Tag Archives: Van de Plas

Prick Up Your Ears – Wolseley 6/110 Mk II (ADO53)

The Wolseley 6/110 replaced the similarly Farina bodied 6/99 in 1961 externally the two models are identical except the 6/110 has a two inch longer wheel base while internally the gear selection mechanism, for the 3 speed gearbox, moved from the steering column to the floor.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

The 2.9 litre / 177 cui C series straight six shared with the similarly bodied BMC Austin A110 Westminster and Van den Plas Princess 3-litre Mk II, Austin Healey 3000 and MG C was tuned to give 120hp.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

In 1964 a MK II version of the 6/110 was introduced similar to the 1966 model seen here at last years, Bristol Classic Car Show at Shepton Mallet. The only external difference being the smaller 13″ wheels that carried wider tyres than it’s predecessor the Pinin Farina styled body work was left alone completely as it had been in 1961.

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

Internally the 6/110 Mk II featured telescopic dampers which replaced the previous lever arm units, thicker disc brakes, a new exhaust system and a 4 speed gearbox which could be fitted with an optional overdrive for more economical motoring at speed on Britain’s emerging motorway network.

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Like the Wolseley 6/80 I looked at a couple of weeks ago the 6/110 in Mk I and Mk II form was a popular choice of police car with both film makers and television producers the 6/110 Mk II’s film credits include The Mind of Mr. Soames (1970), Prick Up Your Ears (1987) and The Bank Job (2008).

Wolseley 6/110 Mk II, Bristol Classic Car Show, Shepton Mallet

13,301 Woseley 6/110 Mk II’s were manufactured between 1964 and 1968 when it was replaced in the British Leyland range by the Austin 3 litre (Land Lobster) whose sales were so far off target that Wolseley and Van den Plas variants never got beyond the prototype stage.

Thanks for joining me on this “Prick Up Your Ears” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me tomorrow for a trip to Marin Sanoma California. Don’t forget to come back now !

Ralph Colmar on Formula One – Homeboy Rosberg Runs the Tables at the Grand Prix of Monaco today at Motorsports Unplugged.

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