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Wolseley
Motor Cars
1940s
Britain

History

Wolseley 4/5

Wolseley 4/50 (1948-1953)
Overview
Production 1948-1953 8925 built
Body style 4-door saloon
Class Motor car
Total built  8925
Engine 1.5 L Morris I4
Wheelbase 102 inches (2591 mm)
Length 170 inches (4267 mm)
Width 66 inches (1676 mm)
Height 63 in (1,600 mm)
Successor Wolseley 4/44

 

The Wolseley 4/50 was a post-war automobile from Wolseley Motors built from 1948 to 1953.

History

The Wolseley 4/50 was the first post-war automobile models for ten years. Similar to the Six-Eighty and are almost alike in outward appearance but differ widely in power The 4-cylinder 4/50 used a 1476 cc 50 hp (37 kW) version of the 6/80 engine, while the 6/80 used a 2215 cc 72 hp (54 kW) straight-6 single overhead cam. Changes to a lesser degree, in length of body and wheelbase. They were rushed into production in 1948 and were based on the Morris Oxford MO and the Morris Six MS respectively.

These models were built at Morris's Cowley factory alongside the 'Oxford'. They were replaced in 1953 and 1954 by the Wolseley 4/44 and 6/90. The cars The Saloon, is in the
distinctive Wolseley style and is built on integral chassis-body lines, and well equipped, with an upright Wolseley grille different from the 6/80 and often used by the Police at the time with colour schemes such as maroon, black or moonstone grey, with duo-tone leather upholstery in mole brown and grey.

Other features such as warning light on instrument panel becomes illuminated when lamps are switched on Foot dipping and reversing lamp mounted on lid of luggage compartment. fog lamp automatic switch rear doors. An auxiliary lamp and rear light provided inside lid of luggage compartment. illuminated name badge. Dual arm, switch-operated screen wipers. Wind tone horns. in centre pillars Panel. Inside Smith's electric clock, Smith's speedometer with trip, Lucas ammeter, Smith's fuel gauge, Smith's lock. lamp switches, mixture control, panel light switch, ignition warning light, lamp warning light, heater switch.

Wolseley 4/50 specifications (1948-1953)

This integral chassis gives great strength and rigidity, comprises the body shell, floor, dash, frame members and wing valances and important saving in weight.featuring the " paratorsion "independent front wheel suspension system. by the Wolseley. Sales for the more upmarket car were less than the larger engine 6/80 version.

Bodv Equiprnent .Includes Triplex toughened glass all round. Leather upholstery. Dunlopillo cushions and squabs- Pile carpets.Rear blind with control in roof. Hinged ventilator panels in front doors pull-out type door handles. Centre and side arm-rests to rear seat. One-piece seat in front, adjustable fore and aft. Two glove boxes in facia and parcel tray beneath. Smith's car heater fitted centrally under parcel shelf, automobile radio fitted as an optional extra. Demisting air ducts built in below windscreen and connected to the Bevelift Jack.

Wolseley 4/50 Technical details (1948-1953)

Performance: Wolseley 4/50

  • Engine type: 1.5-litres
  • Top  speed 70.7 mph (113.8 km/h)
  • Maximum bhp.: 51 at 4,400 r.p.m. 
  • Acceleration from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 30.3 seconds.
  • A fuel consumption of 27.0 miles per imperial gallon (10.5 L/100 km; 22.5 mpg-US)

Wolseley 4/50 car (1948-53)

Technical

  • Wolseley 4/50 Technical details and specifications (1948-1953)

    ENGINE:

    Type: 1.5-litres
    Rating: 13-5 h.p.
    Cylinders: 4
    Bore X Stroke: 73-5 mm. X 87 mm
    Compression ratio : 7 to 1
    Single SU carb
    Water Cooling by fan and radiator
    No. of Cylinders -4
    Rating -13.5 h.p.
    cc -1.476.5
    System Cooling -Thermo-syphon pump assisted
    Firing order - 1-3-4-2
    Ring Gap -0085--.0125in.
    No. of compression rings -2
    No. of oil rings -1
    Width of oil rings -.1552—.1562in.
    Oil pressure, lb. sq. in. - 40 at 30 m.p.h. in top gear (check hot)
    Gudgeon pin type -Hollow, clamped in connecting rod
    Camshaft drive (type) Through worm gears
    Valve timing markings - Flywheel front

    DIMENSIONS.
    Length: 14 ft. 2 ins
    Height: 5 ft. 3 ins
    Width: 5 ft. 6 ins
    Wheelbase: 8 ft. 6 ins
    Track: 4 ft. 5 ins
    Weight: 2,576 lbs.

    TRANSMISSION DRIVE LINE:

    Borg and Beck clutch
    Four speed gerbox
    Gear lever location:Steering column
    Semi floating rear axle

    SUSPENSION:

    Front: Independant front torsion bars hydraulic shock absorbers
    Rear: Semi elliptic springs hydraulic shock absorbers

    BRAKES:
    Lockheed hydraulic double leading shoes at front.
    Hand brake. cable-operated

    WHEELS TYRES:
    Tyre size: 5-50 X 15.

    ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT:

    12 volt

    Fuel capacity:
    9 1/2 gallons.

    © Motor car History

Service

  • Wolseley 4/50 Maintenance and Service Guide (1948-1953)

    CAPACITIES:
    Sump  -5.7 lites
    Gear Box- 1.4 lites
    Rear Axle - 1.4 lites
    Cooling system- 11.3 lites

    Engine

    Block Bore 1st O.S. Bore -.020in.
    Block Bore Max. O.S. for boring -.040in.
    Firing order - 1-3-4-2
    Tappet type -Adjustable in valve stem
    Inlet Valve opens—degrg. -8 B.T.D.C.
    Inlet Valve working clearance -.015in. hot
    Exhaust Valve working clearance -.015in. hot
    Carb type -S.U. horizontal Screw adjuster on carburettor


    Bonnet Catch
    The Bonnet Catch Adjustments.The striker pins may be adjusted for length after slackening the locknuts which secure them to the bonnet lid flanges. If the striker pins are too high the bonnet lid will not lock in the fully closed position.

    The Front Seat.
    The divided bench-type front seat fitted to later models is supported on two independent seat frames which are similar in design to the single seats fittedpreviously. Each half of the seat is individually adjustable for reach by means of a central lever which also automatically adjusts the tilt. Further adjustment to the tilt can be obtained by removing the wing bolts fastening the seat to the floor brackets and refitting the seat in one of the alternative holes provided in the brackets.

    The Doors and Trunk Lid.
    When closed and correctly adjusted the doors and trunk lid will be a tight fit on the rubber surround. Should adjustment be necessary, slacken the screws securing the striker plate to the body and move the plate inwards the required amount. Tighten the screws and recheck. Repeat if necessary.

    Remove the Windscreen.
    Remove the wooden glove box surrounds after extracting the securing screws inserted beneath them. Undo all the glove box retaining screws and with- draw each glove box from its housing. Depress the plunger in the under side of each instrument panel control knob and withdraw the knobs and ignition key, taking care not to leave any unit switched on after this operation. To ensure safety it is advisable to disconnect the battery. With- draw the three screws inserted through the face of the instrument panel cover and slacken the three securing the lower flange. The cover may now be withdrawn to reveal the instruments and lour screws recessed in the chromium-plated cheeks of the facia,one at each corner of the instrulnent panel. Withdraw these lour screws and, with a hand inserted through the glove box opening, remove the nut with spring
    and Hat washers securing each end of the facia panel to the body dash. Disconnect the windscreen wiper control switch at the snap connector provided in each wire and lift the  facia panel assembly clear of the body dash. Extract the two screws securing the driving mirror and remove it, together with the bridge plate beneath it, then lever the centre pillar cover upwards by inserting a screwdriver blade beneath the bottom end. Lift the cover from the two retaining clips. Remove the two demister duct channels. Remove the small cover plate at each end of the centre pillar and extract the screws retaining the metal surround. Withdraw the centre pillar fixing screws and remove the pillar and exterior chromium strip and sealing rubbers. Remove the inner moulding round the windscreen by unscrewing its retaining screws. Press the glass towards the inside of the car, commencing at one corner, and carefully ease the sealing rubber from the metal edge of the windscreen housing.

    To Replace the Windscreen on Early Models.
    To replace the screen insert the glass in the rubber seal and press the screen into position from inside the car until the flange of the rubber seal can be persuaded over the exterior chromium finisher. Insert a length of string beneath the interior flange of the seal the whole way round the screen,with the ends of the string protruding about 9 inches beyond the unsealed edge of the glass. Note.—Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient clearance to insert the rubber strip is left between the two windscreen glasses. If necessary, small wooden wedges may be used to ensure this.

    © Motor car History