W-Day
How many car manufacturers had an illuminated grill badge? Hard to find any other example than good old Wolseley, until very recently.
Wolseley first introduced this hallmark glowing badge feature of the marque way back in 1932 and retained it right up until the very last Wolseley model was built in 1975 – the short-lived and rare Princess 18-22 wedge-shaped Six Saloon – which also featured the marque’s unique ‘signature’ illuminated grille-mounted badge. Strangely, no other British (or European) car maker ever followed Wolseley’s lead and put its name in lights.
Interesting little read about "Why don’t car manufacturers light up their logos?"
In the period Wolseley operated they were just about the only one, but in more recent times brand lighting is very much an important part of automotive designers, without the understated subtlety, class and simplicity of the Wolseley grill badge.
This was the last of the line, and quite a gorgeous thing too.
Neil
