MEET THE OWNER – PHIL CAUNT AND HIS HEINZ 57 WOLSELEY HORNET CONVERTIBLE

“I must first say I did NOT restore it myself—I purchased it with it needing 'minor amendments' to make it how I wanted it, including removing some extra work that the previous owner wanted, plus adding some overriders, going over the fuel system, and other 'tweaks'. It is a lovely car, but of course, unless you know it's a 'Heinz,' Joe Public thinks it is a Wolseley Hornet that has just had a chop job!”

Phil was once the custodian of The Prisoner Moke, and the latest member of his fleet is equally eye-catching. Not only is his open-topped Hornet one of the most beguiling members of the Mini family, but it is also the most exclusive – one you could only win by participating in Heinz's "Greatest Glow On Earth" competition.

BMC launched the Hornet (and its Riley Elf stablemate) in 1961; their target market was a young Margot Ledbetter. Four years later, Heinz approached the Westerham coachbuilders Crayford Auto Developments Ltd. to build 57 Wolseley convertibles, all with an LLD number plate, for a major promotion. Entrants to the "Glow" competition had to pair eight soups with a tempting array of main courses and complete the phrase "I like to take Heinz soup on a picnic because..."

An advertisement in The Daily Mirror of the 13^th January 1966 listed the Heinz Hornet's many special features:

1. "Enjoy fresh air, sunshine, tan-as-you-go motoring".
2. "Four fully adjustable safety belts".
3. "Magnificent picnic case with everything you need – complete tea and lunch set, two 1-pint vacuum flasks, two food boxes, tableware for four, plastic tablecloth and table napkins”.
4. "Two insulated rear compartments to keep the salad crisp, the soup and sausages hot, all the picnic goodies in top condition. And their padded leather tops double as armrests”.
5. "Electric kettle and point in boot. Stop and have a cup of tea any time you like".
6. "Tartan picnic rug. This all-wool, full-size rug is just the thing for all your picnic outings".
7. "Push-button transistor radio with retractable aerial".

Plus, possibly the most '1966' fitting of all:

"Freshen-up compartment fitted with all the little supplies mum looks for on a long, family journey. Fitted in conjunction with Max Factor".

In short, the Heinz Hornet would cause neighbours to gaze in envy when you parked it on your driveway—and they would probably faint on seeing the kettle in the boot. The colour choices were Toga White or Birch Grey, and the owner could even have their initials lettered on the driver's door.

Heinz had previously staged a similar competition in 1963 with 57 Morris-badged Minis as the star prizes, but the coachbuilt Hornets were even more desirable. "Just pick up an entry form at your grocer's" (another very 1966 phrase) urged one advertisement. Unsurprisingly, the firm received over a million entries. Crayford agreed not to make a similar conversion for a year after Heinz announced the prize winners to further ensure the Hornet's exclusivity.

Today, the Crayford Car Club does sterling work keeping the Heinz Hornets on the road, and, incredibly, 41 are known to them. Phil points out that "the previous owner spent over £40K on purchase and restoration!" of his Wolseley.

Perhaps the best way to encapsulate the appeal of Phil's Heinz Hornet would be to imagine a 1966 British comedy film set at a seaside. The radio would be tuned to the BBC Light Programme, and Dad (David Lodge) contently smoked his pipe as the kettle boiled in the Wolseley's boot. Mum (Joan Sims) would be extracting the sausage rolls from the rear cool boxes, complaining she had to do all the work.

And, as the sun sets, both suddenly realise the radio and the kettle have completely drained the Wolseley's battery, leaving them stranded on the beach. Cue the arrival of Sam Kydd in his ex-army Bedford rescue wagon, shouting, "Oi! What's your game!" The Heinz Hornet really is that sort of a car – one of the many reasons why it is so appealing.

With thanks to Phil Caunt for his time and permission to use the images in this blog.