Nine Vauxhall Heritage Vehicles To Go Under The Hammer

The Manor Park Classics sale on April 27 will include nine vehicles from the Vauxhall Heritage Collection, which covers 85 years of the company’s history. The vehicles will all be sold at no reserve.

“This is likely to be the final opportunity to purchase any vehicles from one of the UK’s best-known manufacturer collections. As interim custodians of the entire collection, which is now based at Vauxhall’s Ellesmere Port plant just 20 minutes away from our premises, Manor Park Classics was seen as the perfect partner to look after the sale of the vehicles. And while we already have many stand-out cars consigned for our first sale, on April 27^th, the Vauxhalls are bound to command huge interest, due to their provenance, condition and originality.”

Roger Nowell, Managing Director, Manor Park Classics

The oldest vehicle being offered for sale is a 1929 R-type 20/60, which was the first car to be manufactured after Vauxhall had been bought by General Motors. The R-type became the staple of the Vauxhall range until 1930 and marked a departure from many of Luton’s engineering norms, with the adoption of a central gearshift, single-plate clutch and 12-volt electrics. KSK 247 has been owned by Vauxhall for many years, and while complete and in good condition, will need some light recommissioning.

Joining the R-type from the pre-war years is Vauxhall’s Big Six BXL limousine from 1937, which is in excellent running order and a well-used Collection car. With accommodation for seven, and body by Grosvenor, this model would have been staple VIP transport for municipalities and companies around Britain, its inline six-cylinder engine providing a level of refinement matching more expensive models but at a fraction of their prices.

A 1953 E-type Wyvern – Vauxhall’s first all-new post-war design – with black coachwork, and chrome adornments revealing its Chevrolet influence, is a rare survivor today. And a car bound to elicit many ‘my-dad-had-one-of-those’ memories is a pristine Viva HB Deluxe from 1966, the first year of its production.

A highly usable, immaculate and original Nova 1.2 from 1990, which has been associated with Vauxhall Motors from new and is presented in Merit specification, complete with five-speed transmission and a genuine sub-10,000 mileage. And a perfect counterpoint to the Nova is a late first-series Omega V6 in top Elite trim, once again in excellent and original condition.

The first-generation Tigra, has just over 20,000 miles recorded, and one owner prior to going on display in the Collection.

superb Frontera B with 2.2 DTH diesel engine and five-speed gearbox has been used extensively as the Collection’s support and tow-vehicle for many press events over the years. And a 2014 Vivaro panel van, fitted with a 1.9 diesel engine, was also used to support Vauxhall Heritage activities. This is no ordinary Vivaro, though, as it’s registration – LA55 ONE – suggests: it was the very last of the first-generation Vivaros to roll off the production line at Luton in 2014.

There will be just under 100 cars being offered at the sale on April 27^th – highlights include:

• Eight significant Minis, including an unrestored 1959 car, a 1966 Cooper S, a 1991 City showing just 2282 miles, and a 1991 Cooper that once belonged to Britt Ekland;
• A trio of rare and interesting Land Rovers, comprising a very early 1958 Series II, a V8 Commercial and a Defender Adventure Edition with just 195 miles on the clock;
• A variety of modern classics, including a 1988 BMW 635 CSI Highline, a 1992 Jaguar XJS 4.0, a 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 and a 1996 Volkswagen Golf VR6.