Vauxhall PA Velox - the 50s classic car inspired by America
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
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Vauxhall Velox
Although Vauxhall had used the Velox name before on the Wyvern cars, the PA line up of cars which included the Velox as you see here today and the Cresta, came into the consciousness of British car buyers in 1957.
The PA Velox as we test here today was launched in the October of that year at British International Motor Show and sported the 2.2 engine, as did the more heavily spec’d and chromed up Cresta.
This was an interesting time for motoring because some of the younger section of the car market were hankering over what was on offer in America, which meant that Vauxhall being part of GM, were well placed to tap into the right people in America.
If you’re an American automotive fanatic, you’re probably looking at this car and thinking wow, that car looks so similar to a 55 Chevvy Bel Air, although I also thought that when I looked at the Victor!
The new Velox and Cresta’s had the wrap windscreen, which was a marvellous new concept for many Brit automotive buyers who had become comfortably accustomed to small screens with trusty pillars.
To appreciate how revolutionary the rear screen must’ve appeared to the general public of the time, look to the 50s best seller in the UK, the Morris Minor and you’ll see this offers SO much more rear visibility. It’s actually astounding in comparison.
Actually whilst we talk about the rear screen, this one we’re in today is quite a rare beast being a 3 parter. Later cars got one piece rear screens.
However, the wrap screens aren’t the only American flair and the bench seating, rear fins, the choice of colours on the car paintwork for a Velox which including pink, two tone paint if you picked a Cresta and chrome just for sake of it, especially on the Cresta, meant this must’ve looked absolutely wild at the time when parked next to the more commonplace British cars of the 50s like the Austins, Morris’, Rovers and Wolseleys.
Engine wise, the car we’re testing today is a 2.2 litre, 1959 was the last year of this engine before they went up to a 2.6 in 1960. The output on the 2.26 six cylinder engine is 83 horsepower but interestingly if you bought this in the export market where fuel was lower grade, the compression ratio is slightly tweaked and you only get an output of 78 horsepower.
Overall it was an exciting car for exciting times in a world that was changing rapidly, the late 50s saw the dawn of the motorway and 1960 saw the first MOT and Vauxhall delivered a forward thinking, modern looking car for the new era.
From police forces to pop stars and even dear late Queen Elizabeth 2nd, the PA Velox Cresta range was loved by a lot of people, but who buys one in 2023? Well, let me introduce Steve, who is possibly the most Vauxhall centric chap I’ve ever met.
My Dad brought a 1958 PA Vaxhall Velox bought used from GM where it was painted a unique 2-tone colour scheme as a demo. GM New Zealand offered both the locally assembled '59 Velox and Pontiac Catalina a two tone pink over grey paint scheme. The PA & PAX Vaxhall Velox was also a popular choice among taxicab operators.
A friends dad, a bishop no less, had a pink CRESTA, whitewall tyres too. It was super comfortable, i loved it
Probably the most impressive (family) car Vauxhall ever made.
PB and OC were not bad either,, and a bit more subdued!!
My Dad used to spray them at the luton factory , he later had a 61 pa velox after his e type velox and of coz vauxhall for the rest of his life. I followed in his footsteps and still drive Vauxhall's today after doing 44 years with the company ( parts dept) before recently retiring. Happy days.
Vauxhall built some of the best looking cars in the late 50s early 60s . love the rear fins on this beauty
Seen a PA Cresta (in pink no less) a couple of weeks ago, shocked at how small it looked, as a kid it looked a big car , a very glamorous car back in the day
Ooohhh I’d love a pink cresta! What a motor.
My uncle had a pink PA Cresta, I loved that car, so upset when he sold it because I couldn't afford to buy one. They did look big back in the day especially compared to my little Ford puddle jumper.
I now find a lot of old 50s, 60s & 70s cars look smaller than I remember & compared to cars today, generally they were narrower.
About 20 years ago there was a PA parked on one of the roads where I live, it still looked like a big car, the I saw a modern, for the time, Golf go past and the PA seemed to shrink before my eyes! I remember reading some time back, Pontiac div. of GM had a hand in designing the PA, they got the proportions absolutely right which to my mind made them look bigger than they were. They did have the ability to rot for England though.......
@@rickshaw2779 A few years back I saw an early T-Bird parked up in Keynsham, couldn't believe how small it looked.
My dad was a big Vauxhall enthusiast and had a Wyvern, A Velox and a Victor when I was a kid in the '50s. His Victor was yellow and he had it fitted out with leopard skin seat covers!
I will never forget the day our Dad arrived home with one of these ( New Zealand ) , the whole street came out for a look and a talk and the speedo SPACE AGE technology ! , great cars .
Again thank you .
This and the Cresta PA are the best looking British cars ever..
My grandad had an E Velox that was passed on to my dad and in the boot was a Motoring magazine from about 1959 with a PA advert. The time was 1985 and I was a student at uni. This was the first time I had seen this model and immediately fell in love. I worked weekends and sold my motorcycle and within 6 months I was the owner of a beautiful 1962 Cresta. Luckily, the design was such that it was reliable and easy to maintain on a student allowance and it was my daily drive in blizzards and warm sunny days alike. Nobody else had anything like it at my uni and there were only a few on the roads by then. The economy wasn't great but insurance cheap for a young lady and it served me well. Alas, I moved abroad and after a couple of years storage let it go in 1991. Regrets... you bet.! Steph, you just brought the driving experience memories back to me and reminded me of how wonderful it was; column change, and the view when driving. Thanks so much!
Wonderful car, surpassed only by its brother the Cresta. Velox/Cresta are the nearest that any U.K. manufacturer got to American design.
Fun fact - the slippery bench seats on cars like this are the origin of people having their arm out of the window, holding on to the roof. Once you'd found yourself suddenly on the wrong side of the car while cornering, especially in those pre-seatbelt times...
Learned to drive age 14 in my dad's 1962 Velox at an old WW2 aerodrome. One small tip on column changes - hand should be in push mode (palm away from driver) from 1 to 2 and 2 to top. Also from top to 2. Then in pull (cupped hand with palm towards driver) mode from 2 to 1. These ensure you do not inadvertently put the lever into, say, first or reverse at 30mph!
I also learnt to drive in my grandfather's PB Cresta( two tone white/yellow) on his farm in NW Victoria. Your gear change advice was spot on, as I drew on a long ago memory. As Steph says some people may be intimidated by a column change, but the Vauxhall was a beautiful thing for a young teen learner-driver. As an aside my grandfather could get the car serviced at his local GM-H in town, however I never recall the Smiths clock in the headliner working!
My late Father in NZ had one of these. Awesome classic car.
correct (stopped at the Kalama WA visitor center yesterday & there was a 1953 convertible Plymouth, flat-head 6, with factory 4-speed having "shifter on the tree" -- owner had also added an overdrive -- said it went well in modern 75-mph traffic)
Profile pic is what I learned on -- 1943 Willys MB, ex-North Africa = big 2nd fuel tank
No synchro on 1st
The PA Cresta introduced in 1960 still retained the incredibly smooth 2.2 litre engine but featured a one piece rear window and a revised front grille. The ‘Soup Dish’ bonnet emblem was sadly dropped. My father replaced his 1960 model with the last 1962 model that had the enlarged 2.6 litre engine, this wasn’t nearly as sweet and smooth as its forebearer. The last model iteration lost its glorious elliptical rear lights and featured horrid photographed wood veneer on the dash and door tops. The PB was a far more refined car with real wood and leather eventually ending up with a 3.3 litre engine before it became a PC but for sheer elegance the 1960 model in its silver and maroon finish was unsurpassed
The 3 window PA was the prettiest thing ever!!!!!!! And it was a SWEET RIDE as well..! Yes, a '59 PA Velox was my first car..!
If only those days could come back . . oh my !
My Dad would have been 20 when the Cresta appeared he never got to have one but even before he died at 80 it was still his ideal car.
My uncle had one in mid 60's then sold it after about 2 years and bought a Ford zodiac mk3 both beautiful old cars
We had them here in America 🇺🇸 Sold through the Pontiac Dealerships . Very peppy and just right for our Markets . Wish they were still around in modern form .
Love these old late 50s 60s cars, vauxhalls and fords had some style in those days unlike today, I was born in 53 so I saw them new
Another great vid, you can really see the late 50's GM compilation of Chev, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Buick influence n this car. Held my breath as you maneuvered it through everyone waiting to turn at that first set of lights! LOL!!
Thanks for the memories, Steph. I thought it was only a 3-speed box. There used to be a round plastic bug deflector fitted on the bonnet. The wraparound windscreen was great for seeing out of but was awkward for getting into the front seat, you had to be aware or suffer bruised knees. Lovely silky smooth 2.2 litre 6 cylinder engine.
it has so much charm and character unlike today's cars.
As an American I never realized that Britain and Australia had cars that looked similar to what we had in the States in the 50’s. It looks familiar but somewhat “wrong” at the same time. However most look a couple of years behind the styling trend in the states. By ‘59 GM had changed over to a horizontal fin design in the US.
When I was a lad ...
and my Dad was a mechanic, he preferred Vauxhall because, he said, the engineering was so straightforward.
We had an E Velox, followed by PA, and a PB.
Some years later he went for fins again and we got a Mark 3 Zephyr, the car I learned to drive in, and one of the best cars I have ever driven.
My older brother must have like the fins too because after playing with Cortinas he bought a 57 Chev. It is obvious where the styling of the PA came from but the English and US GMs were such different cars.
I worked on a warehouse opposite EMI in hayes in 78 one of the bricklayers had a red and white pa cresta with an auto box it did amazing wheel spins on the warehouse floor and was the best to go to the local cafe in a real head turner
I like to imagine Eamon still has it safely stored in his garage
I do still have my 1959 Velox, lovely cars to drive as you say. Glad you managed to cover one in your own inimitable style.
I have always thought and still think these are simply a fabulous car. So glad you did this one Steph
Thanks vince!
Same. I'm not an overly sentimental person, but in a world of transportation appliances, this is the type of vehicle that becomes a family member.
@@idriveaclassic дд.
My parents had a 61-62 PA Velox that Dad re-powered with the 3.3ltr out of the PC Cresta. Had it for years and sold it to my brother. Last saw it on the road in the latre 80's.
Very elegant and still beautiful.
Both the car and the presenter.
Great car, great video. Loved the look of these when I was a kid. Very Americana;which in the late 50’s was very prominent ( coffee bars, films, fashion, music). I don’t think my mate was as fond of them though- he was hit by one running across our street. Fractured his skull. Think the car (a Cresta)was only doing about 15 mph. All that chrome😬
Rap around screens used to leak buckets . You had to constantly re-seal withBostik No 6 with indifferent results . Engine was a beast . I drove one from Glasgow to Bristol and it could move . Great video as always Steph .
I'm in NZ Steph, my brother had one of these in the 60's, a 'facelift' with the one piece rear window and the solid fins with the indicators and stop/tail lights integrated in the rear panel. Was a two tone daffodil yellow with brown stripes, very conspicuous and if memory serves drove quite well actually.
Ahh lovely!
I'm in NZ too, and I have a '62 PASX version of one of these. Currently in storage. Cream and brown.
@@VauxhallViva1975 Had some interesting colour schemes for the time as Steph alluded to, and think I remember seeing a pink variant but thought it had been resprayed at the time. Love that six, 2.6 in the early 60's models here?
@@VauxhallViva1975 My late dad had a PA Velox. Great memories. For me I use to own an HB Vauxhall Viva.
Cheers from Auckland.
These are my favourite vauxhalls of all time, and although I've never owned this model, I absolutely love it. Compared to the other cars in Britain of that era, it looked like a spaceship from another world.
A great video and is well presented as always. Thank you.
The PA Velox and Cresta were always my favourite cars of all time and still are. Sadly they did tend to rust away quite quickly. I once went after a black second hand Velox back in the sixties only to find that it had been sold minutes before I arrived. Enjoyed watching Steph' you feature some really interesting cars and explain things very well.
It is kind of interesting that these types of vehicles are in vogue… as opposed to earlier (particularly pre WW2) cars. Apart from the obvious style, I guess that these vehicles can still perform decently on modern roads. Nostalgia pays its part too since older folk like me can remember being driven in these cars but not really in pre-War cars, so much. Keep it going, magic stuff.
Owned two of these as a teen in the 70;s in New Zealand , the early model with the split rear screen and the later model , great cars , thanks Stef for the trip down memory lane .
My late Father in NZ owned one of these. Great memories. It was yellow.
Oh, WOW!!! I absolutely love the Velox. Gorgeous design. Wish more modern cars were so stylish. Great vid, Steph!
I owned one in 1972 - it was my first car. It was also blue. It didn't cost much because - it's weird to say - it was already "old"! And mine was especially cheap for me to buy because it jumped out of top gear, so it was really down to a 2-speed gearbox! But with the fairly long legs of the 6-cylinder you could still get around with those 2 gears:)
*Steph, you are doing something wonderful in finding the rare nice examples of these old. old cars and taking them for a drive in a good quality video.* You get us really close to the experience of motoring 60 years ago! These videos are historical records; sort of automotive archaeology.
As American as British cars ever got! Spectacular!
Absolutely gorgeous Velox. Plus I enjoy spotting landmarks I know. Huddersfield got a treat that day.
I bought a 1961 Pa cresta automatic with two tone paintwork in 1970, it cost me £75 ran it for a year or so, it was great.
What a great example. I probably haven't seen one since the late 80's !
The 3-part window was only used on 1957 US models. The original intention was for the triangular side parts to slide open for ventilation. The engineers reported that the mechanism would be very complicated and expensive, so it was dropped, but it was too late to change the body pieces which were already in production.
I HAD A CRESTA IN 1966 IT HAD A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE IN IT AND ONLY DID 18 MILES TO THE GALLON!PETROL WAS 4/6 A GALLON(25 P)AND COST 49 POUND FULLY COMPRESIVE INSURANCE,BUT THEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND HAD NO DEPENDANTS !!LOVED THAT CAR
Love it Steve and Steph.
My friend owned that very model. It inspired me to get a PB Velox which came up shortly afterwards. (In 1970 -ish) Not quite as blingy but wow what a great time I had. You could have a party on the front seat! No gear stick or handbrake to get in the way. Even at 2 litres I used to put 30 bob's worth of petrol in on Friday night and off to Hereford "Flamingo" ballroom to see Suzy Quattro, the Sweet, screaming Lord Such, Mud, Hot chocolate, ect... Then chat up a bird take her for fish and chips, a "peck on the cheek" and drive 60 miles home listening to John Lennon and Elton John on the 8 track. Magical times. Saturday night and Sunday morning every week. 🙃🕺💃
When these cars were built an uncle of mine worked in a steelworks in the Black Country which produced steel for the car industry and he said that the steel rolled for Vauxhall was thinner than for the other manufacturers, which could account for the potential to rot. I still ended up working in Vauxhall during the Viva years and as far as I know they were of standard gauge steel.
"Once driven forever smitten" Great review Steph of the Velox.
This is fabulous, fantastic review as always, this car is in amazing condition, love it.
I had a Cresta I love it ❤. Only problem was when it rained a lot, Rain would run down the back windscreen in to petrol tank.
Had a Triumph 2.5PI years ago and I see one occasionally that looks tidy,but it looks so small now. Back then it was a big saloon.
Beautiful!
Hello how are you doing?
Great car! They only gave us (in the U.S) a three piece rear window in the
olds coupe. I love it on a four door saloon.
Love the Vauxhall style from the 1930s to the 1970s😍
Very nice. They were common here in NZ early 80's and I remember passing a couple at different addresses walking to school as a child in Dunedin here. I remember being amazed by the wrap around screens and fins.
Not many around here now days but see them occasionally.
Growing up in the late 50s and 60s, our neighbour had a 2 tone Cresta - Pink & Turquoise.
A beautiful example, always lovely to see the owners with their take on their cars. Personal favourite of the catalogue of cars featured so far!
What a stunning example! It really does remind me of 'The Jetsons'. Love it 😍
In Australia the velox was sold through Holden dealers alongside the EK Holden but the vauxhaul was leaps ahead in looks and mechanicals
It's success at Philip Island in 1960, must have helped sales too.
Steve's Velox is in fantastic condition. Love the wrap around windscreen and three piece rear window.
A great car and video Steph, I passed my test with BSM in a 1962 Vauxhall Victor.
The price of the lesson was £1.2/6 per hour, and the test was a £1...Thanks for sharing
Bill, I took lessons from a private instructor in 64, it was one pound an hour in his dual control Viva. Usually two hours at a time because the test town was about half an hour away.
@@TheGrimReaper1 Yes Alan, It was the same for me too my test day was about a mile away and I had to have a 2 hour booking It cost 45/- shillings
Pleased to say that I passed.
Meant to say an hour away
Pink and grey colour for me, stunning cars of their day.
My late dad once owned a PA Cresta in ( I think) a 2 tone pinkish colour scheme. Probably around the 1960s when he owned it.
Thanks for explaining the difference between tge Velox and Cresta the Vauxhall Cresta won the first 500 mile race at Phillip Island which then moved to Bathurst which is the 1000 km race also l do remember these l knew they had a six cylinder engine
Same year as me and the first car I rode in! My dad bought one of these in '59. Exciting grey with red interior. He'd just returned to the U.K. after working in Canada for five years driving Canadian Ford Meteors.He first bought a Standard (8 I think) but couldn't live with this 'puddle jumper'! I believe the Velox was an ex-demo and he paid £800 ish quid for it. I last saw it in Sheerness in the early '70s. Sea air and old Vauxhalls don't mix. That split rear screen also seen on '57 Oldsmobiles I think.
What a lovely car in a period colour!
That Velox really suits you Steph - exactly your era ! What a beautiful example you found, especially with the 3 piece rear window. A friends Dad had a Cresta in grey and green, while my Dad was a Ford man and had a 2 tone Blue Mk2 Zodiac. Always rivalry between them as to which was best ! Thanks for doing this video, and indeed ALL your videos - they are such fun and full of info. Take care 🙂 X X
Takes me back to my childhood in the 60s in Australia. The first family car I can remember was a PA Cresta. To this day, my 83 year old mother still remembers it fondly as one of the best cars we ever owned.
Beautiful , I loved the old Vauxhall . I remember my dad having a velox SB , he taught me to drive in a victor FB and I had a victor 101 myself 😀
Featuring the wrap around windscreen who's edge column stuck a long way into the door space and on which you could very easily smash your kneecap.
Recognize those roads.
With an older car brings back memories of huddersfield
This car was bought new by my next door neighbour who lived in Kidderminster. After he died, his widow decided to learn to drive and kept the car in her garage for many years. I couldn't believe it when I recognised the registration number!
No way!!!! If you’re still living next door to her please let her know Steve loves the car so much and he’s doing them both proud ☺️
@@idriveaclassic I'm afraid that if she were still alive, she'd be about 120. As it was she died a short while after I left Kidderminster in 1973. Tempus fugit!
I'm also reminded that a friend's father had a two-tone dark blue & white Cresta of the same era (Reg XOL 22) and that was sold in 1963. I doubt that one exists any more even though it was a fine car with plenty of "grunt!"
Oh what a shame she’s not with us today to know her beloved car is still so special :(
what a beauty steph and the way you handled that gearbox to perfection
My parents had a PA Cresta when I was a baby in 1965 :-)
These cars are so much better than the samey boxes we drive today. Cars of that era have a personality, now they all just look the same. Ford and Vauxhall along with other car makers of the time had a different look for each model, now they all have the same front and if looked at quickly you are hard pushed to tell the difference of the models. I have had some old cars as I have been driving since 1976 and they are far better than today's cars in their own way.
Really enjoy your videos, you're always so enthusiastic and always look great. It's great to see another girl interested in classic cars. I drive one too! Girl power unlimited. Keep up the good work. X
I had one of these in 1964, I was 19 years old and would love to have another. But now those that remain are worth big bucks. To me, apart from the great styling, the amazing smoothness of the 6 cylinder engine stood out.
I friend of my had one in the late 70s that we would cruise arond in ,it was the time the movie grease came out and we woud play the music and fancy ourselves as Danny and his side kick 😊
Great video!
What would be interesting is if every episode could include the sale price of the featured car when launched & the equivalent in today's money. My Dad always had bottom of the range cars in the 1960s & '70s, because even one-up from the base model was too much extra money. So his cars never had heaters or radios either! 🥴
I believe I let people know the sale price on this one 😊. Modern money wise, with inflation being bonkers it goes out of date really rapidly!
Reminds me of a 57 Buick Special mixed with a 62 Cadillac. Love it!
That confirms it my uncle Dennys VAUXHALL PA must have been a cresta as it was two tone green.
I used to sit on the front bench fold down arm rest, and he would call me the Co- pilot, couldn't do that now .
There is one that has been at Alton Towers for years. Cliff Richard used to have one in the 1960s.
Beautiful car Steph and I love the interior too. Shame they are so rare now.
Was like driving a boat down the road, you had to negotiate bends well beforehand and bumps would be felt for a few seconds after the suspension had recovered. I loved the style, still do.
To this American the Velox and Cresta look like an Oldsmobile. Flashier than a Chevrolet but not as posh as a Buick.
G'day from Australia. These were well loved here as a classy car for the times. Terrific review!!
I had a Cresta, what a car, waiting at traffic lights all you could hear was the clock ticking. But the brakes oh dear, braking from 100mph at about 50mph the brakes just faded away.
Drum brakes made life exciting, not bad on petrol 25mpg, at 5 shillings a gallon. 25p in decimal.
Takes me back to my childhood, late 60’s early 70’s.
Hi Steph,
Thank you for sharing this video on the PA Cresta, my late father had a navy blue one, which really turned the clocks back, then he had the PB, and the PC models, if you can bring the next video of the Vauxhall Viscount, (1966-1969) I'll be very grateful, Thanks, all the best.
I lost count of the number of 60s ice cream vans I used to see as a kid that used those rear tail lights , it was the Vauxhall lights or the ford cortina mk1 round tail lights especially on the bedford ca variants which seemed most common.
A brilliant review. Loved the car as a kid and still think the looks are amazing today so stylish.
Thats an absolutely stunning car, I prefer the understated look of the Velox too.
Great video Steph
My dad had one of these when I was a kid. My dad was always finding strange cars to buy and this was the strangest because we lived in Texas at the time and Vauxhall was unheard of in the states.
The 3 piece rear window was originally on the 1957 Buicks .
Talking of heaters, my father had a very old Ford pop, the heater was a circular drum on the floor, with two flaps, behind them was a heating element.
Its nice to see a three window Vauxhall. I love the overdrive modification, and any mod that improves the drive is welcome. I do agree that modern CD players dont belong in a classic, and that is an unneccessary mod. And we are back to cars over 40 years not needing MOTs, which puts a minority of owners going back to not maintaining their cars
You are truly amazing: I love your presentations and I would so love to see your Morris Minor. You really do make these Sunday evening drives really interesting and special. Thank you.
Omg such an incredible car the PA!
I remember my dad telling me his uncle had one of these in pink. It though it must've been resprayed, didn't know it was an original colour!
Since I am from the US I have never seen one of these. It's a really gorgeous car. They styling is great for a 1950's or 1960's car. I think it's much better looking than the PA Cresta you reviewed a few years ago.
As someone who grew up in America in the '80s when American '50s and '60s cars still ruled the road, I'm jealous of your Velox!
They looked good - from a distance. I recall looking closely at a brand new two tone pink and cream one, behind the full length chrome body trim there was a bright steel unpainted gap between the upper and lower coats of paint!!