Vauxhall Cresta

Infobox Automobile


name = Vauxhall Cresta
manufacturer = Vauxhall
production = 1954-1972
predecessor = Vauxhall Wyvern
successor = Vauxhall Victor FE
designer =
related = Vauxhall Velox
Vauxhall Wyvern

The Vauxhall Cresta is a British car first introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox (itself a six cylinder version of the Vauxhall Wyvern). When the Wyvern was replaced in 1957 the new larger car took the Cresta name. This car, code named the PA version one, was one of the more elegant British cars of the late 1950s even though it was not sufficiently upmarket for it to be driven by those that considered themselves the elite of British society. Rock stars could drive them; barristers and doctors would not. This was ironic, because Queen Elizabeth II for many years used an Estate version as personal transport.

The Cresta models were the E (1954-1957), PA (1957-1962), PB (1962-1965) and PC (1965-1972). The Viscount (1966-1972) was an upmarket Cresta PC.

Cresta E

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Vauxhall Cresta E


production = 1954-1957
166,504 produced.cite book |last=Sedgwick |first=M. |authorlink= |coauthors= Gillies.M|title=A-Z of Cars 1945-1970|year=1986 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 1-870979-39-7]
engine = 2.3 L straight-6 ohv
transmission = 3 speed manual
body_style = 4-door saloon
length = convert|172|in|mm|abbr=on
width = convert|66.5|in|mm|abbr=on
height = convert|61.5|in|mm|abbr=on
wheelbase = convert|103|in|mm|abbr=oncite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2] The Vauxhall Velox had been introduced in 1948 with a new version in 1951 that looked very much like a Chevrolet of the era. The Cresta E version, launched in 1954, had the same 2262 cc six cylinder engine in the same state of tune but scored over the Velox in having a choice of leather or fabric upholstery, optional two tone paintwork, a heater as standard, a small electric facia mounted clock, a cigar lighter, a lamp automatically illuminating the boot / trunk when opened, a vanity mirror on the inside of the front passenger's sun visor long with a special ornamental badge above the V (for Vauxhall) badge on the nose of the car. A radio was optional.

A Cresta tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1956 had a top speed of convert|82.2|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 20.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|23.5|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £931 including taxes. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Vauxhall Cresta| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = June 6 1956]

Cresta PA

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Vauxhall Cresta PA


production = 1957-1962
81,841 made
engine = 2.2 L straight-6 ohv 1958-1960, 2.6L straight-6 from 1961-1962
transmission = 3 speed manual, Overdrive optional, Hydramatic Automatic available from 1961
body_style = 4-door saloon
4-door estate car
length = convert|177|in|mm|abbr=on Saloon
width = convert|68|in|mm|abbr=on
wheelbase = convert|105|in|mm|abbr=on
height = convert|59|in|mm|abbr=onThe PA Cresta is probably the most well-known version. It mimicked the American fashion for giant tailfins, wrap-around windows and whitewall tyres but in an understated way compared to the Cadillacs and Buicks of the time. It bears a strong resemblance to a 1955 Packard Caribbean. All factory-built PAs were 4-Door Saloons, the Estate cars were converted by Friary of Basingstoke, Hampshire and are rare cars today.

The car had independent front suspension using coil springs and an anti-roll bar with a rigid axle and semi elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The Lockheed brakes used convert|9|in|mm|abbr=on drums all round. The 2262 cc six cylinder engine had pushrod operated overhead valves and a compression ratio of 7.8:1 (a low compression 6.8:1 version was available) and produced 82.5 bhp at 4400 rpm. A single Zenith carburettor was used. The transmission had three forward speeds.

It was well equipped with leather and nylon upholstery for its bench front and rear seats and woven pile carpet. A heater was fitted as standard. The radio remained an option on the home market. Other options included fog lamps, reversing light, locking filler cap and external mirrors. In order to keep the front floor clear to seat six people the handbrake lever was mounted under the dashboard and the gearchange lever was column mounted. The car could be ordered painted in either single or two tone colours

A PA tested by the British magazine "The Motor" in 1958 had a top speed of convert|89.8|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 16.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|25.2|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £1073 including taxes of £358. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Vauxhall Cresta Model PA| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = April 23 1958]

During the 1970s many PA Crestas were modified and customised. The model was very popular with fifties revivalists; many were driven by teddy boys and were very much seen as part of the rock 'n' roll image. A 1960 PA Cresta features in the 1981 video for "Ghost Town" by The Specials. The band are also wearing 50s style clothing in the video.

Today the PA Cresta is a recognised classic, with the other variants perhaps less appreciated but gaining recognition. One famous PA owner in the late 1950s was Don Lang.

Cresta PB

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Vauxhall Cresta PB


production = 1962-1965
87,047 made
engine = 2.4 L straight-6 ohv
3.3 L straight-6 ohv
transmission = 3 or 4 speed manual
2 or 3 speed automatic
body_style = 4-door saloon
4-door estate car
length = convert|182|in|mm|abbr=on
width = convert|70|in|mm|abbr=on
wheelbase = convert|107|in|mm|abbr=onThe PB was a major styling revision, completely eliminating the tail fins, with a flat bonnet (hood) and generally more conservative styling. It initially featured a 2.6 litre straight-six engine, with a 3.3 litre in its last year of production. The gearbox was still three speed with column change but an overdrive was available. The 3.3 litre cars had a four speed box with floor change as an option. Three-speed hydramatic automatic transmission was available with both engines but this was changed to the two-speed Powerglide unit towards the end of the 3.3-litre PB run. Servo assisted brakes, disc at the front were fitted.

Cresta PC

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Vauxhall Cresta PC


production = 1965-1972
53,912 made
engine = 3.3 L straight-6 ohv
transmission = 3 or 4 speed manual
2 or 3 speed automatic
body_style = 4-door saloon
4-door estate car
length = convert|187.1|in|mm|abbr=on
width = convert|69.8|in|mm|abbr=on
wheelbase = convert|107.5|in|mm|abbr=on
height = convert|55.6|in|mm|abbr=on
weight = convert|2796|lb|kg|abbr=on "(standard)"
fuel_capacity = Convert|15|impgal|L usgal|0|abbr=onThe last of the series, the PC, was a different car, larger and styled with the coke-bottle look introduced with the FD Victor series. It was similar to the Australian Holden HR, but larger and better trimmed, and featured the 3.3 litre straight-six engine for its entire seven-year production run. The last estate cars were made in 1968. Initially, the three-speed column-shift manual transmission was standard with optional overdrive; four-speed manual and two-speed Powerglide were also optional. Later cars, from about 1971 came with four-speed manual or three-speed automatic, both with floor shift and bucket seats.

The De-Luxe version had four headlamps in place of the two fitted on the base models.

Viscount

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Vauxhall Viscount


production = 1966-1972
7025 made
engine = 3.3 L straight-6 ohv (or 318 ci Chrysler V8 in South Africa)
transmission = 4 speed manual
3 speed automatic
body_style = 4-door saloon
length = convert|187.1|in|mm|abbr=on
width = convert|69.8|in|mm|abbr=on
wheelbase = convert|107.5|in|mm|abbr=on
height = convert|55.6|in|mm|abbr=on
weight =
fuel_capacity = Convert|15|impgal|L usgal|0|abbr=onWith the same engine and mechanics as the PC, the Viscount was the super de-luxe version. It was supplied as standard with power steering, electric windows, reclining seats, a vinyl roof and walnut dashboard. Some PC 3.3 had the twin pipes and this was a performance option of the time, The standard fitting was Powerglide automatic transmission but a four speed manual was available as a no cost option. Some South African versions were fitted with a Chrysler V8 as an option - possibly the only time ever a General Motors product used a direct rival's engine.

References