Hello from Saffron Walden, Essex, UK

Hi, I've recently acquired a 1970 Wolseley 1885 MkIIS, colour Persian Blue. Its full history is unknown but appears to be quite a low mileage car, never welded or restored. The modest wear on what are evidently original carpets and seats plus the odometer reading suggests that the car has done 150,000 miles in total. It seems mostly OK but with quite a bit of re-commissioning needed after various periods of extended storage/non-use. I'm working my way through these, which has been less scary the I'd feared (issues with hydrolastic, power steering, ignition, electrics and exhaust etc done so far. Some relatively minor body corrosion is currently being held at bay with wax oil. The car is being kept in a dehumidified garage and not intentionally taken out in wet weather (though I'd like to get it sufficiently passivated/sealed so that it won't suffer if it does get wet). Booked in this week to a local MG specialist who is going to do a good old fashioned B Series tune up: valve clearances, strobe timing, carb balancing and mixtures.

I've had quite a few classic cars over the years but this one is something of a sentimental project as I learned to drive on a 1967 Austin 1800 Mk I, which I have very fond memories of. Driving the Wolseley, even without all its defects yet sorted, has reminded me what an advanced design these cars were - amazing ride, handling, refinement etc. Also, to my eyes, timeless styling (even though Issigonis insisted that it was simply a body shell wrapped around the functional underpinnings - "form follows function").

I look forward to using this forum and dialogue with others.

Best wishes, William