The Wolseley Hornet Is a Posh Classic Mini

The Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf were cars that should never have had to exist. BMC wanted to expand the reach of their little Austin Mini, and so the car received a makeover, becoming a symbol of old England, complete with a big grille and a saloon rear end.
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[@TwinCam]

By popular demand, I have now set up a Patreon page! If you enjoy my videos, then please do consider supporting Twin-Cam with a donation. www.patreon.com/twincam

[@petermilsom1109]

i (and my sisters) learnt to drive in a '65 Hornet. Dark red leather seats, light up grill badge, the works. My grandmother bought it new in '65, gave it to my mother in '75, and in '86 it passed to my younger sister.

[@G1NZOU]

Same happened with my mother, her uncle bought my 1967 Hornet new, then she bought it in the early 80's, moved to my hometown with it and in the first couple of years of my life I was driven around in it in a baby seat. Now I'm getting it back on the road and I'll be the third owner, keeping it in the family.

[@frankwesterdorff]

these small pop-out-windows in the back: they work even in the rain. perfect summer-ventilation. same thing with small italian cars from that time.

[@stevenmanclark4612]

My Granny had the Riley Elf it’s was a great little car and always loved sitting in the front passenger seat sadly both are no longer with us but never forgotten.

[@jasonayres]

In my childhood, I thought that they looked like a Mini. Long since forgotten, until a new neighbour arrived in the area with one recently, and I thought "What were they called? Not life changing, Earth shattering news, granted, just one of those moments when you smile and nod, " So that's what it is - Wolseley :The Posh Mini. " Thanks mate. Greetings from Australia.

[@robtyman4281]

This car is basically a ' Mini saloon/sedan'! Still looks great and unmistakably 'Mini looking'. Those over-hanging rims over the headlights are so 1950's! Love it.

[@andunabu3238]

1972 My Father has new Renault 16, just ‘run in’ and we’d just overtaken a Ford Cortina 1300. We were going flat out to see what she’d do! 6 kids in the 16, no seatbelts, me and my sister (the youngest) in the ‘boot’. A Riley Elf came out of a side road and we hit him amidships. Thankfully we were all okay. Both cars were written off. My Da fuming! Meanwhile in the boot, me and my sister hadn’t a clue what the hell had just happened! I still shiver when I see an Elf.

[@andrewstones2921]

I love the Hornet and the Riley Elf’s, they always bring a big smile to my face. The quality of camera work and your presentation skills are improving in leaps and bounds.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Andrew ☺️

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

I remember seeing loads of these in my early childhood. They were definitely a posh mini. But you really don't seem to see many now compared to regular minis. Shame as they are really cool.

[@wanderinggentile]

A handful of Hornets/Elves made it across the pond in LHD form. There was one that found its way to Atlanta by the early eighties, although one wonders about its path. Wolseley and Riley were available in the United States but seem to have been special order in the Americas.

[@TwinCam]

Ooh that’s interesting. I never knew that.

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

Very, very good, sir! Wind up windows, concealed door hinges and the later type door handles before they appeared on the standard Mini. The presentation just gets better and better.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Joseph ☺️

[@lloydvehicleconsulting]

@@TwinCam , my pleasure, sir! These new videos are very, very good indeed.

[@phillybass6067]

My dad had a Van den plas Hornet in the early 70’S ,I was about six years old was a dark brown coulour,I remember the red leather seats and it had a full walnut dash,I also remember the huge door pockets.Loved this video! It really took me back.Nostalgia! You can’t beat it.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@Richard-Bullock]

What an interesting little car. Always liked the Hornet and Elf.

[@paulwild7580]

We didn’t really use seatbelts then. And there was no breathelizer to speak of. So the ashtray worked as did the switches.

[@markwarner2257]

My parents had a Wolseley Hornet new in 1968 (two tone green - pale green body and dark green roof). They sold it around 1970. It was still seen driving around Lincoln years later in great condition. It did seem to be better made than the standard minis of the time or was it that it was just better looked after.

[@DeliciousFires1]

Splendid as always. “People were shorter back then” 😎

[@catjudo1]

How tall is the presenter? I've always liked the Mini and at 5'5" I might even fit into one. But I'm a bit, ahem, rotund, so I'm not sure I would fit front to back...

[@TwinCam]

Minis are fine for anybody of any size. They’re very well packaged cars. I’m 5 ft 10 by the way.

[@stewartw.9151]

Personally I can state with certainly that I was the same height as today! At one half-inch under 6 ft, I had many minis and found them perfectly comfortable with the easily available seat slider extensions one could buy as after market spares. There was also a chrome bracket to drop the steering wheel height used with a smaller diameter Moto-Lita wheel.

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@@TwinCam My late great mate was 6'7" and drove a mini. He later drove a tiny Fiat but always needed the roof open on that for his head to fit.

[@mikedakin2016]

yes , I was only 45 minutes in the 60s

[@21stcenturyozman20]

@ 13:20 - Crayford convertibles. I had a Crayford Estate W116 Mercedes (one of only 16 built). A serious bog-mobile!

[@s_class7027]

Illuminated badge was always my favorite part.

[@CoastHobbit9340]

Legend had it that the various police forces running big Wolseleys at the time were offered a 'delete option' with the radiator grille light, but police chiefs decided to leave the light there to give the preceding driver advance warning of a large Wolseley (most likely a police car) following behind, and a chance for the driver to correct any bad habits, such as hitting 31 mph in town. Removing the tell-tale Wolseley light would have been unsporting!

[@kh23797]

@@CoastHobbit9340 We would hardly have known if we were doing 31mph in the mid-60s. Revolving-wire speedos often waved around wildly in older cars, and Norfolk police weren't equipped with speed guns in those days. The 30 limit was seen as a rough guide by most at that time. Not today though -- the cops will have you if you do even a little over the limit around here, but thankfully we have speed limiters in modern motors!

[@willgeary6086]

Oddly enough not the only car named Hornet to have one.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Copied from Pontiac when they still came with a straight 8...

[@TwinCam]

No it wasn’t. Every Wolseley built since 1932 had a light up badge. Pontiac didn’t even make a straight-eight until 1933.

[@TheStobb50]

The Riley and the Woolsey minis were much better bills then there the standard counterpart I think it was better paint on more paint they lasted a lot longer than the standard mini and where good well built cars, thanks for this video brilliant

[@TwinCam]

Thanks David ☺️

[@paullacey2999]

Beautiful small cars!A real treat when you see one now..

[@MyJon64]

As a young boy back in the late 60's I remember seeing hundreds of posh Mini's in Central London

[@grayfool]

Oh yeah, you can't beat any Mini content. Another great video. Thanks Ed.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@anarchodandyist]

Great video Ed. Can see you are upping the game on the shooting and that. Good to see you not just stuck behind the camera. Far more engaging and enjoyable. 👍

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@kirksway1]

that is an adorable little car. It's styling reminds me of a mid-80's Chrysler New Yorker(Dodge K-car slathered in chrome and piled high in leather)with the way it is "badge engineered". I love it and would love to own one.

[@davidfaraday7963]

I had a 1965 Wolseley Hornet, an upgrade from my previous car which was a 1961 bog-standard mini. The improvements over the standard mini were: 998 cc engine instead of 850 cc Remote gear stick Larger boot Larger fuel tank Key operated starter replacing the push button under the driver's seat Wind up windows Fresh air intake heater instead of the "fug-stirrer" Nicer seats All in all a nice little car which served me well for quite some years.

[@alan01256]

You could say this was my first introduction into motoring, it was the first car I remember my dad owning. Great little car & often made the journey between North Hampshire to London where my grand parents lived. It was painted in a light green colour.

[@neilmustow368]

Great Mini derivative the Elf and Hornet cute saloon used to go to an art club in my local area in the late 80's and early 90's an elderly chap had the Riley Elf version in grey

[@alaricbragg7843]

They were the best looking Mini. Believe it or not they have done well in New Zealand classic car racing!

[@phillee4459]

I had one of these in the 80s we stuck a 1275 gt engine in it it was hand painted brown my mates called it the flying Turd it blew away xr2 and 3s for fun loved it and would have back tomorrow...

[@paulypilot]

Really good! The secretary at my middle school had one of these, and used to give me lifts home in it sometimes. She just liked the posh interior, combined with ease of parking & fun to drive. So it made more sense that we might imagine! Incidentally, "head rests" was originally an abbreviation for "head restraints". But over time, people stopped calling them head restraints, and just call them head rests. But their purpose is to stop whiplash, not for comfort. I always wondered why people put extended things on the toggle switches, so learned something new today from you - that it was due to being restricted by fixed "harnesses" instead of inertia reel seatbelts. Why hadn't I realised that before, doh?!! There's a Riley Elf on Ebay for £6k, I'm seriously tempted!!! :-)

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Paul ☺️

[@richardsmith579]

My mother had two Riley Elfs, after a Riley 1.5, a Morris minor and some sort of Riley before the war. I learned to drive in the Elf. The second one had hydrolastic suspension and electrical problems, so she got rid of it and bought a totally reliable Citroen Dyane, with the genius centrifugal clutch, which was better in every way. From then on she had Citroens, and neither she nor I have had a British car since. She’s long dead by the way.

[@Seminal_Ideas]

A headmistress chariot back in the day. I have fond memories indeed. Thank you for these wonderful videos.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate :)

[@marco-58]

The Commanding officer of an RAF camp i was at, ( i was actually in the Army), had one of these in 1975. It looked befitting of an officer and a Gentleman. A posh version of the 1968 Mini i had at the time. I remember i couldn't resist having a good look inside, leather seats and a wooden dash. Too good for me.

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Nice, thank you. Charming is the right word. Something we no longer have in my view: cars that are just charming. I always liked these posh Mini's.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate 🙂

[@larsenglund4061]

Great video! Wolseleys were very rare cars in Sweden in the 60s. My dad had a Wolseley 6/110 - I still miss it.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Lars ☺️

[@classicminidetails8887]

The time and effort you put in to your videos is unreal. Absolutely smashing it.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Alex, that’s very kind ☺️

[@Vince_uk]

Always loved these cars these and the Riley Elf.

[@ajaychoudhary9817]

that's one beautiful looking car i have one in my village imported back in the day

[@kiwidutch9778]

Hillman Imps were nice too - please make a program on them thanks.

[@TwinCam]

I’d love to! I just need to be offered one first.

[@ZerokillerOppel1]

Keep it coming with the "information we never needed to know"! I love these little random facts!!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@michaeltutty1540]

Really interesting and well done video, Ed. Great job. It is neat to see the variations on a common theme. A couple weeks ago I was out on my 90 Volvo 240 Estate and was beside an original Mini. I had forgotten just how TINY the Mini really is. To see a luxury version still blows my mind.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Michael ☺️

[@graemewilson1400]

Yes me too saw one crusing down the M1 from Brisbane...so small.

[@ussweeneyd]

As usual, a great review. FYI, my first Mini was a 1959, I was about 19 years old and couldn’t leave it alone. The remote gear change came from the Austin/Morris 1100. I used the whole gearbox and discovered it had 4:11 diff gears. Made for really good acceleration on 10” wheels with low profile tires. Always wanted a Hornet though.

[@RoaldvdM]

Thank you for this excellent 'review'. A great eye for detail of a car I didn't even know the existence of. Combined with your pleasant voice and scant but ultra-dry dashes of humor this has become rapidly one of my favourite channels.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Roald ☺️ That means a lot!

[@Steve-GM0HUU]

Good video, thanks. I was actually surprised how few Hornets/Elfs (or should that be Elves?) were made. I remember seeing quite a few driving around until around 1980. Maybe they just stood out more than a normal Mini? It would have to be the Wolseley for me. That light up badge elevates one up a class level or two 😄.

[@mclare9817]

I love your Woolsey Jumper....very 60"s... Those Riley Elfs were nippy things at the time!

[@robertkimber822]

My ex-wife's mother had an Elf, and I loved driving it! Thanks for another great video.

[@thomasrhinehart6084]

im from the u.s., his description of how one would die in a crash in this vehicle is english and matter of fact, Americans act beside themselves that technology has moved on and how did people live in the past.....its AMAZING!!!!

[@zebedep]

These were charming little cars!

[@TwinCam]

Estate Minis have a completely different floor and a longer wheelbase. It would be impossible to fit the fuel tank under the floor of an Elf of Hornet without cutting the entire floor out and engineering something from scratch. Of course, the Estate floor wouldn’t fit because the wheelbase is different, so it would have to be fabricated from nothing.

[@TwinCam]

Mini Saloons only got reverse lights from 1978, and the Estates and Commercials came off the market very shortly after. So no, they didn’t ‘cheat’ anyone out of them. Where the fuel tank is on a Mini is the most practical place to put it. There’s no room underneath, and the filler neck is already there so why put the tank anywhere else? If there’s somewhere better to put it I haven’t heard of it. If they did engineer the floor differently the boot would be much shallower or the tank would be even smaller, rendering both useless.

[@zebedep]

@@TwinCam In South Africa they built a version of the Mini (the 'MK3') that looked like a standard Mini at the front, but had Wolseley Hornet/Riley Elf-style boot with fins at the back! You may be interested to know that AROnline has an article that covers it :)

[@TwinCam]

They certainly did. I cut a line out about this car, saying it made a lot more sense. However, in the UK market it wouldn’t have had the ‘upper class fuddy Duffy’ grille and therefore not have worked as well as an upmarket Mini. I do think it’s much better though!

[@shankarbalan3813]

Oh this is such a classy little thing. I’m amazed that such vehicles are still extant out there in England, rather than having gone extinct. The BMC chaps pioneered badge engineering it seems? Considering in today’s world everyone is badge engineering everything! Amazing.

[@Radfordperson]

There's one in my garage, a low mileage 1969 Riley Elf Automatic, been there for about 37 years waiting for me to put the final touches on it!

[@paulqueripel3493]

After they were taken over they did a little more badge engineering, but mostly abandoned it. Which resulted , in the early 1970s, in about 10 engine families, with no commonality, and probably even more floorpans. A,B,E (in 4&6 cylinders), 3 Triumph engines, 2 Rover, 2 Jag, I think I'm missing some.

[@shankarbalan3813]

Paul Queripel just the same as those Austin 1100’s. Very cute little cars.

[@TwinCam]

For BMC, badge engineering was both necessary and a reason for their downfall. It was a mess. Modern badge engineering is much better as companies like VW manage to make people believe the cars have different properties and personalities.

[@jamesengland7461]

I think the Americans were just a bit ahead on this "wonderful" concept. 1955 is when they got started, I think. Strangely, though, at times they'd have Chevy, Buick, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile cars with the same unibody, such as the 69 Chevelle, but each division would make their own unique engines- with the same displacement!

[@JB-ie3es]

Lovely little car ; really interesting and you have good presenting skills , thanks very much

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate :)

[@gryfandjane]

Delightful! Yes, it’s a Mini in a Wolseley costume, but the smell of the leather alone would certainly set it apart. I occasionally see a Hornet or Elf at British car shows here in the US, and they’re always a treat. Very nice review, thanks!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate :)

[@davidsanders8887]

Another interesting, well researched and informative video. A very engaging presentation style and nice production values too!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks David ☺️

[@TheClockwise770]

Ah yes , the wonderful little Hornet. These cars were top prizes in Heinz 57 varieties competition in 1966 I think . 57 of them were given away but unfortunately my Dad wasn't one of the lucky prizewinners. Great feature clip, Thank you

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️ Indeed they were, as I mentioned in the video. Those 57 were convertibles.

[@williemwangi4959]

Just subbed after watching the DAF 66 episode,loved the way this young man sounds relaxed and thorough.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️ Hope you enjoy my channel!

[@carmelduggan6547]

Owned one of these beauties many years ago and learned to drive in it. It was an absolutely fantastic little car - thank you so very much for sharing thank you, they were great old friends

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Carmel :)

[@landmatrose6987]

Great car, great presenter!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@Martin_in_Cheltenham]

Yes really cool to watch

[@daveydoo3173]

Such a sweet little car, i love it and the light up badge, love the chrome and the red interior... Great video , very well done Ed....

[@TwinCam]

Thanks again :)

[@spankysmp]

You know Ed - that's one of your best videos, I thought you were going to burst through the screen with your enthusiasm :-) *No pun intended with the bobbins front seat anchorage (or lack of)

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@hugostare8695]

Many thanks fella, really enjoyed this. Well filmed and well narrated! My mum had one of these, back in the 70`s, real old rust bucket, you could look down at the floor and watch the road go by. Loved it! Subscribed! :)

[@christophernicol4762]

I passed my driving test in one of these! Great wee car! 🇬🇧

[@jamesdouglas7647]

Another great video. That extra boot space is a plus over the Mini. Interesting about using a spit during the building of the car.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks James ☺️

[@thementalonethegovernmenti9404]

My first car. 1967 model bought in 75 for a £100. Saw me through to my first ford Escort 1300gt , £400. Oh those were the days.

[@williamrogers3524]

Fantastic review of this well loved classic car and very well delivered. Well done young man this was superb.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks William :)

[@kevinwhelan8126]

I very nearly bought a 1969 Riley Elf way back in 1980. Not hugely different to this car except the dash sported glove boxes in lieu of the parcel shelf (later on I fitted a Riley Elf dash to my 1967 Austin Mini). Went like the clappers but oil rings a bit suspect. While in England Dad got hold of a walnut veneer Wolseley Hornet dial trim and fitted it to his 1964 Austin Mini Deluxe. Once again many thanks for the memories, pleasure to watch as always.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Kevin

[@john_smith1471]

I've always liked these mini's with a boot, this one being a Wolseley I half expected a seat-back drinks tray in the rear .

[@LoveTheNorth-x2p]

Again such a very informative video, I've never seen one of these adorable cars over here in the Netherlands. Enjoyed learning about it this way. You are one of the most enthusiastic petrol heads I know. Big compliments from the Netherlands.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate, that’s very kind ☺️

[@matthewrichards1364]

Great video. So much better than most classic car commentary. I’d love one of these Wolseleys.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Matthew, that's very kind :)

[@NYKgjl10]

My personal favorite mini of them all.

[@stephenmarkland8316]

Great video Ed. Well done mate. Just wished we could have had a spin around in the car. Take care. Steve.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Stephen ☺️

[@gaufrid1956]

My first two cars in Australia were a 1965 Morris Mini 850 (with roll up/roll down windows) and a 1963 Morris Mini 850 with the UK spec sliding windows. A Wolseley Hornet would have been absolute luxury, but I have to say I never saw one!

[@adamburgess2925]

Thanks for the very well done orientation of the hornet. My father always went on about them and now I think I can understand a little bit why…

[@Mancozeb100]

Thanks Ed .. great vid ... didn’t realise that bit about the seam on the the C pillar, or that it had concealed door hinges and windey windows before the regular Mini. Love those detail bits !! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@prof.m.ottozeeejcdecs9998]

I like your humorous reviews of old and odd cars... Mini engineers placed the distributor right behind the grille... Nice, I got stuck in a torrential rain on the Autobahn, because of that strange set-up! Thumbs up!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️ That layout is because the engine was designed for rear wheel drive. When the Mini was first designed they put the engine the other way around (with the carburettor at the front), but the cars suffered with the carb icing up in the cold. The distributor at the front was the lesser of two evils. You can see that the engine was designed for rear drive by the fact that the radiator is on the side.

[@patrickphippspa584]

You are ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL to watch. I can't wait to see each and every episode! In the US, we are not accustomed to seeing these things, and the detail of your report! Wow. You're amazing!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks again Patrick :)

[@honguenloh4612]

Good presentation as usual... keep up the good work!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️

[@roberthoey8944]

Well done ED ..very interesting video..and informative.. might see you on top gear running the show soon ..keep up the great work.......ps the 60s jumper was a nice touch .ha ha ha ..

[@TwinCam]

Hahaha thank you Robert ☺️

[@blackcathiking7831]

Love this little car, everything about it is so endearing. Surprised that the Riley is a higher spec than the Wolseley. The rear lights look suspiciously like they may have come from the Triumph parts bin!

[@chrispenn715]

I think the rear lights are from the 1100/1300 range - they may have been used on other BMC cars too.

[@Roger.Coleman1949]

@@chrispenn715 Yes they were Chris, from the Mk 1 1100.

[@blackcathiking7831]

@@chrispenn715 It may have been the Herald I was thinking of. Very similar but not quite the same. The 1100 certainly look the same now you've said it. I wonder if these were the same as ended up on the old black cabs too?

[@trancematics]

Another thoroughly enjoyable review of such a charming small car. This one looks amazing. BMC obviously put a lot of effort into differentiating these Wolseleys and Rileys from standard mini fodder so I was surprised to hear they sold so few. Makes me wonder if they can possibly have made any money at it.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Mark ☺️ By about 1965, the Mini had become cool in its own right, so driving one that looks more old fashioned became much worse!

[@pelletboilers1066]

This was my first car, I wanted a mini but I saw this and bought it, from what I remember it was pale blue with a white roof it was a great first car, the first major problem was when I went through a flooded road at speed and the whole of the foot well burst open and soaked me, the rusted floor had been botched up with roofing felt and tar ! I eventually scrapped it and bought a Hilman Imp, shortly followed by a Sunbeam Stiletto, this all brings back great memories.

[@markchandler90]

I actually seen an Elf here in the USA at a British car show. And a late original Mini at my favorite beach parking lot in San Diego.

[@peterthwaites5891]

Great video..I also own and love my 1969 Riley Elf..

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Peter ☺️

[@Radfordperson]

Snap, one here too, an automatic though (light blue with cream roof)

[@frothe42]

Wow, what an absolutely smashing vehicle! While the Austin/Morris Mini looks like a hatchback with a tiny trunk (yes, I know vintage Minis were not hatchbacks until BMW restyled them), I like this version of the same vehicle! It has a proper trunk (boot, I am in the US), it looks like a proper coupe. While standing next to it, it looks like a toy car, something I have notice when I saw someone locally driving a vintage Mini years ago in the town I used to live in! Of course, you in the UK are not surrounded by chunks of humongous steel like those of us in the US, but I definitely see the appeal and practicality of a Mini, or this Hornet; four wheels, steering, brakes and engine. It was meant to get you from point A to point B with little fuss. Another absolutely smashing video Ed, once again chock full of extremely useful information thrown in with your take on this unique vehicle (unique to me here in the US)!

[@frothe42]

Oh, like others, I did notice the rear lights were from larger BMC vehicles of the time, it makes this styling so unique!

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@frothe42 "Smashing?" I thought you were an American.

[@frothe42]

@@rudolphguarnacci197 I am, but I watch lots of UK programmes, and videos here on KZbin. You have are very fortunate in the UK 🇬🇧, barring the virus of course. Please stay safe! 😷

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@frothe42 Thanks. I'm in Connecticut. And, yes, language is fun and quite contagious. Cheers!

[@frothe42]

@@rudolphguarnacci197 I watch this Channel as well as HubNut, furiousdriving, and idriveaclassic, all great channels featuring many different vehicles. I love to learn something new, and they are full of useful information.

[@lewis72]

13:40 The Mini becoming a brand in its own right back then is only something I learnt fairly recently. Up until then I just thought that BMW had made it into a brand, as I'm quite sure that it returned to being an Austin Mini some years later.

[@TwinCam]

Yeah, Mini became its own thing in 1969, but they were still an Austin-Morris product. In 1980 they went back to being an Austin Mini only, then Mini-only again from 1987, but really a Rover as the Mini, Metro, Maestro, and Montego all lost Austin badging and had no other badges. The Mini got its own branding properly in 1994, and the Metro became a fully fledged Rover in 1990.

[@whitefields5595]

Nice to see a Young 'Un talking knowledgeably and entertainingly about a car that went out of production before he was born!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate. To be honest, I'd have to be at least 40 years older to even remember a time when these were in production!

[@corin164]

Without giving away my age, my wife and I had a used Wolseley Hornet around 1970 when we lived in Scotland.. I don't recall its year but it definitely looked like the one in the video. I was a great little car that suited our little family quite well. Unfortunately we had to sell it when we were reposted to Italy.

[@hugobloemers4425]

Fantastic treat very well executed, this little badge engineered mini is very much to my taste. Perhaps back in the day it would have been seen as almost humiliating to Wolseley but today the mini roots are clearly an advantage to this little car. It kind of reminds me of the Fiat 500 derivatives specifically the Autobianchi (also a 3 box saloon) that where supposed to be posher versions of the main brand and model.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Hugo ☺️

[@colintwyning9614]

Great video. I like the way someone at Wolsey thought, that speedo needs a veneer surrounding but lets whack it on with 4 phillips screws!

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Colin.

[@stephensmith4480]

This Takes me back a bit, the first car I ever bought when I passed my test. May 1979, I thought I was the bees knees 😂.

[@dave8599]

A very nice presentation, thank you! Nice little car you have there.

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Dave :)

[@Bobbob-qe7pf]

The lad just gets better and better at this-informative and well presented -👍

[@TwinCam]

Aww thank you, that’s very kind ☺️

[@juliusuzutunda]

I remember seeing these unusual looking vehicles during the 1970s. And i always wondered what the story was surrounding them.

[@andyeaton8195]

That brings back memories. My first car on passing my test was a Cumulus grey Wolsley Hornet. It was fairly old by the time I got my hands on it. Someone had fitted bright orange house carpet over the worn out original. It drove like a Mini, great fun to chuck around. Brakes were marginal. I was gutted when my sister wrote it off by crashing into a parked car. (She was unscathed). The Wolsley wasn't. They rust like a Mini too.

[@jacquikowalewsky7691]

The spit was part of the roto-dip and was I think part of the pre-clean for the paint shop. It's well over 40 years since I saw this at Lonbridge as an apprentice.

[@geoffrey6557]

Had two of these. Loved them

[@donkmeister]

Quick, somebody lend him an Innocenti Mini or a Mini Moke for review! Excellent video. I remember seeing an Elf as a child (around 1990, it was already old and rare!) and being fascinated that a car looked like a Mini but wasn't a Mini.

[@TwinCam]

Hahaha thanks mate! :)

[@mikeenglish6401]

Hi Ed Do I detect more humour creeping in as your confidence grows? Excellent vlog on an interesting car ..... Mike

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

I enjoyed his sardonicism, too. It added quite a lot of humour.

[@TwinCam]

Possibly... Thanks Mike ☺️

[@selwyntracey3871]

Great video. Really enjoyed it. Those rear tail lights look like they came off the Austin A40 Farina.

[@che630]

Or Austin 1100

[@TwinCam]

Thanks Selwyn ☺️

[@rotaxtwin]

Wow, what an interesting little car, and some pretty cool engineering behind it. CVTs before they were mainstream. Seems to me there is a little Subaru (Justy?) that also used a belt 'snowmobile' transmission also.

[@astolatpere11]

Really great look at these old charmers.

[@annemarie69a]

Well done very interesting thank you

[@TwinCam]

Thanks ☺️

[@stevezodiac160]

I owned an almost identical mk3. It was light green with a dark green roof.OAY971F. I don’t suppose it exists now but it had the quite brilliant for the time 4 speed AP auto transmission. Ahhh, the memories.

[@MakerfieldConsort]

Sadly, it appears not. According to vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk , it was last taxed in 1982 and its last V5 was issued in 1984.

[@stevezodiac160]

Thanks for that... that wasn’t long after we sold it. I guess it must have come to grief somehow. Pity, it was quite unique really.

[@stuarthall2180]

Its listed on the gov site still but hasn't been tested for for decades. You never know, might be sitting in a garage somewhere.

[@highdownmartin]

A Riley elf in mid green. Gorgeous car. Nice video mate. Cheers

[@TwinCam]

Thanks mate ☺️