Vauxhall Cresta
| Vauxhall Cresta | |
|---|---|
Vauxhall Cresta PB
|
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Vauxhall (General Motors) |
| Production | 1954-1972 |
| Assembly |
United Kingdom Australia, New Zealand (1966-on) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Related |
Vauxhall Velox Vauxhall Wyvern |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Vauxhall Victor FE |
| Vauxhall Cresta E | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1954-1957 166,504 produced. |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.3 L ohv I6 |
| Transmission | 3 speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 103 in (2,600 mm) |
| Length | 172 in (4,400 mm) |
| Width | 66.5 in (1,690 mm) |
| Height | 61.5 in (1,560 mm) |
| Vauxhall Cresta PA | |
|---|---|
PA SY 1961
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|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1957-1962 81,841 made |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2,262 cc ohv I6 (1958-1960) 2,651 cc ohv I6 (1961-1962) |
| Transmission | 3 speed manual, Overdrive optional, Hydramatic Automatic available from 1961 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 105 in (2,700 mm) |
| Length | 177 in (4,500 mm) Saloon |
| Width | 68 in (1,700 mm) |
| Height | 59 in (1,500 mm) |
| Vauxhall Cresta PB | |
|---|---|
Post-facelift 3.3-litre Cresta
|
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1962–1965 87,047 made |
| Assembly |
United Kingdom Australia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | four-door saloon five-door estate car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2,651 cc ohv I6 3,294 cc OHV I6 |
| Transmission | 3 or 4-speed manual 2 or 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 107 in (2,700 mm) |
| Length | 182 in (4,600 mm) |
| Width | 70 in (1,800 mm) |
| Vauxhall Cresta PC | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1965-1972 53,912 made |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3,294 cc ohv I6 |
| Transmission | 3 or 4-speed manual 2 or 3-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 107.5 in (2,730 mm) |
| Length | 185.5 in (4,710 mm) (saloon) 187 in (4,700 mm) (estate) |
| Width | 69.8 in (1,770 mm) |
| Height | 55.6 in (1,410 mm) (saloon) 59 in (1,500 mm) (estate) |
| Curb weight | 2,796 lb (1,268 kg) (standard) |
| Vauxhall Viscount | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1966-1972 7,025 made |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 4-door saloon |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 3.3 L straight-6 ohv 5.2 L (318 cu) Chrysler V8 (South Africa) |
| Transmission | 4 speed manual 3 speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 107.5 in (2,730 mm) |
| Length | 187.1 in (4,750 mm) |
| Width | 69.8 in (1,770 mm) |
| Height | 55.6 in (1,410 mm) |
The Vauxhall Cresta is a British car which was produced by Vauxhall from 1954 to 1972. The Cresta was introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox, itself a six-cylinder version of the Vauxhall Wyvern. 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.
The Vauxhall Velox had been introduced in 1948, with a new version in 1951. 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 fascia mounted clock, a cigar lighter, a lamp automatically illuminating the boot when opened and a vanity mirror on the inside of the front passenger's sun visor along with a special ornamental badge above the V (for Vauxhall) badge on the nose of the car. A radio was optional.
In October 1955 a facelift model with deeper front and rear screens was introduced. The balanced drop windows were replaced by ones with proper winding mechanisms, there were interior trim improvements, separate amber rear flasher lights and windscreen washers became standard. A new chrome plated grille with fewer vertical slats replaced the earlier diecast version. This model was assembled in New Zealand, alongside the Wyvern and Velox, with 840 being built in 1956, according to a local owners' group with access to copies of the GM Petone plant ledgers. More changes were made in October 1956, with a new grille with horizontal bars, higher compression ratio engine, electrically operated windscreen wipers (replacing the camshaft driven system) and changes to the body trim and two tone colour scheme. In June 1957 the Cresta received a redesigned engine of the same capacity based on the deeper block design introduced in four-cylinder form in the Victor F series in March of that year.
A Cresta tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1956 had a top speed of 82.2 mph (132.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 20.2 seconds. A petrol consumption of 23.5 miles per imperial gallon (12.0 L/100 km; 19.6 mpg‑US) was recorded. The test car cost £931 including taxes.
Vauxhall Cresta E (1955-56)
Vauxhall Cresta E (1956-57)
The PA Cresta, announced 2 October 1957, is probably the best-known version. It mimicked the American fashion for tail-fins, wrap-around windows and white-wall tyres, taking its cues from the 1957 model Buick Special announced twelve months before the Cresta, though understated compared to the Cadillacs and Buicks of the time. All factory-built PAs were four-door saloons: the estate cars were converted by Friary of Basingstoke, Hampshire and are rare today.
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Wikipedia