Registration No: OV 2980
Chassis No: 4769CF3
MOT: Exempt

• Exceptionally rare Hornet Sportsman Coupe originally commissioned by Eustace Watkins
• Coachwork by Salmons and Sons in Newport Pagnell
• Highly original example in its original colour scheme
• In the ownership of just two families from new with current ownership since 1984
• Supplied with a comprehensive restoration between 1984 and 1987

The vogue for creating small cars of big performance pre-dates today's hot hatches by many decades, of which the Wolseley Hornets of 1930 to 1935 are ample proof. The trick was to insert six-cylinder OHC engines of 1271cc into unsuspecting modified Morris Minor chassis and then provide them with relatively lightweight bodies and wheels to create cars with considerably more get-up-and-go. The ‘Occasional-Four Coupe‘ is understood to have been originally commissioned for Eustace Watkins, a London dealer of Wolseleys located in Croydon from 1906 and at one time was the largest distributor of Wolseley cars in the world. Eustace Watkins offered custom coachwork, most notably the Wolseley Hornet Specials some of which were coachbuilt for Eustace Watkins.

Manufactured in 1931, 'OV 2980' was originally commissioned via Eustace Watkins and bodied in exceptionally rare Sportsman's Coupe coachwork with sunshine roof by Salmons and Sons, Newport Pagnell. Purchased new by the Roberts family, the Wolseley remained in their ownership until 1984. Requiring full restoration after being unused and stored in a garage/workshop for 35 years, it is a notably original and appreciating rarity. The late vendor purchased chassis 4769CF3 and embarked upon a comprehensive, body-off and chassis-up restoration, the chassis being fully refurbished before the original coachwork was renovated and presented in its original Fawn colour scheme.

The mechanicals were completely restored including the six-cylinder engine overhauled, and the interior was retrimmed. Completed in Spring 1987, since then, the Hornet had been in regular use including trips to Retromobile, Silverstone, and Shuttleworth, only stopping for coronavirus and sadly the vendor's passing last year. Starting readily and running well during the photography session, the Wolseley may require some recommissioning. Supplied with a history file that contains the original buff logbook, notebook documenting the current ownership journeys, numerous previous MOTs, previous invoices and tax discs, a letter from the original family owner’s daughter, VSCC eligibility document, letter from The Automobile editor for restoration feature, and V5C. A highly original example with exceptionally rare and attractive coachwork, this Sportsman's Coupe has remarkably been in the ownership of just two families from new.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452