Wolseley a Very British Car Hardcover – 10 Nov. 2016

Mr Clausager is an experienced author and has an engaging narrative style, bearing in mind that these days most information has to be gleaned from rather 'dry' ancient company reports, the magazine Engineering, Autocar, etc - sources not originally written to entertain the early 20th century audience, never mind a 21st century one. Although the book is very well written there are 300 large format, closely written pages that need to be read properly, not just 'dipped into', so to really enjoy it you will have to be a serious Wolseley enthusiast with a long attention span.There is much here about key personalities -Herbert Austin, John Siddeley, William Morris, Gerald Palmer and more - and of course the book details the convoluted history of the company and its ownership. However, the story of the cars themselves is told rather inconsistently. There is considerable detail about early cars, although racing occupies much space , 1902 -07 and again 1919 - 27. Information on the model range for this 1920's period is rather thin, although there is interesting comment about the big six' s and eights. For later periods detail becomes more readily available and more consistent but poor presentation of data remains aproblem: although some of this can be found in the text there are no real data panels, only a limited supply of photo's and no Chassis or Coachwork drawings.In the book overall there are many small charts comparing prices and production figures, including foreign makes: this is interesting and is not usually found in marque books. For example we learn that in 1913 only Wolseley and Humber produced more than 2,000 car, but in France and Germany eleven companies did so. However, apart from these production totals and prices such charts as there are usually only give engine size and top speed, which really is not very enlightening. True, more is found in the text, but meaningful comparisons are hard to make.I would have liked detailed specifications and performance data (Autocar and Motor reports especially) along with photos and drawings linked to each model. The photos printed are all contemporary and mostly very good, but it seems that if a really good one could not easily located then non are provided, and although 200 photos may sound a lot it is actually not enough to cover an 80 year period in a 300 page book.£40 is a lot of money, but this is a lot of book, featuring gloss art paper. Mr Clausager is a professional author with a high output of work on many motoring subjects and the impression given is that he writes the text but leaves others to create the book as a whole. My conclusion is that it is an excellent volume to read, but it is not an easy reference work, whereas for the money it could have been both.

Overall, a useful basic text on the company and the cars. Too much on the origins of the Wolseley company pre-1895 and not enough on the the interwar period: especially after 1935. Photo quality varies from excellent to poor. More on the Palmer cars (1952-9) and comparison with his other designs would have been interesting. A lack of technical spec on the post 1919 cars is annoying-brief comments in the text wet the appetite for more technical info!

Immensely authoritative, masses of convincingly well checked detail, probably the final work on the subject.. Only downsides: no light touches and no colour pictures.

A well written if slightly depressing history of this well known make by a master of the art. Well illustrated, and with a wealth of information concernining the machinations of management I would have enjoyed a little more technical detail.

My husband loves this book. He has been trying to get this particular title for a long time and is happy it is now standing in his bookcase. Arrived swiftly and very well packed. Thank you

Excellent very thorough detailed book, but an index other than names/people, ie places would have been useful and more photos of Wolseley-Siddeleys and Wolseleys in the 1905-1927 period would have been good, but overall a much needed book.

Comprehensive history of this great lost marque. Still reading it as it is quite a tome. Great pictures of rare types.

A very well written and researched book