [2]
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.
Contents |
[edit] 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[1].
[edit] 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[1].
6/90 production ended in 1959 with the introduction of the Pininfarina-designed 6/99.
