1948
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Early Nuffield Prototypes

Early Nuffield Prototype Wolseley 15/55
From the Nuffield styling studios comes this picture of what was in their thoughts for their post-war Wolseley range. They describe it in this photo as a Wolseley 15/55, but we know it better as the Wolseley 6/80, one of four 'Medium' saloons introduced by Nuffield in 1948 (the other three being the Morris Oxford MO - Nuffields main hope - plus the Morris Six MS and the Wolseley 4/50). The trim at the sides of the bonnet were dropped, and in a close-up of the 'flying W' on top of the grille (right) we can see that the stylists have had a go at that too, in a fit of post-war euphoria.

Since the decision to build Wolseley versions of the Oxford MO only came late on in the model development, this photo was probably taken in late 1946 or early 1947.

Prototype 1

15/55 Mascot

Styling Exercises

This is almost certainly a styling excercise for the Wolseley 4/50 - the wheel base is too long for it to be a 'small' Wolseley based on the Morris Minor. Our only doubts about what it might be arise from our knowledge that the 4/50 wasdesigned only very shortly before the 1948 Motor Show, so why does this look so different to the production 4/50 when the styling of the Oxford MO and Wolseley 6/80 it came from (shared body panels) was well established by the time this photo was taken?

The Nuffield range of post-war cars was intended to be in three sizes; Small (eventually the Morris Minor), Intermediary (Morris Oxford MO, plus Wolseleys 6/80 and 4/50 and Morris Six MS) and Large (a limousine). The 3.3-litre limousine was never produced, but from the looks of these two pictures below it was a near thing. It's only one car by the way; they've just done different detailing on each side.
Prototype 2

Early 6/80 Prototype 3

A very early 6/80 saloon, on the Nuffield photographic turntable.

The main visual differences are at the rear of the car and principally are the style of number plate, the rear brake and running lights, and the jacking points being under the bumpers rather than at the sides of the body.

The front of the car is as per early production 6/80s. The bonnet scripts read 'Six-Eighty' rather than 'Wolseley Six Eighty' and the headlamp bezels are painted in the body colour, not chromed.

All images thanks to Henk Schuuring