Vauxhall Cresta

Vauxhall Cresta Viscount
Production period:	1954-1972
Class :	upper middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Previous model:	Vauxhall Velox EIP
Successor:	Vauxhall Ventora

The Vauxhall Cresta was a luxury variant of the Vauxhall Velox introduced in October 1954 . Its different generations were the E (1955–1957), the PA (1958–1962), the PB (1963–1965) and the PC (1966–1972). The Viscount (1966–1972) was a luxury version of the Cresta PC. The first version, Model E, was replaced by the modern PA in 1957, but it was not luxurious enough to find acceptance among the English upper class. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth II actually used a station wagon version of this car for many years.

Cresta EIPC

Cresta EIPC
Vauxhall Cresta E (1956)
Production period:	1954-1957
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 2.3 liters (49.6 kW)
Length:	4382 mm
Width:	1702 mm
Height:	1560 mm
Wheelbase :	2616 mm
Empty weight :

The Vauxhall Velox EIP was introduced in 1951 and revised in 1954. In this context, a de-luxe version of the Velox, the Cresta, was presented in October 1954 . It had the same 2262 cc six-cylinder engine with the same power delivery, but was better equipped with leather upholstery, two-tone paintwork, whitewall tires , a standard heater and a clock. Alongside the PA models, the E series is now one of the most sought-after and sought-after models from the Vauxhall brand.

Cresta PA

Cresta PA
Vauxhall Cresta PA (1962)
Production period:	1957-1962
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.3-2.65 liters (60.7-69.5 kW)
Length:	4505-4515 mm
Width:	1740 mm
Height:	1500 mm
Wheelbase :	2667 mm
Empty weight :

The Cresta PA is best known today. He copied the American fashion of the giant tail fins, panorama windows and whitewall tires, but compared to the Cadillacs and Buicks of that time in European dimensions. It looks in some ways similar to Packard Caribbean from 1955. A five-door station wagon was produced in small series at Friary Motors in Basingstoke .

During the 1970s, many Cresta PAs were modified and tuned; the model was very popular with nostalgics. Many of the cars were driven by "teddy boys" and seen as part of the rock 'n' roll culture. A Cresta PA can be seen in the 1981 music video "Ghost Town" by the group The Specials . The band is also wearing 1950s-style clothing in the video.

Today the Cresta PA is considered classic; the later variants may be less popular, but the scene is showing increasing interest. Don Lang was a well-known Cresta PA driver in the late 1950s.

In 1958, the British luxury class manufacturer Daimler temporarily considered equipping the four-door Cresta with its own eight-cylinder V-engine and selling it in larger numbers than the Daimler DN250 . The project failed in the run-up to the takeover of Daimler by the sports car manufacturer Jaguar .

Cresta PB

Cresta PB
Vauxhall Cresta PB (1965)
Production period:	1962-1965
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.65–3.3 liters (69.5–85 kW)
Length:	4616 mm
Width:	1797 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2731 mm
Empty weight :

The Cresta PB was kept in a completely different style, completely without tail fins, with a flat bonnet and overall more conservative styling. It initially had the 2.65-liter in-line six-cylinder of the late PA models; in the last year of production it got a 3.3-liter machine. There was still a three-speed gearbox with a gear lever on the steering column, but also an overdrive if desired . A four-speed gearbox with center shift could also be ordered for the 3.3 liter car. The “Hydramatic” automatic transmission was available for both versions. The car also had a brake booster, with disc brakes at the front . In addition to the sedan, there was a station wagon.

Cresta PC

Cresta PC / Viscount
Vauxhall Cresta PC (1970)
Production period:	1965-1972
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engine : 3.3 liters (90 kW)
Length:	4752 mm
Width:	1773 mm
Height:	1410-1500 mm
Wheelbase :	2731 mm
Empty weight :	1268 kg

The last version of this series, the Cresta PC , was a different car, larger and with a Coke-Bottle line , as seen on the Vauxhall Victor's 4-cylinder FD series . It was very similar to the Australian Holden HR and had the 3.3 liter machine of its predecessor during its entire 7 year construction period. The DeLuxe version had double headlights. There were again limousines and station wagons.

viscount

Vauxhall Viscount (1972)

Equipped with the same engine and the same mechanics as the PC, the Viscount was the super-luxury version of this car. However, there was no station wagon. Power steering , power windows, reclining seats, vinyl roof and a dashboard with walnut inlay were standard . Some PC 3.3 had a double exhaust as a tuning measure. The car was also equipped with a Powerglide automatic as standard , but the four-speed gearbox was available on request at no extra charge. Some South African models were optionally equipped with a Chrysler V8 engine.

Web links

Commons : Vauxhall Cresta  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ Richard Townsend: Docker's Daimlers. Daimler and Lanchester Cars 1945 to 1960 , Amberley Publishing, Stroud, 2017, ISBN 978 1 4456 6316 6 , p. 70.
2. ↑ Private website on the Daimler DN250 (accessed on February 8, 2020).
3. ^ Brian Smith: The Daimler Tradition . Transport Bookman Publications, London, 1972, ISBN 0 85184 004 3 , September 1987, p. 285.