Vauxhall PA Velox - the 50s classic car inspired by America
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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.
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!!
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.
A friends dad, a bishop no less, had a pink CRESTA, whitewall tyres too. It was super comfortable, i loved it
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.
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.
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.
Probably the most impressive (family) car Vauxhall ever made.
PB and OC were not bad either,, and a bit more subdued!!
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!
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.
Oh, WOW!!! I absolutely love the Velox. Gorgeous design. Wish more modern cars were so stylish. Great vid, Steph!
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.
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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.
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😬
This is fabulous, fantastic review as always, this car is in amazing condition, love it.
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.
To this American the Velox and Cresta look like an Oldsmobile. Flashier than a Chevrolet but not as posh as a Buick.
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.
This and the Cresta PA are the best looking British cars ever..
Love these cars ....& The way you narate is excellent ....very good show.
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 !
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!!
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.
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.
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 .
Vauxhall built some of the best looking cars in the late 50s early 60s . love the rear fins on this beauty
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
My parents had the "Cresta" variant and you could almost see it rusting away as you watched...
As American as British cars ever got! Spectacular!
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
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...
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
Good girl Steph. Another classic test drive in the most original format and way. Deffo worth considering becoming a TV star in that genre like Michele Newman & Vicki Butler-Henderson who I know from the original Top Gear series and format.
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
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.
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!
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!
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'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.
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
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 .
I had a 1961 Cresta 2.6 with overdrive on the factory cars they put the overdrive switch on the side where the windscreen curved around so you could just stick out out pinky finger and flick the overdrive on and off without tacking your hand off the wheel grate for overtaking just flick the switch and it drops a gear and off you go.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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.
Absolutely gorgeous Velox. Plus I enjoy spotting landmarks I know. Huddersfield got a treat that day.
Very elegant and still beautiful.
Both the car and the presenter.
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.
"Once driven forever smitten" Great review Steph of the Velox.
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.
I HAD ONE LOVED IT
The 3 piece rear window was originally on the 1957 Buicks .
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 .
Great review of a great car! If you are ever in Canada come by and see and drive my 1960 Vauxhall Envoy , the for Canada only version of the Victor. It really drives like a dream. Not as fancy, as a matter of fact it is quite spartan but it was much loved by Canadians in the 60s . I would love to see a review of a Victor if you can find one.
Thats an absolutely stunning car, I prefer the understated look of the Velox too.
Great video Steph
Cracking video Steph and lovely car. Ps Nice outfit!
I had the Cresta in the early 60s. Lovely sounding engine and bug and comfy but an absolute rot box
Beautiful car Steph and I love the interior too. Shame they are so rare now.
The first use of the Velox name was for the 4-seat tourer version of the Vauxhall 30-98 in the early 1920s.
The PA Cresta was the best- looking saloon of it's age. Sadly, they rusted away fairly quickly.
Growing up in the late 50s and 60s, our neighbour had a 2 tone Cresta - Pink & Turquoise.
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.
There is one that has been at Alton Towers for years. Cliff Richard used to have one in the 1960s.
A brilliant review. Loved the car as a kid and still think the looks are amazing today so stylish.
Hello, Steph. Thanks for another wonderful video. I've just discovered your channel, and I get so much joy from your cheery and knowledgeable presentations. Keep it up, and many thanks from a new fan and subscriber. ☮️😻🚗
G'day from Australia. These were well loved here as a classy car for the times. Terrific review!!
I could very easily go back to driving a classic car but in today's traffic am not so sure there's so many idiot drivers on are roads.
it has so much charm and character unlike today's cars.
When you think that the average house prices in the 50s was less than £3000 & that was out of reach for a lot, then there were not many who could splash out £900 on a car!
Hi from Russia. A nice car. Thank You for Your review.
Theirs a PA Cresta in Barnsley, very similar looking car. I had to look at the velox twice as it’s so similar.
Hi Steph thank you so so much for the great video as always great info your so good at what you do so thanks Si.xx
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.
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 :(
The Velox is still a nice car though of the two I Prefer the PA Cresta. Most of the everyday cars of that time would rot quite happily so Vauxhall were no exception. I like the colour of this car blue being one of my favourite's but I wasn't aware you could have Pink as an option! Thanks Stehp for the review. 👍👍
What a great example. I probably haven't seen one since the late 80's !
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.
My sister had one in pink.
In 1960's
My first ever car was a 61 velox great car 2651cc
What a lovely car in a period colour!
I'm no fan of these Vauxhall's but love older cars in general and your knowledge is superb. You have the ability to make your content interesting too. Thank you.
I also appreciate how you dress up in a more "in era" fashion. Just gives your material a bit more of a USP.
Love the Velox. Great US influenced dashboard.
Beautiful!
Hello how are you doing?
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.
I'm sure this followed me through Lichfield yesterday from Burntwood.
Steve's Velox is in fantastic condition. Love the wrap around windscreen and three piece rear window.
Omg such an incredible car the PA!
Utterly brilliant car of its time. Far nicer than the likes of Fords etc. Mates dad had one, the boot was big enough for me and my pal to lie down in. We actually did travel that way sometimes, we did the same thing in his mums 63 Ford Capri. Daft things we did as kids, but we got away with it! Now these days you have to be restrained cos of elf and safety - which is only right.
Styling from the 1957 Oldsmobiles and Buicks, especially that 3-piece rear window.
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!
Very Buick-esque in the way it’s styled since the 3 piece rear window was on the ‘57 Buick and the vent windows are from the 1959 and 1960 GM cars.
what a beauty steph and the way you handled that gearbox to perfection
Recognize those roads.
With an older car brings back memories of huddersfield