Here’s something you’re not likely to see here in the States – A Vauxhall 12, returning to the elements. This photo comes courtesy of Bryce, frequent reader and Cohort contributor.
In case you were wondering what it looked like before Mother Nature intervened, here’s one in much better condition, found on swclassiccars.com, along with other interesting British cars, including a Gilbern Invader – a car I’d never heard of.
Thanks for sharing Bryce.
Vauxhall 10s&12 were GMs first attempts at unitary construction and fairly successful too judging by the number still around out here.
It may be a Canadian import. Vauxhalls were extremely popular here from the immediate postwar years until the early ’70s. One very similar to this is a regular attendee at our British car club events.
Interesting that someone took the time to replace the rear door, back in the day. Even then, parts must have been rare.
From the position of the door handles, it looks like this car has what might be termed “semi-suicide doors” — both sets of doors are anchored to the B-pillar, with the front doors opening suicide style, the rear doors normally. Is that correct?
Correct, you can see the top hinge about 3/4 up the window posts in both photos, and the bottom hinge toward the bottom of the doors on the black car.
Double nickel – it doesn’t take much to get to the point that a door from a wreck is easier to get and cheaper than panel beating, even by 1930/40’s standards when labor was cheaper & parts dearer. It just takes cars being crashed or otherwise taken off the road – and there weren’t large scale crushers/shredders back then.
Re the car itself, apart from the signature Vauxhall scallops running back from the top of the grille, it is very much generic sedan styling of the era – and people say all cars look the same today!
that centre section/doors had a long life. In common with many Euro manufacturers, their post-War offerings the Wyvern (4) and Velox (6) were based on the pre-War hull with new wings and built-out boot.