Significant Vauxhalls covered by Club membership
Veteran and Edwardian Vauxhalls up to 1919
The first Vauxhalls were built in the Vauxhall area of London (Lambeth), the company moving to Luton in 1905. The first simple cars soon gave way to some of the greatest sporting cars of the era.
1903 Vauxhall 5hp
This is one of only two cars thought to be in existence. The four seat version left the passengers in the uncomfortable position of being at the front of the car.
1905 7-9hp
The first car built in Luton. A 3-cylinder engine produced brisk performance for the period.
Prince Henry (C-type)
Known to Vauxhall as the C-10, three specially prepared cars were entered in the 1910 Prince Henry Trials in Germany where it gained its more familiar name. Now widely regarded as the world’s first sports car.
Vintage Vauxhalls 1919-1930
Many of our members own cars in this age group which encompasses the grand touring era of British motoring. The company was taken over by General Motors (GM) of the USA in 1925. The company’s image and target market were gently but firmly changed with a move to mass production. GM influence is seen in the 1930 introduction of the Vauxhall Cadet and the 1931 launch of the first Bedford truck, both of which used Chevrolet technology.
1924 14-40 (LM-type)
After the war there was a demand for a more modestly priced car and Vauxhall created many different variants of the popular side-valve 14-40.
1930 Hurlingham Roadster
In February 1930 Motor Sport had a test drive in the new Hurlingham and described it thus:”the Hurlingham model Vauxhall which we recently had the opportunity of putting through its paces, we found an excellent example of a machine which combines good performance with thoroughly gentlemanly behaviour.”
1929 20-60 (R-type)
The Vauxhall 20-60 was available as a four or five-seat saloon, limousine, tourer or coupé-cabriolet. With a six-cylinder engine and a four-speed gearbox, it marked a cautious move away from the luxury market by Vauxhall. “The first time any six-cylinder Vauxhall has been sold under £1000!”
Pre-War Vauxhalls 1930-1939
As Vauxhall moved from low volume to mass production it continually surprised the market by offering break-though technology at an affordable price.
1933 Light Six (A-type)
The classic saloon version of the 12hp A-type, also available as a 14hp with various body types.
1936 Light Six (DY)
This is a drop-head coupe version of a car more normally manufactured in saloon form. Many specialist coach builders offered open cars on this chassis. This model introduced independent front suspension to the mass market.
1938 (H-type)
Launched at the October 1937 London Motor Show the H-type was the first British popular car to have a unitary construction body. It could achieve well over 40mpg from its advanced 4-cylinder engine.
Post-War Vauxhalls 1945-1957
Vauxhall was one of the first British car makers to switch from wartime to civilian production, partly because Bedford military truck production was redirected to the civilian market. The initial car models were essentially unchanged from the pre-war H, I, and J-type unibody designs. These were renamed simply as the Vauxhall Ten, Twelve and Fourteen.
1951 Velox (L-type)
Introduced shortly before the London Motor Show in October 1948, the 6-cylinder Velox was a successor to the Vauxhall Fourteen and used the J-type unitary shell with Chevrolet inspired front and rear-end styling. The 4-cylinder version was called the Wyvern.
1953 Wyvern (E-type)
The E series Wyvern and Velox were Vauxhall’s first all new post-war models incorporating full-width bodies incorporating contemporary Chevrolet inspired styling.
1956 Cresta (E-type)
The Cresta was introduced as the top-of-the-line model and featured many luxury items included leather upholstery and two-tone paint work.