In 1857 Alexander Wilson formed an engineering company on the Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall, London. The company, named Alexander Wilson & Co manufactured a range of steam engines for the navy and river pleasure boats.

In 1892 the company turned its attention to the new internal combustion engines. In 1896, the company was renamed ‘The Vauxhall Ironworks’ and went on to develop a single cylinder petrol engine which was fitted to a river pleasure boat. In 1903 Vauxhall’s history in motorcar production began.

Vauxhall Prince Henry (1911)

 

This first motorcar (the 5hp) was rigged with tiller steering, a hand-pull throttle, chain driven, coil spring suspension and two forward gears with no reverse.

The first Vauxhall was a single-cylinder 5hp car with tiller steering and about forty cars were built before it was replaced by a series of 9, 12 and 14hp cars that had the famous fluted bonnet.

The workforce of around 300 produced 43 motorcars in a 14-month production run. In 1905 the company moved to its now familiar site in Luton, although the company were severely restricted in terms of space at the old London site, the move was primarily the result of problems with the lease that could not be resolved on their old Wandsworth Road plant.

The first car to be produced in 1905, at Luton was the 7/9hp, 1300cc, 3-cylinder, however it went out of production almost immediately being very much underpowered.

In 1906 the Vauxhall Eighteen four cylinder model made its first appearance and quickly became a favourite with the motoring public. The famous fluted bonnet treatment which has characterised Vauxhall cars since 1906 was originally used on this car

Later in the same year Mr. L. H. Pomeroy, who had joined the Vauxhall company in 1905, designed the 12-14 h.p. model. This was the first Vauxhall to be fitted with a live axle. In 1907, the company, justifiably pleased with its success, decided to concentrate on car production and so disposed of all other engineering interests which were not allied to the production of automobiles. The name was, at this time, changed to Vauxhall Motors, Ltd.

Public demand for the light car was rapidly diminishing and motorists were clamouring for higher powered vehicles, so, in 1908, Vauxhall's produced the famous 20 h.p. model. An example of this car won the R.A.C, 2000 mile trial in the same year, an achievement which proved to be a tremendous fillip for the make and one which made the car the most popular model of that year.

Quickly realising the high publicity value of success in the sporting field, Vauxhall entered speed and reliability trials with healthy enthusiasm. As a result, the years 1909 to 1914 saw this marque winning competitive events with increasing frequency both at home and overseas. Perhaps one of the most important of the many highlights in the history of the manufacturers took place on October 28, 1910, when a 20 h.p. Vauxhall became the first car of that capacity to achieve the magic 100 mph on Brooklands track, a much coveted achievement.

The most successful year for the Vauxhall company from the sporting point of view-was 1913. During that year the famous 30-98 model made its debut and proceeded to record success after success in speed trials all over the country.  After the first world war-during which normal production was continued in the form of a 25 h.p. staff car, the 30-98 model continued with unabated success and cars of the Vauxhall marque scored no fewer than 75 wins, 52 second places, and 35 third positions in sporting events all over the country during the years 1920-1923.  

Although the public held these cars in high esteem, very few people could afford to own them because the prices ranged from £1,000 to almost £2,000. For this reason, the company withdrew from the sport in 1923 and concentrated on the production of less luxurious models, thereby catering for a wider public. New and more economical. models appeared, and production figures in 1923 were doubled in comparison with the 600 vehicles marketed in the previous year.

In 1925 Vauxhall agreed to sell the company to the American automobile manufacturers General Motors, this would be the first American company to produce cars on British soil, and indeed in Europe. The first key sign to be seen in the shift in ownership was clear when the 17hp VY Cadet was launched at the 1930 London Motor Show. This six-cylinder car was firmly grouped in the affordable motoring reach of ordinary people. The VY had a 2048cc rubber mounted pushrod engine and a three-speed gearbox.

In 1932 the gearbox was upgraded, and beat Rolls-Royce to become the first British motorcar to provide synchromesh in second and third gear.

In the 1930's the company concentrated on selling smaller cars with the 17hp Cadet in 1930 and the A-Type in 1934. The 10hp H-Type of 1938 was the first mass-produced British car of integral construction.

1930 The public saw the first sign of the merger with the launch of the Cadet in 1930. The 17hp and 26hp six-cylinder Cadets were firmly in the under £300 market. In 1931, the Cadet brought a British first for Vauxhall, with the introduction of the synchromesh gearbox.

1933 Soon to follow was the even more successful Light Six of 1933. There were two models, a 12hp that sold for £195 and a 14 hp for £215. On the dealer launch day, June 14th, 250 Light Sixes were driven from the Luton factory – an unprecedented achievement in the British motor industry. In 1933, 40 per cent of all 14hp registrations were Vauxhalls, thanks to the Light Six’s low selling price.

The Big Six and B-type models came in 20hp and 26hp variants with prices from £325 to £550. They featured the unusual Pedomatic system, which started the engine when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The company continued until 1933 to produce cars that had helped make its name with the well-to-do.

A a mass ‘drive-away’ by Vauxhall dealers from the Luton Plant.

1933 - 34 Cars such as the R and T-type Silent 80 typified the characteristics of these grand giants of a passing age. By the end of I933 nearly 10,000 cars had left the Luton factory. The light Sixes were a real success for Vauxhall - evidenced by the rise in output to over 20,000 cars in 1934. By now as many as 6000 people were building vehicles at Luton, and the company’s annual turnover had exceeded £7 million.

1935 For 1935 came new 12 and 14hp models to take over from the fast-selling Light Sixes. The new six-cylinder 12hp and 14hp DY and DX models were the first medium-priced British cars to have independent front suspension. The success of the DY and DX models pushed sales to 26,000 high in 1935.

In the mid-30’s Vauxhall embarked on an ambitious investment programme to produce a car in numbers for the least possible price, around £1.2 million was invested in tooling. By 1937 the car was launched at the London motor show, the H-type, Vauxhall’s initiative paid off, over 12000 cars were sold in the first 10 months, at a cost of £170 each, the company struggled to keep up with demand. With their initial investment doubled and still with the new modern tooling of course, the future looked financially secure.

1937 Published late in 1937, ‘The Motor’ magazine road tested the new Vauxhall Ten and reported: "this is an extraordinary car... it seats four in comfort... exceeds 42 miles per gallon and cannot fail to become one of the most popular cars on the British market".

At the 1937 Motor Show the H-type, basically a Vauxhall Ten with a 12hp engine, was shown. This model completely replaced the original Ten when road tax ceased to be charged on the horse power system. Finally that year, the J-type was added to the model range. This was a 14hp six-cylinder vehicle that boasted an adjustable steering column, adjustable footrests and double-action shock absorbers.

 

A Vauxhall-built 38-ton Churchill tank stands alongside a 10hp car.

1940 A new tank with a famous name In 1940, when a German invasion was thought to be imminent, the British Army had fewer than 100 tanks at its disposal. Vauxhall was called upon to design and build a new tank, a task that from drawing board to production could reasonably have taken four years. One year later the first of 5,640 Churchill tanks left the production line at Luton. Ten other factories had to be ‘parented’ to assemble the Churchill from Luton-made parts. In all, 3,000 of these 38-ton machines returned to Luton for battle damage repair. These were remarkable achievements for Vauxhall and its workers.

1946  Vauxhall retained its pre-war model line that comprised the H-, I- and J-types. During these immediate post-war years cars were in short supply as manufacturing plants returned to civilian production. Of those cars produced, nearly all went abroad in response to the government’s export drive.

After the Second World War the 10, 12 and 14hp models were continued, but replaced in 1948 by the Wyvern and Velox models. These used the same body, the Wyvern had the 12hp engine and the Velox used a new 2.3 litre six-cylinder unit.

The Victor replaced the Wyvern in 1957 with an American type body style.

1947 By mid-1947, the government had changed car taxation from a horse power-related to a flat-rate system. Vauxhall then decided to end 10hp engine production in favour of the 12hp 4-cylinder unit.

1948 New for 1948, were the Wyvern and Velox L-type models. The 12hp engine from the H- type was retained for the Wyvern and a new 2.2 litre 6-cylinder unit powered the Velox. The bodyshell of these new models had indications of new designs that were just around the corner.

1951  Radical new styling marked the 1951 introduction of the E-type. The full-width body-shell design that now incorporated the front wings and lights proved highly successful. Many variants including the luxury Cresta of 1954 were produced before its replacement in 1957 by which time 342,000 had left the 80-acre Luton plant.

1953 The first 50 years When, in 1953, Vauxhall celebrated its Golden Jubilee, 13,000 people were employed in the Luton plant. Annual production had reached an all-time high of 100,000 and the millionth vehicle rolled off the production line. The next year, the company began a series of major investments with a £36 million development of production facilities.

1957 The new 1.5 litre Victor F-type and six-cylinder PA Velox and Cresta were introduced, 22,000 people were on the Vauxhall payroll and the company’s annual turnover had risen to £76 million. By 1959, the two millionth car had been made, and the 59-year run of the distinctive bonnet flute ended.

1960 Ellesmere Port, Vauxhall’s second manufacturing facility, was built on the wartime airfield of Hooton, on the south side of the River Mersey at the centre of good road, rail, sea and air communications. The directors of the company who had studied a range of alternatives first announced the choice of site in 1960 after careful consideration. In common with other major manufacturers who were expanding at the time, Vauxhall was encouraged by the government of the day to consider a site in one of the economic development areas. Construction of the Ellesmere Port plant began in August 1960.

1964 The first HA Viva rolled off the production line at Ellesmere Port on June 1, 1964. Within 10 months from launch, 100,000 Vivas had been sold. This success played a significant part in the company’s record sales of 1964. By the time of its replacement, in early 1966, a total of 307,738 had been built.

1965 The 3.3 litre PC Cresta was introduced. This was followed by the extra-luxury Viscount model of 1966 that boasted top-of-the-Range features such as electric windows and power steering.

1967 Vauxhall celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Year with the introduction of the new FD Victor. The range received much public acclaim for its styling, engines and safety features such as the energy-absorbing steering wheel. In fact, The Times newspaper called it the “star” of the Motor Show and The Sunday Times voted it “British Car of the Year”.

1968 A new name - Ventora - appeared in 1968. This luxury car used the FD bodyshell and was powered by 3.3 litre six-cylinder engine. The final generation Victor, the FE of 1972, gave a short-lived return to the body flute styling that first appeared on Vauxhall cars 67 years earlier.

 

Top : The 1976 Cavalier. Bottom : A 1968 Ventora. 1975 The Cavalier name began its association with Vauxhall. Three attractive saloons and a stylish coupe offered with 1600cc or 1990cc engines lifted this car into the "Top Ten" UK sales league. Another new name appeared in Vauxhall’s range of models at this time - the Chevette. The first hatchback In 1975, the Chevette became the HC Viva replacement. Offered with a 1256cc engine and a full range of body styles, it gave excellent fuel economy and performance. From a vehicle originally conceived as an economical family car came the HS2300 which, in DTV form, won 30 races and two special saloon car championships. Having won the 1979 British Open Rally Championship it could claim to be the best British rally car of its day. The Chevette’s popularity, undoubtedly supported by its racing success, led to regular placing in the Top Ten for UK sales. By the end of the Chevette’s nine-year run, 415,608 had been sold.   The DTV Firenza -’Droop Snoot’ Like its stablemate. the DTV Firenza had a 2300cc 4-cylinder 16-valve engine. A radically-styled version of this racer named ‘Baby Bertha’ dominated special-saloon car racing between 1975 and 1977. Driven by DTV driver Gerry Marshall it gained 30 outright wins and two championships.

1978 New names Two new models joined the line-up of Vauxhall cars in 1978, the Royale, a high-specification 2.8 litre luxury saloon and sleek coupe, and Carlton, a replacement for the ageing Victor.

At the end of the decade Vauxhall’s workforce numbered 33,000. Sales were however in decline. Only 230,420 vehicles were sold in 1979, due to high levels of competition and a serious economic recession.

General Motors, however, was to underline its confidence in Vauxhall with an immense investment programme that was to continue into the 1980s. 

The 1983 Astra GTE. Lotus Carlton The Nova GTE The 80s Further evidence of General Motors’ investment was soon to materialise in the form of Vauxhall’s first front-wheel-drive car - the 1980 Astra. 1983 18 Astra variants were available including 1.3 and 1.6-litre hatchbacks and saloons and, new for a family car, a diesel-engined model. The first small car The Nova was Vauxhall’s first entry into the small car market. Launched in 1983, it was first offered as a two-door saloon and hatchback with the option of 1.0, 1.2 and 1.3-litre engines. Vauxhall’s highest performance production car ever! The 3.6-litre 375bhp twin-turbo engine of the Lotus Carlton was capable of propelling it to 60 mph in a little over five seconds and on to a potential 180mph top speed. 1984 Vauxhall made further progress on the road to recovery with the launch of an all-new Astra in 1984. Sales of new cars rose to 299,000, and the share of the car market increased to 22.6 per cent, a post-war record. General Motors announced a massive £100 million investment in production facilities, in particular for the paint plants at Luton and Ellesmere Port. This was also the year that robots were first employed in the building of Vauxhall cars at Ellesmere Port. A year for investment and model changes. 1985 Commencement of the £90 million paint plant at Luton. For the first time in the company’s history over 300,000 car registrations were recorded and the half-millionth Cavalier was built.

1986 The successful sales trend continued into 1986 with registrations staying over 300,000, paving the way for a change in the fortunes of the company. The Astra, launched in 1984, received the accolade of being voted “Car Of The Year 1985”.

1987 
A series of significant achievements in 1987 proved GM’s heavy investment had been worthwhile, and the confidence the parent company had shown was to be repaid with successes that were to continue to this day.

The company made a £31 million net profit set against £118 million losses of the three preceding years. The largest single order ever was received for Vauxhall cars in 1987. Thorn EMI took delivery of 20,000 cars with a showroom value of £160 million. That year the new Luton paint plant went on-line and the new Carlton, first introduced in 1986, was voted Car of the Year. Also that year, the Norwich-based performance car manufacturer, Lotus, joined the ranks of General Motors. The Lotus connection would bring about the launch in 1990 of Vauxhall’s highest performance production car ever, the Lotus Carlton.

The 1986 Astra GTE.

1988 One million Cavaliers As sales of Cavaliers passed the one million mark in July 1988, an exciting new model was introduced. Showing evidence of the £122 million invested in its development, the new Cavalier was available in 22 variants including a 4x4. It was the Cavalier that would spearhead the Vauxhall sales drive for the following seven years. Investment at Ellesmere Port Yet more investment was announced in 1988, this time at Ellesmere Port, which benefited from a £56.3 million programme in addition to the £85 million already spent in the preceding four years. The year was to close with a net trading profit of £152 million. During 1988, Vauxhall led the UK motor industry when it offered the owners of some 850,000 post-1985 Vauxhall models the opportunity to have their vehicles adjusted to run on unleaded fuel, free of charge.

1989 Record profits Vauxhall achieved record profits in 1989 for the third consecutive year. Registrations of Vauxhall cars reached 349,901 - an all time record.

The Lotus Carlton was derived from Vauxhalls top of the range - in itself a fast and comfortable 5-seater.

The Vauxhall Lotus Carlton was a product of General Motors 1986-94 ownership of Lotus, GM had bought Lotus for Lotus Engineering rather than the low-volume production side and the Lotus Carlton was a flagship for engineering ability as for the Vauxhall range.

Despite its GM ownership, Lotus Engineering was a facility that also worked for other constructors once they were convinced that GM did not have access to the classified files, the Lotus Carlton was shown what could be done. At the time of introduction in 1990 the Lotus Carlton cost £48,000 while the 3.0 litre 24V GSi on which it was based cost a mere £25,000. The Lotus Carlton has twin turbochargers and increased cylinder capacity to 3640. The result was 375bhp@5200 rpm ; 0-60 mph in just over 5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph