1. Wyvern LIX (1948–51)

2. Wyvern EIX (1951–57)

3. Australian production
    H Series  L Series  E Series 

4. References

5. Further reading

6. External links

The Vauxhall Wyvern is a medium-sized family car introduced by Vauxhall in 1948 as a successor to the Vauxhall 12. The name comes from the mythical beast the wyvern, and may be due to a misidentification of the heraldic griffin on the Vauxhall badge.

Wyvern LIX (1948–51)

The L series Vauxhall Wyvern along with the Velox were Vauxhall's first post-war new models; incorporating American influence, it started production in September 1948 and finished in July 1951. Many of these went for export to help the British economy. The Wyvern was fitted with a 1442 cc four-cylinder engine with 35 bhp with a top speed of 62 mph. The optional extras available were a radio/heater/foglight. These vehicles are forgotten classics with very few surviving.

Australian vehicles carried the model code LBX.^[2]

Wyvern EIX (1951–57)

In August 1951^[3] a completely new Wyvern was launched, featuring a modern Ponton, three-box shape in a monocoque body. In spite of the abandonment of the old RAC horsepower tax system which favoured long stroke engines, the old long stroke four cylinder {{convert|35|bhp|abbr=on}} engine from the L-series was retained and permitted a claimed top speed above {{convert|62|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} despite the car's increased size. As before, a more powerful Vauxhall Velox was available with the new body.

5313 were made.{{sfn|Sedgwick|Gillies|1993|p=212}}

After only six months production of the rebodied Wyvern the car received, in April 1952, Vauxhall's new short stroke 1508 cc four-cylinder engine. Along with its six -cylinder Velox version, the new engine had a bore of 79.3mm and a stroke of 76.2mm, identical measurements (and therefore capacity) as the rival Ford Consul/Zephyr engines introduced two years previously. With a power output of 45 bhp at 4,000rpm, maximum speed rose to {{convert|72|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. More performance was available from the six-cylinder Vauxhall Velox and (from 1954) Cresta versions.

The EIX series Wyvern received a new bonnet and grille in 1955, a wrap-round rear window in 1956 and another new grille in 1957.{{sfn|Sedgwick|Gillies|1986|p=212}}

The Wyvern sold well on the UK market until Vauxhall abandoned the six seater four cylinder market and replaced it with the smaller but more radically styled Vauxhall Victor F-Series in 1957.

A car with the {{convert|45|bhp|abbr=on}} engine tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1952 had a top speed of {{convert|71.6|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and could accelerate from 0–{{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in 37.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of {{convert|30.4|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus}} was recorded. The test car cost £771 including taxes.^[4]

105,275 were made.{{sfn|Sedgwick|Gillies|1993|p=212}}

The EBX model code was applied to the "chassis only" variant of the Wyvern EIX.^[5]

Australian production

General Motors-Holden's produced a Vauxhall Wyvern model in Australia from 1938 to 1957. Externally very like the monocoque British cars these Australian Vauxhalls retained a separate chassis frame. As well as countering prejudices against "chassisless cars" on outback roads the separate box girder chassis could be bodied with an open tourer body or a utility body.^[6][7] The new Holden was "chassisless" the Vauxhall with a chassis let GM give customers an option.

H Series

GMH introduced a locally built Vauxhall Wyvern model to the Australian market in 1938, ten years prior to the use of the Wyvern name in England.{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=130}} Based on the British Vauxhall H Series,{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=130}} it was produced in Saloon and open Calèche body styles,^[8] with the Calèche offered in 2-seater Roadster and 4-seater Tourer models.^[9] The Wyvern had a 94-inch wheelbase and used a 10 hp engine.^[9] The Saloon featured a six light body ^[10] with a side window behind each rear door, unlike the British H Series 10-4 model. The wheelbase was increased in 1940 ^[11] to 97¾ inches.^[12]

Production ceased in 1941 but was resumed in 1946, using pre-war tooling.{{sfn|Darwin|1983|p=79}} A new grille with horizontal bars was adopted, replacing the previous vertical bar design.^[13] The 10 h.p engine was used,^[14] but this was soon replaced by a 12 h.p. unit.^[15]

L Series

The L Series Wyvern was produced from 1948 to 1951. It was offered with an Australian developed Sedan body, an Australian "Caleche" Tourer body, both with a box girder chassis,^[16] or with the English Sedan body. The Australian Sedan differed from its English counterpart in having a longer passenger cabin, a more rounded boot and an additional side window behind the rear doors.{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=133}} Australian vehicles carried the model code LBX.^[2]

E Series

The E Series Wyvern was produced from 1952 to 1957.{{sfn|Darwin|2002|pp=134–136}} In addition to building the 4-door integral body-chassis Wyvern sedan, GMH continued to build a separate chassis^[17] and developed a 2-door convertible and a Coupe Utility for it.{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=134}} The convertible was initially marketed as the Caleche and later as the Vagabond.^[18] 1954 was the last year for the Coupe Utility,{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=134}} and the Vagabond was not included in the facelifted E Series range released in April 1955.{{sfn|Darwin|2002|p=135}}

References

• {{cite book |last=Darwin |first=Norm |title=The History of Holden in Australia since 1917 |year=1983 |publisher=E.L. Ford Publications |isbn=978-0-9592287-0-0 |ref=harv}}
• {{cite book |last=Darwin |first=Norm |title=100 Years of GM in Australia |year=2002 |ref=harv}}
• {{cite book |last1=Sedgwick |first1=Michael |last2=Gillies |first2=Mark |title=A–Z of Cars 1945–1970 |year=1986 |publisher=Osprey |isbn=978-0-600-33391-3 |ref=harv}}
• {{cite book |last1=Sedgwick |first1=Michael |last2=Gillies |first2=Mark |editor-last=Pressnell |editor-first=Jon |title=A–Z of Cars 1945–1970 |year=1993 |publisher=Bay View Books |isbn=978-1-870979-39-9 |ref=harv}}

Further reading

• {{cite book |last1=Culshaw |first1=David |last2=Horrobin |first2=Peter |title=The Complete Catalogue of British Cars 1895–1975 |year=1997 |publisher=Veloce Publishing |isbn=978-1-874105-93-0}}

External links

• Vauxhall Wyvern 1937, www.vauxhall.org.au
• Images of Vauxhall L Series tourer, E Series Utility and E Series Vagabond Convertible at www.kpl.com.au

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