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| A car you learned to drive in | A car you learned to drive in |
| (1 day later) | |
| Vauxhall is currently going through uncertain times and the reputation of its cars is on the mundane side, but there are those who will speak up for this venerable name. | Vauxhall is currently going through uncertain times and the reputation of its cars is on the mundane side, but there are those who will speak up for this venerable name. |
| In this image from 1910, a Vauxhall takes part in a raceEnlarge Image | In this image from 1910, a Vauxhall takes part in a raceEnlarge Image |
| When you think Vauxhall, you probably don't think of cool. Or hip. Or flash. Or snazzy. Or any of those other diaphanous terms that marketing men trade in. | When you think Vauxhall, you probably don't think of cool. Or hip. Or flash. Or snazzy. Or any of those other diaphanous terms that marketing men trade in. |
| You might have learnt to drive in a Vauxhall and the model you remember dates you. Teenagers of the 1990s tackled roundabouts in a Corsa, their predecessors of the 1980s three-point turned in Novas, and further back Chevettes, Vivas, and Victors stretching back into antiquity. | You might have learnt to drive in a Vauxhall and the model you remember dates you. Teenagers of the 1990s tackled roundabouts in a Corsa, their predecessors of the 1980s three-point turned in Novas, and further back Chevettes, Vivas, and Victors stretching back into antiquity. |
| If you think anything of Vauxhalls, you think of economy and functionality - cars for families and fleets. | If you think anything of Vauxhalls, you think of economy and functionality - cars for families and fleets. |
| But once upon a time, says motoring journalist Eric Dymock, author of The Vauxhall File, the brand represented insane luxury. | But once upon a time, says motoring journalist Eric Dymock, author of The Vauxhall File, the brand represented insane luxury. |
| Opel staff face wait for job news | Opel staff face wait for job news |
| "Vauxhall really was one of the great, classic Edwardian cars." | "Vauxhall really was one of the great, classic Edwardian cars." |
| In these days before World War I, the brand, which owes its name to the south London neighbourhood where it began, battled with Rolls-Royce and Bentley under the stewardship of the designer Laurence Pomeroy. It went on to produce great cars for rich people - the Prince Henry and the Vauxhall 30/98 among them. | In these days before World War I, the brand, which owes its name to the south London neighbourhood where it began, battled with Rolls-Royce and Bentley under the stewardship of the designer Laurence Pomeroy. It went on to produce great cars for rich people - the Prince Henry and the Vauxhall 30/98 among them. |
| Eventually, it struggled to keep up with the Bentleys and in 1925 General Motors stepped in and purchased the firm. It took a turn towards more mass market cars with the altogether respectable Vauxhall Cadet, says Mr Dymock. | Eventually, it struggled to keep up with the Bentleys and in 1925 General Motors stepped in and purchased the firm. It took a turn towards more mass market cars with the altogether respectable Vauxhall Cadet, says Mr Dymock. |
| But after World War II came years when the design mission was less clear. | But after World War II came years when the design mission was less clear. |
| The Vauxhall Cresta was stylish but some models had problems | The Vauxhall Cresta was stylish but some models had problems |
| "The real dog Vauxhalls were the Wyverns [which had design faults], and the Crestas, that rusted away. They had been rather heavily overstyled by the Americans." | "The real dog Vauxhalls were the Wyverns [which had design faults], and the Crestas, that rusted away. They had been rather heavily overstyled by the Americans." |
| This era from the 50s and 60s into the 1970s represented the bad years for Vauxhall, Mr Dymock suggests. | This era from the 50s and 60s into the 1970s represented the bad years for Vauxhall, Mr Dymock suggests. |
| "From the days of the Cresta and the Wyvern, after these were discarded, Vauxhalls have really been Opels. I remember going to the launch of the first Viva - everyone knew it was an Opel Kadett." | "From the days of the Cresta and the Wyvern, after these were discarded, Vauxhalls have really been Opels. I remember going to the launch of the first Viva - everyone knew it was an Opel Kadett." |
| Although some might be snide about the fact that for the last few decades Vauxhalls have been rebadged German cars - from GM stablemate Opel - others are more pragmatic. | Although some might be snide about the fact that for the last few decades Vauxhalls have been rebadged German cars - from GM stablemate Opel - others are more pragmatic. |
| The Vauxhall Viva still has many fans today | The Vauxhall Viva still has many fans today |
| "That was the saviour of Vauxhall. Ever since the 1970s they have been better engineered, better designed, the quality control was better." | "That was the saviour of Vauxhall. Ever since the 1970s they have been better engineered, better designed, the quality control was better." |
| And while the Vauxhalls of today might not be cool, the cars certainly had a positive image in the 50s and 60s. | And while the Vauxhalls of today might not be cool, the cars certainly had a positive image in the 50s and 60s. |
| "They were a car with social cachet," says Mr Dymock. "I always remembered they were flashier than Austins and Fords in the 1950s and 1960s. They had a bit more style." | "They were a car with social cachet," says Mr Dymock. "I always remembered they were flashier than Austins and Fords in the 1950s and 1960s. They had a bit more style." |
| Some people still love the cars of that era. Fred Dukes, membership secretary of the Vauxhall Viva owners club, is one of them. | Some people still love the cars of that era. Fred Dukes, membership secretary of the Vauxhall Viva owners club, is one of them. |
| "The Vauxhall Vivas were fairly advanced in their design, the suspension was quite up to date - a lot of cars in that era tended to suffer with dodgy suspension and not very firm cornering. The engine was reasonably powerful." | "The Vauxhall Vivas were fairly advanced in their design, the suspension was quite up to date - a lot of cars in that era tended to suffer with dodgy suspension and not very firm cornering. The engine was reasonably powerful." |
| For many years Vauxhalls have been rebadged Opels | For many years Vauxhalls have been rebadged Opels |
| For the 400+ members of the Vauxhall Viva Owners Club, and its offshoot the Viva Outlaws Club, it's all about a celebration of a car that was better than average. | For the 400+ members of the Vauxhall Viva Owners Club, and its offshoot the Viva Outlaws Club, it's all about a celebration of a car that was better than average. |
| "It has a Cinderella-type stigma to it," says Mr Dukes. "It's difficult to describe what a classic is - it isn't in the same vein as the Mini or the MGB or the Morris Minor. It hasn't taken that mass interest but in its own right it isn't a badly designed car." | "It has a Cinderella-type stigma to it," says Mr Dukes. "It's difficult to describe what a classic is - it isn't in the same vein as the Mini or the MGB or the Morris Minor. It hasn't taken that mass interest but in its own right it isn't a badly designed car." |
| Below is a selection of your comments. | |
| The cars that Vauxhall/Opel have been turning out in the past couple of years have actually been more sportily styled and well engineered than the depressing Novas and Vectras of the 80s and 90s. The problem I think is one of brand image, few people really aspire to own a Vauxhall, and I believe the badge and the brand are considered old fashioned and staid by many. In contrast Ford, despite being of similar vintage to Vauxhall has kept a relatively young sporty image which gives credibility to the whole range. I think Vauxhall would actually do better if it was rebranded as Opel in the UK. For a start the badge is simpler and more sporty design and I think it could generally have more credibility with younger buyers especially, for whom, I suspect, the Vauxhall 'heritage' means very little.Tim, Reigate, Surrey | |
| I learnt to drive in 1960 in a beautiful black Vauxhall Wyvern and drove it through the early sixties. It was great on the icy roads of winter 1962/3. The bench style front seat and steering column gear change were very useful too.Roger Tingle, London, UK | |
| I learned to drive in my parents Vaux Victor 101. Bench seat with three speed column shift, great little car. My father used to work for General Motors here in Upper Hutt. The assembly lines here in New Zealand turned out European Vauxhalls, and The Australian Holden branded Models. There is no GM car assembly in NZ anymore, this stopped way back in the 90's. The cars are all called Holdens, and have been sourced from the lines in Australia, with the Vauxhall/Opel badge replaced with the Holden badge.Edwin, Wellington, NZ | |
| I remember my fathers Vauxhalls as oil burners, but very reliable. Personally, my pet hate is the Vauxhall badge, it really needs modernising. By the way, I am 70 years old.Doug Mogano, Massa, Italy | |
| I have a Viva HA SL90 from 1966 (similar to the picture you feature of a viva - which is prob an SL), servo disks, 60bhp 1 litre, still happy to break the speed limits on motorways, comfy and economical. Whats more even at its age it is still 100% reliable! I have also had a couple of Mantas (incl one that did over 300k miles), several Cavaliers, a Vectra and a Zafira. I can honestly say that it doesn't seem to matter what age of Vauxhall you buy they work well and safely (2 of the Cavaliers were written off in bad crashes - but I walked out both times without a scratch).Dave, Mildenhall | |
| My father bought a new Vauxhall Victor Estate in 1965 in what was then known as Jesselton, British North Borneo. Fantastic car with column gear change and front bench seat. The seats were firm and very comfortable even when compared with modern cars.WM Chan, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah | |
| I learned to drive in my Dad's Viva HB. It was pale 'Wedgewood' blue with dark blue vinyl seats, 1100cc engine - and no radio! As I remember the brakes were drums all round and not very efficient, but it served a family of six well enough. My (then) future father-in-law had a new Viva HC - chestnut brown with cloth seats, disc brakes and a 1300cc engine - sheer luxury by comparison, although he never got the hang of starting it! The only time I ever heard him swear was at that car! It will be a shame if the Vauxhall name disappears. I had a string of Cavaliers as company cars back in the early 80s, including the much-vaunted SRi! That was when the tax system made company cars worth having!Tim Newton, N Yorks UK |
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