1961 Wolseley 15/60

WOLSELEY 15/60 AND 16/60 1959 - 1971

The Wolseley 15/60 was the original entry in the British Motor Corporation's five-car 1 1/2 litre 'Farina' range of front engine rear-wheel drive five-seater saloons. In 1961 it was replaced by the more powerful 16/60 which remained in production until 1971.

December 1958 saw the launch of the Wolseley 15/60 and the Italianate lines of its unitary body quickly earned it the name 'Farina'. It shared an engine with the subsequent Austin A55 Cambridge Mk. II and the Morris Oxford Series V, along with its cam and lever steering, all-round drum brakes and independent front coil springs and wishbones with rear semi-elliptic leaf springs. However, the interior was more luxurious and the standard fittings included a walnut veneer dashboard and a reversing lamp. Unlike the Morris and the Austin, a steering column manual gear change was not available.

By October 1961 the 15/60 was replaced by the Wolseley 16/60, which had less exaggerated tail fins and modified brightwork, a wider track, a longer wheelbase, greater power and fore and aft anti-roll bars on both axles. Automatic transmission with a steering column-mounted selector was now an optional extra. From 1968 onwards, Ambla trim replaced the leather upholstery. Wolseley 16/60 production ceased in the spring of 1971.

Power for the Wolseley 15/60 was from a 1,489cc S4 OHV engine while the 16/60 had a 1,622cc S4 OHV unit on the Series VI, both with single SU carburettors. The standard gearbox was a four-speed manual transmission, with synchromesh on the top three gears, with Borg Warner Model 35 three-speed automatic transmission as an extra.

Neither the Wolseley 15/60 nor the16/60 are cars for the press-on driver but as a combination of the virtues of the Morris and the Austin - capaciousness, robust engineering and the charming styling - with a more opulent interior, they have great appeal. The 15/60 is sought after for its distinctive lines but the 16/60 is easier to drive in modern conditions.

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Mechanical parts for the Wolseley are comparatively easy to find and maintain but 15/60 rear wings can be hard to find as can the brightwork. The wood fascia and door cappings can prove expensive to re-veneer, and as can worn leather interiors. Together with its Austin and Morris counterparts , a Wolseley with a high mileage can suffer from weak synchromesh on 2nd gear and attention should be paid to the rear arches, rear spring hangers, the inner and outer sills, front floorplans and outrigger and wings plus the A-pillars. Tired steering boxes are another common issue.

Rivals to the Wolseley 15/60 and 16/60 include the Ford Consul Corsair and Corsair V4 and the Singer Gazelle and Vogue.