The 4/44 was shown in 1952 and built at Cowley from 1953 — 29,845 of them. It shares its monocoque with the MG Magnette ZA, sitting a little higher, and uses the 1,250cc XPAW engine, a single-carburettor version of the MG XPAG, with a four-speed column change. Underneath: coil-and-wishbone front suspension, leaf springs at the rear and rack-and-pinion steering. Early cars had open parcel shelves and semaphore indicators.
The 15/50 of June 1956 took the 1,489cc B-series engine and a floor gear change, and 12,352 were built to December 1958. It has Lockheed hydraulic drums, drooping chrome side flashes and twin fog lamps, and could be had with Manumatic, BMC’s two-pedal clutch. Sources disagree on how much of the body the Wolseley and the MG really share, so check door and boot seals with us before ordering from the Magnette.
Wolseley 4/44 & 15/50 — specification & changes within the model
- 4/44 — 1953 to 1956
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1,250cc XPAW (single-carb XPAG), four-speed column change, hypoid rear axle.
- 15/50 — 1956 to 1958
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1,489cc B-series, floor change, Manumatic option. Lockheed hydraulic drums.
- Chassis
- Monocoque. Coil-and-wishbone front, leaf rear, rack and pinion.
- Spotting a 15/50
- Drooping chrome side flashes and twin fog lamps.
- MG twin
- MG Magnette ZA/ZB. Sources differ on how many panels are shared — it matters for door and boot seals.
- Earth polarity
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We cannot tell you for certain, and we will not guess. We could not find a source we trust that settles the earth polarity for the 4/44 or 15/50. Check the car before you order a coil, a regulator or a radio.
