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 .
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 .
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 !
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!!
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.......
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 .
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 .
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.
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
Love it Steve and Steph. My friend owned that very model. It inspired me to get a PB Velox which came up shortly afterwards. (In 1970 -ish) Not quite as blingy but wow what a great time I had. You could have a party on the front seat! No gear stick or handbrake to get in the way. Even at 2 litres I used to put 30 bob's worth of petrol in on Friday night and off to Hereford "Flamingo" ballroom to see Suzy Quattro, the Sweet, screaming Lord Such, Mud, Hot chocolate, ect... Then chat up a bird take her for fish and chips, a "peck on the cheek" and drive 60 miles home listening to John Lennon and Elton John on the 8 track. Magical times. Saturday night and Sunday morning every week. 🙃🕺💃
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...
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!
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
I owned one in 1972 - it was my first car. It was also blue. It didn't cost much because - it's weird to say - it was already "old"! And mine was especially cheap for me to buy because it jumped out of top gear, so it was really down to a 2-speed gearbox! But with the fairly long legs of the 6-cylinder you could still get around with those 2 gears:) *Steph, you are doing something wonderful in finding the rare nice examples of these old. old cars and taking them for a drive in a good quality video.* You get us really close to the experience of motoring 60 years ago! These videos are historical records; sort of automotive archaeology.
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.
Owned two of these as a teen in the 70;s in New Zealand , the early model with the split rear screen and the later model , great cars , thanks Stef for the trip down memory lane .
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.
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!
@@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!"
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.
@@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?
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.
Had one , it was a 59 Velox paid £120 for it in 1968 . The car was such a smooth drive and the six cylinder 2.2 engine was so flexible . It was a bit juicy on fuel , but if you drove right it could achieve 27 to 28 mpg . The column gear change was really easy and smooth provide you didn't try to force a hurried gear change. I once clocked just over 90 mph and Velox felt really steady with no vibration. It was a brilliant car and such a great drive.
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😬
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
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.
I HAD A CRESTA IN 1966 IT HAD A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE IN IT AND ONLY DID 18 MILES TO THE GALLON!PETROL WAS 4/6 A GALLON(25 P)AND COST 49 POUND FULLY COMPRESIVE INSURANCE,BUT THEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND HAD NO DEPENDANTS !!LOVED THAT CAR
Takes me back to my childhood in the 60s in Australia. The first family car I can remember was a PA Cresta. To this day, my 83 year old mother still remembers it fondly as one of the best cars we ever owned.
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
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.
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.
I had one of these in 1964, I was 19 years old and would love to have another. But now those that remain are worth big bucks. To me, apart from the great styling, the amazing smoothness of the 6 cylinder engine stood out.
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.
You are truly amazing: I love your presentations and I would so love to see your Morris Minor. You really do make these Sunday evening drives really interesting and special. Thank you.
Lovely old Vauxhall. I love that 3 piece rear window - never seen that before. Fantastic to see the fins, those great rear indicators and fabulous rear door handles.
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.
My dad had one of these when I was a kid. My dad was always finding strange cars to buy and this was the strangest because we lived in Texas at the time and Vauxhall was unheard of in the states.
A great car and video Steph, I passed my test with BSM in a 1962 Vauxhall Victor. The price of the lesson was £1.2/6 per hour, and the test was a £1...Thanks for sharing
Bill, I took lessons from a private instructor in 64, it was one pound an hour in his dual control Viva. Usually two hours at a time because the test town was about half an hour away.
@@TheGrimReaper1 Yes Alan, It was the same for me too my test day was about a mile away and I had to have a 2 hour booking It cost 45/- shillings Pleased to say that I passed.
Hi Steph, Thank you for sharing this video on the PA Cresta, my late father had a navy blue one, which really turned the clocks back, then he had the PB, and the PC models, if you can bring the next video of the Vauxhall Viscount, (1966-1969) I'll be very grateful, Thanks, all the best.
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.
Great video Steph. I joined the “Vauxhall appreciation society” only 6 months ago buying a 1953 E Series Velox (Dame Vera) assembled here in Australia by GM-H. Beautiful cars and a pleasure to drive. As an adjunct, I sold a 1969 Alfa Berlina for the Velox and the Velox suits me so well.
Was like driving a boat down the road, you had to negotiate bends well beforehand and bumps would be felt for a few seconds after the suspension had recovered. I loved the style, still do.
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.
When I was little one of our neighbours, had one of these possibly the Cresta version, I used to sit for hours just looking at it thinking one day. I have one of them really beautiful cars, especially when you consider your average family car in the UK at the time. Thank you for this video I really appreciate it, and by the way, I never got one of them, but I did get a Victor transcontinental later
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 friend of my had one in the late 70s that we would cruise arond in ,it was the time the movie grease came out and we woud play the music and fancy ourselves as Danny and his side kick 😊
What a great video, and the Vauxhall reminded me of the time I drove a friends Vauxhall Cresta - 3.3 litre automatic!! Did it go, and was just so comfortable!! Anyhow, my father was an Austin / Vauxhall follower, with me learning to drive in an Austin A55 Cambridge, then having passed my test it was the Vauxhall HA Viva - both having given me great memories! Best wishes from Lincolnshire.
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. ☮️😻🚗
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
Stunning example.....my elder brother had them in the early 60s....rotting away sadly......way ahead of there time.....those engine give the appearance of much more cc. Look after it Sir. Nick in cheshire.
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 .
A friends dad, a bishop no less, had a pink CRESTA, whitewall tyres too. It was super comfortable, i loved it
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
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 .
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 !
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.
Probably the most impressive (family) car Vauxhall ever made.
PB and OC were not bad either,, and a bit more subdued!!
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.
it has so much charm and character unlike today's cars.
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!
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.
Vauxhall built some of the best looking cars in the late 50s early 60s . love the rear fins on this beauty
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!
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.
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!!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 .
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
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 .
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
This and the Cresta PA are the best looking British cars ever..
Love it Steve and Steph.
My friend owned that very model. It inspired me to get a PB Velox which came up shortly afterwards. (In 1970 -ish) Not quite as blingy but wow what a great time I had. You could have a party on the front seat! No gear stick or handbrake to get in the way. Even at 2 litres I used to put 30 bob's worth of petrol in on Friday night and off to Hereford "Flamingo" ballroom to see Suzy Quattro, the Sweet, screaming Lord Such, Mud, Hot chocolate, ect... Then chat up a bird take her for fish and chips, a "peck on the cheek" and drive 60 miles home listening to John Lennon and Elton John on the 8 track. Magical times. Saturday night and Sunday morning every week. 🙃🕺💃
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...
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
I owned one in 1972 - it was my first car. It was also blue. It didn't cost much because - it's weird to say - it was already "old"! And mine was especially cheap for me to buy because it jumped out of top gear, so it was really down to a 2-speed gearbox! But with the fairly long legs of the 6-cylinder you could still get around with those 2 gears:)
*Steph, you are doing something wonderful in finding the rare nice examples of these old. old cars and taking them for a drive in a good quality video.* You get us really close to the experience of motoring 60 years ago! These videos are historical records; sort of automotive archaeology.
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.
Oh, WOW!!! I absolutely love the Velox. Gorgeous design. Wish more modern cars were so stylish. Great vid, Steph!
Owned two of these as a teen in the 70;s in New Zealand , the early model with the split rear screen and the later model , great cars , thanks Stef for the trip down memory lane .
My late Father in NZ owned one of these. Great memories. It was yellow.
Hi from Russia. A nice car. Thank You for Your review.
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.
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 :(
Very elegant and still beautiful.
Both the car and the presenter.
"Once driven forever smitten" Great review Steph of the Velox.
As American as British cars ever got! Spectacular!
Absolutely gorgeous Velox. Plus I enjoy spotting landmarks I know. Huddersfield got a treat that day.
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.
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.
What a great example. I probably haven't seen one since the late 80's !
This is fabulous, fantastic review as always, this car is in amazing condition, love it.
Had one , it was a 59 Velox paid £120 for it in 1968 . The car was such a smooth drive and the six cylinder 2.2 engine was so flexible . It was a bit juicy on fuel , but if you drove right it could achieve 27 to 28 mpg . The column gear change was really easy and smooth provide you didn't try to force a hurried gear change. I once clocked just over 90 mph and Velox felt really steady with no vibration. It was a brilliant car and such a great drive.
Love the Vauxhall style from the 1930s to the 1970s😍
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!
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😬
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
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.
What a stunning example! It really does remind me of 'The Jetsons'. Love it 😍
Steve's Velox is in fantastic condition. Love the wrap around windscreen and three piece rear window.
I HAD A CRESTA IN 1966 IT HAD A 6 CYLINDER ENGINE IN IT AND ONLY DID 18 MILES TO THE GALLON!PETROL WAS 4/6 A GALLON(25 P)AND COST 49 POUND FULLY COMPRESIVE INSURANCE,BUT THEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND HAD NO DEPENDANTS !!LOVED THAT CAR
what a beauty steph and the way you handled that gearbox to perfection
Takes me back to my childhood in the 60s in Australia. The first family car I can remember was a PA Cresta. To this day, my 83 year old mother still remembers it fondly as one of the best cars we ever owned.
My parents had the "Cresta" variant and you could almost see it rusting away as you watched...
Recognize those roads.
With an older car brings back memories of huddersfield
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
G'day from Australia. These were well loved here as a classy car for the times. Terrific review!!
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.
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.
Takes me back to my childhood, late 60’s early 70’s.
WHAT A GREAT CHANNEL THIS IS !!!!!! WELL DONE YOUNG LADY "IF I AM ALLOWED TO SAY THAT THESE DAYS " ??
There is one that has been at Alton Towers for years. Cliff Richard used to have one in the 1960s.
What a lovely car in a period colour!
Thats an absolutely stunning car, I prefer the understated look of the Velox too.
Great video Steph
Growing up in the late 50s and 60s, our neighbour had a 2 tone Cresta - Pink & Turquoise.
I had one of these in 1964, I was 19 years old and would love to have another. But now those that remain are worth big bucks. To me, apart from the great styling, the amazing smoothness of the 6 cylinder engine stood out.
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.
A brilliant review. Loved the car as a kid and still think the looks are amazing today so stylish.
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.
You are truly amazing: I love your presentations and I would so love to see your Morris Minor. You really do make these Sunday evening drives really interesting and special. Thank you.
Pink and grey colour for me, stunning cars of their day.
Lovely old Vauxhall. I love that 3 piece rear window - never seen that before. Fantastic to see the fins, those great rear indicators and fabulous rear door handles.
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.
My dad had one of these when I was a kid. My dad was always finding strange cars to buy and this was the strangest because we lived in Texas at the time and Vauxhall was unheard of in the states.
Beautiful , I loved the old Vauxhall . I remember my dad having a velox SB , he taught me to drive in a victor FB and I had a victor 101 myself 😀
A great car and video Steph, I passed my test with BSM in a 1962 Vauxhall Victor.
The price of the lesson was £1.2/6 per hour, and the test was a £1...Thanks for sharing
Bill, I took lessons from a private instructor in 64, it was one pound an hour in his dual control Viva. Usually two hours at a time because the test town was about half an hour away.
@@TheGrimReaper1 Yes Alan, It was the same for me too my test day was about a mile away and I had to have a 2 hour booking It cost 45/- shillings
Pleased to say that I passed.
Meant to say an hour away
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.
Hi Steph,
Thank you for sharing this video on the PA Cresta, my late father had a navy blue one, which really turned the clocks back, then he had the PB, and the PC models, if you can bring the next video of the Vauxhall Viscount, (1966-1969) I'll be very grateful, Thanks, all the best.
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.
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.
Great video Steph. I joined the “Vauxhall appreciation society” only 6 months ago buying a 1953 E Series Velox (Dame Vera) assembled here in Australia by GM-H. Beautiful cars and a pleasure to drive. As an adjunct, I sold a 1969 Alfa Berlina for the Velox and the Velox suits me so well.
Reminds me of a 57 Buick Special mixed with a 62 Cadillac. Love it!
Was like driving a boat down the road, you had to negotiate bends well beforehand and bumps would be felt for a few seconds after the suspension had recovered. I loved the style, still do.
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.
Love these cars ....& The way you narate is excellent ....very good show.
My Dad remembers these cars back in the day lovely piece of history Steph rare car very classy so sad they all rusted away
When I was little one of our neighbours, had one of these possibly the Cresta version, I used to sit for hours just looking at it thinking one day. I have one of them really beautiful cars, especially when you consider your average family car in the UK at the time. Thank you for this video I really appreciate it, and by the way, I never got one of them, but I did get a Victor transcontinental later
Theirs a PA Cresta in Barnsley, very similar looking car. I had to look at the velox twice as it’s so similar.
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!
Beautiful car Steph and I love the interior too. Shame they are so rare now.
I friend of my had one in the late 70s that we would cruise arond in ,it was the time the movie grease came out and we woud play the music and fancy ourselves as Danny and his side kick 😊
What a great video, and the Vauxhall reminded me of the time I drove a friends Vauxhall Cresta - 3.3 litre automatic!! Did it go, and was just so comfortable!! Anyhow, my father was an Austin / Vauxhall follower, with me learning to drive in an Austin A55 Cambridge, then having passed my test it was the Vauxhall HA Viva - both having given me great memories! Best wishes from Lincolnshire.
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. ☮️😻🚗
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
Stunning example.....my elder brother had them in the early 60s....rotting away sadly......way ahead of there time.....those engine give the appearance of much more cc.
Look after it Sir.
Nick in cheshire.