The Vauxhall Cresta is a British automobile 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.
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Cresta E
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 and could accelerate from 0- in 20.2 seconds. A petrol consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £931 including taxes.
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File:Vauxhall Cresta 1956 - Flickr - mick - Lumix.jpg|Vauxhall Cresta E (1955–56)
File:Vintage car at the Wirral Bus & Tram Show - DSC03361.JPG|Vauxhall Cresta E (1956–57)
File:Vauxhall Cresta at Schaffen-Diest (2017) rear three quarters.jpg|Vauxhall Cresta E (1956–57) viewed from behind
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Cresta PA
The last of the series, the PC, was introduced for the London Motor Show in October 1965. Though a small-block V8 would have dropped straight in, this option was never offered. 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 though the base Cresta continued with a bench front seat. The De Luxe version had four headlamps instead of the two fitted on the (much rarer) base models though the very last base Crestas also had four headlamps.
General Motors Holden assembly of the Cresta ended with the pre-facelift 2.6-litre PB in 1965, therefore the PC Cresta was not sold in Australia.
General Motors New Zealand ran its own assembly line in Petone (1966–67) and Trentham, near Wellington, to 1971. The Cresta had been built at Petone from 1955 to 1960 and then, until 1966, Cresta was fully imported from Britain in very small numbers. From 1966 the Petone plant began locally assembly of the PC Cresta. The 'base' Cresta model built changed very little during that time and did not receive the facelift that appeared on the UK market late in 1970 as the 1971 model. The only option was the two-speed Powerglide. However, in 1970 the brake system was upgraded to a tandem master cylinder to improve the braking, becoming standard fitment on the New Zealand models. A few twin-headlamp Cresta De Luxe, Viscount, and estate car versions were also imported, built-up, from the UK.
The facelifted model, never offered in New Zealand, had twin headlamps as standard and a more integrated dash panel. Floor shift, rather than column change, was also standard.
thumb|left|Vauxhall Cresta PC from behind)
In January 1967 domestic market deliveries began of the Vauxhall Cresta estate car. The estate version was higher than the saloon due to a combination of heavy-duty rear suspension, an increase in the outer diameter of the tyres (to 7.00–14 in from 5.90-14in) and the modified roof line. with the same engine and mechanical components as the Cresta PC, the Viscount was the "executive" version of it (hence the PCE model code). It was supplied as standard with power steering, electric windows, reclining seats, a vinyl roof, walnut dashboard, inertia reel seat belts front, and even a heated rear window. Areas of the grille and headlamp surrounds were blacked out to give a classier look and the tail-lights had a chrome overlay. The dark green, blue or maroon paintwork featured simulated, hand painted coachlines, along each flank, to give the car a coachpainted appearance. The outer pair of the quad, five-inch, sealed beam headlamps were twin filament, giving the car four main beams. Overall mpg was 15.6. The later automatic Viscount model, with the three-speed Strasbourg GM transmission, ought to have improved on these acceleration figures, especially at the lower speeds.
Discontinuation
Production ended in 1972 with no direct replacement – mirroring an industry trend as mainstream manufacturers exited the upper E- and F-segments – although the Cresta engine continued to be used in the slightly smaller Vauxhall Ventora (the new flagship of the Vauxhall range) until 1978.
Vauxhall's GM sister company Opel continued to field an entry in the full-size luxury segment in the form of its Admiral/Diplomat twins until these were also axed in 1977. Ultimately a jointly developed model in the form of the Opel Senator (Vauxhall Royale) would become the flagship for both Vauxhall and Opel from the late 70s onward.
Use by British Royalty
In the 1950s and 1960s Queen Elizabeth II used a bespoke PA
Friary Estate, and later a PC version of the Cresta as personal transport. The Queen's PA Friary estate forms part of The Royal Car Collection at the Sandringham Exhibition & Transport Museum.
References
sv:Vauxhall Velox