Wolseley 18-85 Introduction

The series cars were produced from 1938 until 1948 and in the 18/85 model range some 8,213 vehicles were produced. The vehicle was very much favoured by police forces and can be seen frequently in films and on television. For their time they were a very powerful vehicle with literally the capacity to climb the proverbial wall.

She is equipped with a 85 BHP straight 6 engine and equipped with twin S.U. carburettors which unusually are down draught. The later models had an electric choke which is operated from a switch on the dash. The interiors of the cars were lavishly appointed with plenty of polished timber and leather, and there was even a built in radio aerial concealed in the roof. Mind you the time clock was still a mechanical 7 day Smiths unit! They were also equipped with the Wolseley ‘Nightpass’ lighting system which worked in conjunction with the headlamps. Another feature was the “Jackall System” which allowed the car to be raised by simply accessing the operating pump through a hatch on the passenger front floor.

Despite the car reappearing after WW2 she was basically the pre-war model which allowed time for new models to be developed and come on stream, even still she remained to the fore in the fight against crime and the choice of many constabularies.