Meet the Owner – Craig Gorton and his Wolseley 24/80

At first sight, the Gorton Wolseley appears to be an exceptionally handsome example of the 15/60 – until you notice the badges. This is a 24/80 Mk 1, a six-cylinder product of BMC-Australia that was never available in the UK.

1959 saw the introduction of the Austin A55 Cambridge Mk 2, Morris Oxford Series V and Wolseley 15/60 to the Australian motorist. Unfortunately, at that time, approximately 70% of the market was dominated by Light Sixes from Holden, Chrysler and Ford. Furthermore, the Falcon was predicted to account for 20% of total car sales. The Farinas may have boasted the 1,622cc B-Series engine two years before it was available to British customers – but, crucially, it still had only four cylinders.

The Corporation’s solution was to develop the 24/80 and the less opulent Austin Freeway as replacements for their 1.5 litre line-up. The new models would be more potent than the 1.5 litre cars but more compact than a 6/99. Development funds were limited, but the company extensively modified the B-Series unit to create the 2.4-litre Blue Streak plant.

The 24/80 and the Freeway made their bows in early 1962. In appearance, they resembled the earlier models, although the wheelbase was an inch longer. The cheaper model targeted fleet and taxi buyers – ‘Make way for the Austin Freeway’. Some New Zealand export models also wore Morris badges. Meanwhile, BMC firmly aimed the 24/80 at the sort of affluent driver who, by 1963, would have considered the Holden EH Premier. At £A1,225, the Wolseley was also cheaper than a Valiant.

Wheels magazine rather liked the 24/80 when they tested an automatic version in 1963 – ‘they are very good on rough surfaces. We encountered no bottoming troubles at all during test, but, like so many cars with solid rear axles, the tail likes to dance on jaggy surfaces’. Equally importantly ‘In keeping with Wolseley tradition the car is tasteful and that is one’s immediate impression inside’.

The Austin struggled to tempt buyers, but the 24/80 proved more popular. In late 1964, the second-generation version featured improved brakes and 16/60 style taillights – Craig prefers the fins of his Mk. I. This cinema commercial perfectly encapsulates the glamorous world of the Wolseley.

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Production ceased in October 1965 with the introduction of the locally built Austin 1800.

Craig came by his Wolseley in 2020: “We wanted a larger vehicle as we also own a Moke. I like the style of the 24/80. It’s a manual 3-speed column change which makes it rare in Australia as they mostly were auto.”

Two 24/80s are believed to have been privately imported to the UK, but the chances of a British-built version would have been slim. The Wolseley would have proved ideal for the motorist who regarded the Triumph 2000 as too youthful, but it would also have robbed sales from the soon-to-debut Land crab.

Perhaps the best tribute to the 24/80 is that it embodies the ambitions of BMC-Australia in the 1960s. And the Gorton Wolseley more than lives up to the promise of the sales copy: ‘Space. Comfort. Elegance, Power. Safety. What more do you need in a motor car?’.

With Thanks To: Craig Gorton

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