Motoring Memories: Vauxhall Victor, 1957-1962

[CD_Editor]

Worried about rising sales of small imports like the Volkswagen Beetle and Renault Dauphine, General Motors imported the English Vauxhall Victor to North America in 1957.  But its Detroit-inspired styling didn't impress U.S. buyers, says auto historian, Bill Vance.

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[Whofan]

My uncle had one like the green one, station wagon, he loved that car, I drove it many times, it had personality, that what was fun about that car.

It was blue and that was in the early 80's... long time ago, but it was fun

My 2¢'s

[D70]

 I remember as a schoolboy in New Zealand going to the nearest city, Hamilton, admiring this car when it first came into the showroom. Pontiacs were not available but the Holden was with similar styling.
  As Bill says, they were very popular in NZ where the milder climate and lower speeds coupled with shorter distances  enabled them to last and run very well for many years.

[Toe]

My mother had one, bought new in 1960 and off the road by 1968.  It was two-tone burgundy and grey paint with the three-in-the-tree and leather seats, which might have been an option?  It was taken off the road due to corrosion; I recall parts falling off it as we went down the road!

[CatsEye68]

My mother had one, bought new in 1960 and off the road by 1968.  It was two-tone burgundy and grey paint with the three-in-the-tree and leather seats, which might have been an option?  It was taken off the road due to corrosion; I recall parts falling off it as we went down the road!

These were quite biodegradable. A friend had one back then and put it on a lift to have the oil changed one time... the 4 lift points punctured the floor and the car did not lift. Yikes.

[Seafoam]

 Most vehicles were biodegradable during that era. It was long before proper rust protection was invented.   

[Arthur Dent]

No mention of the Canadian only Envoy version? 

Cool cars - a friend of mine has three Victors along with various other Vauxhalls. They do rust rather intensely. There is a wagon on for sale down here if anyone is interested (big project).

[ax89]

Great article, as usual.  One small nit to pick though with the editing (sorry!):

Vauxhall from zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 25.3 seconds and top speed of 121 km/h (75.2 mph). Although leisurely by American standards, it was at least quicker than the popular Volkswagen’s 27.8 seconds and 114 km/h (75 mph).

How can the Vauxhall's top speed of 121 km/h be 75.2 mph if the VW's top speed is 114 km/h and 75 mph.  Clearly a difference of 7 km/h is more than 0.2 mph...

Assuming the km/h are correct, the real top speed for the VW is 70.8 mph (114 km/h).

[Wilf]

my Dad had three of these cars between 1962 and 1975...the last two were Envoy Sherwood station wagons, and they were used by my Dad like trucks...he would fill the cargo area with baskets of apples, pears, corn, whatever him and my Mom were in the orchard/field to pick...Dad kept snows on the rear all year long and with my Dad at the wheel, those cars would carry me and my brother into areas otherwise reserved for dune buggys and such...what great memories this article brings back...thanks Mr. Vance!!

[RacerStu]

My Dad bought a used Envoy Epic with 3-spd manual for my Mom, who couldn't drive. She refused to even try to drive it, so it sat in our driveway until my brother turned 16, which he destroyed in short order. They were unique, but very flimsy vehicles prone to mechanical and body problems, as I remember as a young lad.

[Dave Walster]

Hi my name is Dave Walster from Go Glass & Accessories in Mount Forest Ontario. I have a cstomer with a 1960 Vauxhall Victor 4DR sedan and were in the need of the windshield and backglass rubber gaskets anybody with some info on where we can by them wold be awesome. Thanks