Wolseley 6/90

Wolseley
Wolseley 6/90 Mark III (1958)
6/90
Sales designation:	6/90
Production period:	1954-1959
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.6 liters (70-75 kW)
Length:	4775 mm
Width:	1702 mm
Height:	1575 mm
Wheelbase :	2883 mm
Empty weight :	1486 kg
Previous model	Wolseley 6/80
successor	Wolseley 6/99

The Wolseley 6/90 was an upper middle class passenger car manufactured by the British car manufacturer Wolseley from 1954 to 1959. It replaced the 6/80 as the top model.

Series I.

Although Wolseley was then under the control of Lord Nuffield and BMC and soon took part in their badge engineering activities, the 6/90 appears as a separate Wolseley model. It was based on the design of the Riley Pathfinder , but did not have its complicated rear suspension. The 6/90 had a BMC-C six-cylinder in-line engine, which had a capacity of 2639 cc, made 95 bhp (70 kW) and was coupled with a manual four-speed gearbox. The dashboard made of striped, gray plastic with a large, chrome-plated loudspeaker grille (“cheese cutter”!) In the middle was considered a controversial innovation. The handbrake was installed under the dashboard next to the steering column and the gearshift lever was mounted on the steering column opposite the high beam switch. The front leather seats were built close together and the rear bench had a fold-out center armrest.

5776 copies were made.

In 1955, during a test, the magazine “The Motor” determined a top speed of 154 km / h and an acceleration of 0-100 km / h in 17.3 seconds. The fuel consumption was 13.1 l / 100 km and the test car price was £ 1,063 including taxes.

Series II

The 6/90 of the Series II, which were introduced in 1957, had leaf springs on the driven rear axle, a conventional dashboard decorated with walnut veneer and a gearshift lever that was mounted on the right side of the seat - on the right-hand drive car (!). Overdrive and automatic transmission were available on request. The engine output increased to 97 bhp (72 kW).

In 1958, after only eight months of production, the Series II was replaced by the Series III; 1024 copies of Series II were now made.

Series III

The Series III had bigger brakes, a brake booster, a larger rear window and a 101 bhp (75 kW) engine. This car was also available as the Riley 2.6 , which unsuccessfully inherited the Riley Pathfinder .

1959 ended the production of the 6/90 after the introduction of the model 6/99 drawn by Pininfarina . A total of 11,852 Wolseley 6/90 were made. Leonard Lord, the boss of BMC, replaced the designer of the car, Gerald Palmer, with Alec Issigonis .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} D. Culshaw, P. Horrobin: Complete Catalog of British Cars. Macmillan, London 1974, ISBN 0-333-16689-2 .
2. ^ ^{A b} The Wolseley Six-Ninety. In: The Motor. July 13, 1955.
3. ^ G. Robson: AZ of British Cars 1945–1980. Herridge Books, Devon 2006, ISBN 0-9541063-9-3 .