Vauxhall is the nation’s oldest surviving car manufacturer and the only nameplate left of the traditional UK ‘volume’ makers. A country once famous for its mass-produced cars, and Europe’s biggest vehicle producer in the ’50s, is now better known for its premium and luxury brands.
Its story begins in 1857 in Vauxhall, south London, two years before Hendy was founded. It began as a pump and marine engine maker and started producing cars in 1903. In 1905, Vauxhall moved to Luton, its home ever since.
Its logo, the griffin, is derived from the coat of arms of Sir Falkes de Bréauté, an Anglo-Norman soldier who, in the 13th century, was granted lands by King John and built a house on the River Thames. Falkes’ Hall would become corrupted to Vauxhall.
Now famous as a mass-appeal brand, Vauxhall in its early days was primarily a low-volume premium maker. Its sporting models were especially well regarded: technically avant-garde, they were also highly successful in motor sport. Its most famous early car, the Prince Henry Vauxhall, was one of the fastest cars of its day and so named because of its success in the Prince Henry Trials – a famous pre-World War 1 German motoring event and precursor to the German Grand Prix. (Did British owners know they were driving a car named after Kaiser Wilhelm II’s brother?)
Vauxhall was bought by General Motors of America in 1925, which quickly boosted production and transformed the British brand into a high-volume maker of good value cars. Famous models included the pre-war Cadet and – post-war – the Cresta, Victor, Chevette, Viva, Cavalier, Astra and Corsa.
In 2021, Vauxhall became part of the Stellantis group, which includes Peugeot, Citroën, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Jeep. It still makes cars in the UK, at its Ellesmere Port plant in Cheshire, opened in 1963. The historic Luton plant nowadays makes the Vivaro van.
Hendy currently represents Vauxhall at 3 outlets.
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