1955 Vauxhall Cresta

Vauxhall Wyvern/Velox/Cresta E-series (Saloon), 1951-1957

The Vauxhall Wyvern/Velox/Cresta E-series was in production from 1951 until 1957. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive saloon range seating five adults.

Following in the footsteps of the previous LIP ranges, the Wyvern and Velox were Vauxhall's largest cars on offer in the first half of the 1950s. Chasing the same market as Ford's new Five Star Fords of 1950, Vauxhall's all new monocoque shells shared the Ford's American influences to offer a car which would appeal to the upwardly mobile. The four cylinder Wyvern competed with the Consul, while the six pot Velox was a Zephyr chaser. From 1954, the range topping Cresta offered extra luxuries in a move targeted squarely at Ford's Zodiac of the previous year.

There are two series of both Wyvern and Velox, and just one for the Cresta. Prior to April 1952, the Wyvern was the EIX and the Velox the EIP; both utilising engines carried over from their predecessors. After this first six month period, the cars both received new short stroke engines and new designations; Wyvern became the EIXW and Velox the EIPV. It was the EIPV Velox upon which the Cresta was based at its launch in 1953. 1956 saw wider wrap-round rear windows for all three, and Vauxhall adopted a policy of regular facelifts for the E-series range as in America. This is why new grilles appeared in 1955 and 1957, larger tail lights and a new speedometer were fitted, and flashing indicators replaced trafficators. In 1957 the whole range was replaced - the Wyvern by the new F-series Victor, and the Velox and Cresta by the PA series.

To drive, the E-series is undeniably of its time and shows its American influence. You sit behind a dash which more closely represents a jukebox than the control panel of an automobile, sliding around on the big bench seat, using the steering wheel to stabilise yourself. The ride is soft, too, cossetin g even, a ride which speaks of long journeys in comfort. The three speed column shift is one of the best examples of its kind from any era, and the well-selected gear ratios make the most of the torque. This isn't a car to throw down a B road by any stretch of the imagination. But for burbling comfortably up and down the nation's trunk roads, we can think of few period rivals which would display greater ease and panache.

As an early adopter of unitary construction, Vauxhall engineered the shell to be solid. Unfortunately almost seven decades of wear and tear can take their toll, so check thoroughly for rust. Focus on the sills, floor and bulkhead, as these are structural areas, but door bottoms and wings can corrode too. Mechanically an E series Vauxhall is a simple car to maintain, most parts being shared wither with its predecessor or successor. We'd worry more about trim; some of the materials such as the Cresta's nylon upholstery can be difficult to source, though the leather many Crestas were specified with (And the vinyl of Wyvern and Velox) shouldn't be beyond the skills of a decent trimmer.

In terms of desirability, the E series Vauxhall range progresses much as you might expect. The rare and well specified Cresta is undoubtedly top of the pile, and values reflect this. The Velox, sharing the six cylinder engine, is also a desirable model - the economy of the four cylinder Wyvern may appeal to people today, but it remains the least valuable of our trio. The earliest cars with the older, less powerful engines are less desirable, save for Vauxhall collectors who value the earliest examples as prized survivors.

The E series range has different rivals depending on the model. Wyverns sat alongside the Austin A40 Cambridge, Morris Oxford and the Ford Consul. The Velox's six made it a great rival for the Morris Six, Ford Zephyr and Austin A90 Westminster. The extra luxuries of the Cresta meant that the Austin A105 Westminster and Ford Zodiac were the only true competition. In each case, it may be worth considering the successor - for the Wyvern, this was the F-series Victor, the Velox and Cresta were replaced by their equivalents in the PA range.