Vauxhall has been a name in the British motoring scene for well over 100 years, and many of the cars that adorn British streets pay homage to the success and innovation of this brand. In 1903, the first Vauxhall car was on the road, and the journey of this great British company began. The model left much to be desired - not even boasting a reverse gear - but in 1904, Vauxhall brought out an updated model, and the driver could then reverse, as well as enjoying the six-horsepower vehicle in all of its glory.
However, Vauxhall’s journey did not actually begin here, and it can instead be traced to a much earlier date: 1857. Believe it or not, the company was established in Vauxhall, London, by a Scottish marine engineer named Alexander Wilson, and up until this date, the factory only produced pumps and marine engines. 1903 was the turning point for Vauxhall, and this crucial year would be a historical date in British history, when the Vauxhall name began to line the streets, with the 70 reverse-free models that were purchased that year.
In 1905, Vauxhall upped sticks and moved to Luton, and this is where the factory has remained ever since, only a stone's throw away from Luton airport. Until 1907, the company still traded as ‘Vauxhall Iron Works’, the original name given to it by Wilson. The name was changed to Vauxhall Motors Limited, which was likely influenced by the new guy on the scene, Laurence Pomeroy. As a 22-year-old, he was given the task to design an entirely new engine for the vehicles, and was so successful that he took over as chief designer, and pushed the company forwards.
From 1911 to 1914, Vauxhall focused upon manufacturing the Prince Henry, which came to be known as one of the fastest (and the first) British sports cars of its time. In 1924, however, Vauxhall decided to take a bit of a backseat when it came to sports cars, and they focused solely upon designing a car for the everyday man on the street. Over the next few years, they produced the Bedford, the Cadet, and - fast forward to 1957 - the Victor. In 1979 the Astra was released, and Vauxhall only went on to become increasingly popular throughout Britain.
In 2017, Peugeot purchased Vauxhall Motors Limited from German company Opel, for £1.9billion. Since 1857, when Vauxhall was producing marine engines under Wilson in a South London factory, Vauxhall Motors Limited has become one of the world’s - and certainly one of Britain’s - most well-known car brands, and it shows that even 100 years later, the innovative and pioneering minds behind Vauxhall really make an impact upon the British people.
This is why Vauxhall is, and has been, a brand that people trust, and the reliability, luxury, and cutting-edge technology within the range of Vauxhalls' still wins over the hearts of the British public today. Whether you opt for a Corsa or an Insignia, you know that choosing Vauxhall Motors Limited will allow you to be a part of what has been a great British brand, since 1903, well actually 1857, to be precise!
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