Wolseley Loyalty

Sir,

It was a pleasure to read Philip Caudle’s views on the demise of the Wolseley.

As the last stronghold of the British car industry British Leyland threw away their best card by dropping the name that has given pleasure to motorists since the last century and replaced it with Princess, which really is purely a “badge” name with no particular ignificance.

British Leyland could have rationalised (if that was its aim) by dropping the Morris and Austin names for the 1800/2200 range and called them all Wolseleys.

Wolseley was a tradition and has many followers, like Mr. Caudle, having a strong devotion. Brand loyalty may be purely nostalgia or whatever and may be discounted in the boardroom when “sweeping changes” are made—but remember this, you who hold such powers: those who open catalogues in front of their fires on a winter’s night won’t recall many happy summers of their youth pottering about in their Princesses!

Faithful devotion or just nostalgia (very marketable at the moment) may be intangible but it exists, and to throw it away at a time like this was a foolish move.

If Mr. Caudle cares to get in touch, we of the Wolseley Register would be glad to furnish him with details of membership.

Swindon W. P. ROBSON