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Vauxhall is opening its Heritage Collection to the public for the first time, with a display of significant models that opens on 5 September.
Called ‘Vauxhall – Made in Luton’ and hosted at the town’s Stockwood Discovery Centre, the main exhibit will feature 10 important cars from the marque’s 115-year history, bookended by the first produced at the Kimpton Road factory – a 1905 7/9hp – to the last passenger car to roll off the line – a 2002 Vectra.
And there’s more. Complementing this primary display, each month a different ‘hero’ car will fall under the spotlight, kicking off with a 1959 PA Velox – and this will be followed by, among others, a Firenza HPF ‘Droopsnoot’, a Lotus Carlton and an OE-type 30-98, the UK’s first 100mph car.
Vauxhall’s Heritage Collection is a real treasure trove and also scheduled to star in this exhibition are:
- a 1910 C-10 ‘Prince Henry’, Britain’s first official production sports car
- a 1923 23/60 Tourer
- a 1936 BXL Limousine
- a 1963 Viva HA, Vauxhall’s first post-war compact car
- the 1966 XVR Concept (pictured at the top of this page)
- a 1968 Bedford CA, Britain’s first purpose-built panel van
- a 1979 Cavalier Mk1
- a 1983 Astra GTE Mk1
- the 2003 VX Lightning, a concept car created to celebrate Vauxhall’s centenary
“This is a perfect opportunity for the public to get up close and personal with cars from our collection that are normally only seen via the hundred-or-so media loans that we arrange each year,” said Simon Hucknall, Vauxhall’s Head of PR.
“There are some extremely rare and valuable cars on display, but many that will conjure ‘my-dad-had-one-of-those’ memories, too. Most importantly, it paints a wonderful social picture of Vauxhall’s importance to the Luton community, through all the highs and lows of the 20th century.”
‘Vauxhall – Made in Luton’ is open from 5 September until 11 April 2021, on Thursday-Sunday at 11am-5pm, and admission is free. Find out more here.
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