Wolseley Nine 'Eustace Watkins tourer', 1935 information

The Wolseley Nine was built in the years 1934 and 1935 next to the more expensive and more sporty Wolseley Hornet. The Hornet featured a six cylinder engine, the Wolseley Nine was fitted with a four cylinder engine. This renown engine was a Wolseley design with overhead valves (OHV), it was also used in the MG Midget 'M' types and the Morris Minor.
The Nine featured very modern items like hydraulic operated brakes all round and a synchronized four speed gearbox.
In the two years of production a total of 7201 Wolseley Nine cars have been built, most of the cars were four door saloon models. The Nine 'open tourer' model was in limited production so the car was rare then as it is now. The presented open tourer built by the London firm of Eustace Watkins is the rarest model we know of. Only 49 were built and only two are known to survive. This car and one in the UK.

Technical data

Four cylinder in-line engine (OHV)
cylinder capacity: 1018 cc.
carburettor(s): 1x SU
capacity: approx. 32 bhp at 4000 rpm.
top-speed: 59 mph. - 95 km/h.
gearbox: 4-speed, manual
brakes: hydraulic operated drums all round
weight: approx. 850 kg.

Information

Wolseley Nine 'Eustace Watkins tourer', year 1935. Colour bordeaux red over black with a red leather interior. Black hood and hood cover, white enameled wire wheels. This is a very rare Wolseley Nine 'Eustace Watkins tourer! Only 49 of these special bodied Wolseley Nine cars have been built by Eustace Watkins of London. Only two cars are known to survive, one in the UK and this one in the Netherlands. A Dutch car enthusiast found the car on a junkyard in Hull in the year 1961. He loved the Wolseley at first sight and he decided to take the car home. The deteriorated soft top fabric blew away on the ferry crossing the Channel and importing the car the fresh buyer found the import duties almost as high as the initial purchase cost. In order to restore the Wolseley the owner contacted British Motor Corporation for information on the car. The factory was unfamiliar with the bodywork on this Wolseley Nine. Now the owner believed his Wolseley bodywork was crafted by a private person. In order to get the car restored properly the owner had ongoing correspondence with Mr. Morrish of the technical Service department. This vast correspondence is present in the history file! The restoration was completed in the year 1963.
In 1964 the owner visited Beaulieu in England where he found the answer to the origin of the Wolseley! He met library archivist Mr. Bellamy who informed him that his beautifully restored Wolseley Nine was bodied by the London firm of Eustace Watkins. Mr. Bellamy showed articles on the car published in 'The Motor' and 'The Autocar' both dated February 1934.
Watkins offered two body styles on the Wolseley Nine chassis, a closed saloon and an open tourer. The open tourer was priced at £ 195,-- according to the articles.
It is incredible to see what the owner/restorer was able to find about the car in the pre-internet age. A wealth of information, documentation, technical drawings and photo's are beautifully presented in the history file which comes with this rare Wolseley Nine Eustace Watkins tourer. The car with the history file is a collection in itself, rare and very desirable! Exclusivity within reach of the true enthusiast!

This vintage car was sold to Hungary
by Altena Classic Service.

sales@altenaclassicservice.nl
Altena Classic Service
Telephone international: +31 524 56 11 22