WOLSELEY Hornet 1936 “Kompressor Special” 6 cilinder

WOLSELEY Hornet “Kompressor Special” 6 cilinder

Some cars don’t explain themselves at first glance. You look at them and think: what exactly is this? And that is precisely the point. No loud badges, no obvious labels—just a compact pre-war sports car with far more muscle than you’d expect. A gentleman with a boxer’s heart. And then you discover that it is a carefully crafted “Special”—one in which German engineering discipline meets unmistakable British flair.
This particular example was fully built between 2011 and 2017 by a German specialist dedicated to British classics. The result is a beautifully executed Hornet with a remarkable secret beneath the hood: a supercharger. Displacement has been increased to 1,648 cc and, according to specifications, output is around 100 horsepower. For a pre-war automobile, that is not just impressive—it borders on miraculous. The sound alone recalls aircraft engines of the same era: raw, mechanical, and yet distinctly melodic.
The original Hornet appeared in the early 1930s as a light and lively six-cylinder aimed at the sporting driver with refined taste. After William Morris acquired Wolseley in 1927, the brand became something of a more sophisticated MG—slightly more elegant, slightly rarer. The Hornet proved immensely popular as a foundation for specials and club racers, thanks to its excellent chassis, balanced handling, and charismatic overhead-cam six-cylinder engine. Hornet Special chassis were even supplied to coachbuilders such as Swallow and Jensen.
The Kompressor Special you see here takes that idea one step further. It is not a strict recreation of a factory model, but rather a car built with an intuitive sense of proportion, history, and—above all—driving enjoyment. Visually, it is a delight: a long hood, narrow wheels, an open cockpit, and a restrained yet elegant dashboard. Everything feels right, yet it is not overly polished. There is an honesty to its presentation that makes clear this car was built to be driven, not merely admired.
Many enthusiasts of pre-war automobiles keep a special like this