Vauxhall 14-6

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Vauxhall 14-6
1947 Vauxhall 14 4691383736.jpg
Vauxhall Fourteen-Six 1938-1948
unitary hulled six-light saloon
1947 example
Overview
Manufacturer Vauxhall (General Motors)
Also calledVauxhall Fourteen-Six
Vauxhall Model J
Production1939 to 1948
Assembly United Kingdom
Australia
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
2-door coupé (Australia)
2-door roadster (Australia)
2-door coupé utility (Australia)
2-door roadster utility (Australia)
Layout FR layout
Related Bedford JC
Powertrain
Engine 1,781cc I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase 105 in (2,700 mm) [1]
Length168 in (4,300 mm)
Width63.5 in (1,610 mm)
Curb weight 22.5 cwt
Chronology
Predecessor Vauxhall Light Six
Successor Vauxhall Velox

The Vauxhall 14-6 is an automobile produced by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1939 until 1948. [2]

Contents

Announced in early October [3] for the 1938 Earls Court Motor Show the 14-6 was offered as a six-light, four door saloon [2] and was powered by a four bearing, OHV, 1,781cc Straight-six engine. [4] It had a top speed of 70 mph and could accelerate from 0-50 mph in 18.2 seconds. [5]

Engine, transmission and suspension

The previous engine was retained but with compression ratio raised from 6.25 to 6.75:1 and revised timing increasing the output to 48 bhp at 3000rpm. [5] Other features included independent front suspension using torsion bars in place of the previous Dubonnet system with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a three-speed all-synchromesh gearbox in place of the four-speed "silent third" gearbox. [4]

Unitary chassis-body

1938-1939 saloon
serving in France 1940 The British Army in France 1940 F4304.jpg
1938-1939 saloon
serving in France 1940

The car now had a unitary hull which had a 4 in (100 mm) longer wheelbase and 1 in (25 mm) wider track than its predecessor which made it larger than the 12-4 model announced at the same time. Previously the 12 and 14 hp models had shared the same body. Interior features included individual leather front seats and a rear seat with fold-down arm rest, a rear window blind and a sliding sunroof.

Post-war models can be distinguished by bonnet-louvre and grille changes. [2]

45,499 examples were produced, [4] including 30,511 in the post-war period. [2]

Australian production, Vauxhall Senior

A Vauxhall 14 J was built by General Motors-Holden's in Australia without unitary construction [note 1] which was beyond the capacity of local presses but sharing much of the English car's styling. [6] [7] The separate chassis allowed the Australian firm to provide open and utility bodies. Commencing in 1939, the 14 was offered in sedan, coupé and roadster body-styles. [6] and as in UK but in a Holden version, a light utility. [note 2] The Australian Vauxhall 14 used the same frame as the Bedford JC, which was also built by Holden in Australia. A roadster utility was also available. [8]

A 14 sedan was the first civilian car to be produced by GMH in the post-war period, leaving the Fishermans Bend assembly line on 21 May 1946. [6]

Notes

  1. "The husky frame has an X-shaped cross-member and the deep side rails . . ." Truth, 4 June 1939
  2. Four models, a business roadster, sports roadster, convertible coupe and saloon. The Sun

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References

  1. Norm Darwin, The History of Holden since 1917, Ford Publications Pty Ltd, 1983, pages 87-89
  2. 1 2 3 4 Michal Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, Vauxhall J-Fourteen-Six, A-Z of Cars 1945-1970, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1994, page 212
  3. Cars Of 1939, Vauxhall 14 changes. The Times, Thursday, Oct 06, 1938; pg. 17; Issue 48118
  4. 1 2 3 Michal Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, Vauxhall J-Fourteen-Six, A-Z of Cars of the 1930s, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1993, page 208
  5. 1 2 Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN   978-0-333-16689-5.
  6. 1 2 3 Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, January 2002, pages 130-133
  7. Motoring, photograph—Vauxhall 14 Sydney Morning Herald, page 6, 2 May 1939
  8. "Bedford roadster utility".