| Vauxhall cars (the company is known as Vauxhall | | | | After the war, car production resumed but |
| Motors) was born in UK and it became a very | | | | models were designed as a more mass-market |
| well known car company. Vauxhall Motors is a | | | | product leading to expansion of the company. In |
| company subsidiary of General Motors- the | | | | the 60’s Vauxhall acquired a reputation for |
| world’s largest automaker. | | | | making rust-prone models and that was very bad |
| The company was founded by Wilson Alexander | | | | for it. Although the corrosion protection built into |
| in 1856 in a beautiful London city that gives the | | | | models the reputation dogged the company until |
| company name- Vauxhall. Initially, the company | | | | the 80’s. |
| name was Alex Wilson and Company, then | | | | From the 70’s, many of company models |
| Vauxhall Iron Works and it was specialize in | | | | were designed and built in partnership with Opel in |
| building pumps and marine engines. | | | | Germany (Adam Opel GmbH- known as Opel is |
| First Vauxhall car was built in 1903. It was a 5 hp | | | | an automobile manufacturer based in Germany). |
| model, using a tiller, 2 forward gears and no | | | | Models like Chevette, Cavalier and Carlton were |
| reverse gear. Interesting, don’t you think? | | | | basically restyled versions of the Kadett, Ascona |
| Beginning with this model, the car was designed in | | | | and Rekord. The Viceroy was a simply new |
| many other versions and then were available for | | | | version of Opel Commodore imported from |
| sale. | | | | Germany. |
| When things start working, the company decided | | | | And that was the beginning for the |
| to increase its production and moved almost | | | | “Opelisation” of Vauxhall. General Motors |
| entire production to Luton in 1905. The company | | | | policy was that Vauxhall to be rebadged Opels, |
| was selling cars under Vauxhall Iron Works brand. | | | | designed and developed in Russelsheim with much |
| This stopped in 1907, when they’ve decided | | | | less help from Luton. |
| to call the company “Vauxhall Motors”, a | | | | In 70’s and 80’s General Motors sold |
| name kept over the years, till our days. The | | | | duplicate cars: Opel and Vauxhall alongside each |
| company was characterized by its sport models | | | | other. General Motors Europe then began to |
| until the 1st World War and then designed only | | | | standardize model names across both brands in |
| austere models. | | | | early 90’s. Almost all Vaxhall’s models |
| Vauxhall Motors was bought by General Motors in | | | | now have the same names as those of Opel (the |
| 1925 for 2.5 million $. And from that year Vauxhall | | | | exception is VX220 sold by Opel as Speedstar). |
| was influenced by American cars and with Ford | | | | The Luton plant closed in 2000, but production still |
| (that was Vauxhall’s main competitor) | | | | continues at the plant in Ellesmere Port. Despite |
| influenced the style of European car | | | | already meeting efficiency targets, Vauxhall has |
| manufacturers. | | | | been told to further improve its productivity. |
| During the 2nd World War car production was | | | | Nowadays Vauxhall and Opel still reside together |
| suspended because Vauxhall was needed to work | | | | making the same cars but selling them to |
| on the Churchill tanks which was designed and | | | | different markets. |
| assembled at Luton in almost 1 year. There were | | | | So remember if you buy an Opel it's a Vauxhall |
| built over 5,600 Churchill tanks. | | | | and vice versa. |