[Abs-Zero]

 

The Vauxhall 10

In October 1938, Vauxhall lead the small car market by challenging prices and introducing new features so far not employed on cars in this class.  At an entry price of £168, the car was billed as 'the cheapest real motoring that money can buy' but at the same time brought two firsts.  One was the use of independent front suspension, which Vauxhall had first used on the larger range topping Vauxhall 24 in 1934.  At this time, all other cars the size of the 10-Four had rigid beam front axles.  The second major step was to build the 10-Four without a chassis - this was the first monocoque car constructed for sale in the UK and this resulted in more interior space as well as a reduction in weight.  It was this weight reduction in part that made the 10 much more economical (quoted 43.9mpg) than many of its heavier rivals and brisker to drive.

There were two models, the 'Standard' and the so called 'De-Luxe'.  Standard models had safety glass all round, chrome plated bumpers, self cancelling trafficators, an internal roof light, new 'unspillable' ash trays, a metal spare wheel cover and what we'd these days call a half leather interior.  The De-Luxe which additionally had a leather interior, sliding sunroof, 'no draught ventilation'  and hinged sun visors.

The car was by all accounts a huge success commercially and sold more than 10,000 in the first 5 months of production and 42,000 before the factory diverted its effort to production of Churchill tanks in 1940.  About 100 were made during the war for government use and then production resumed in 1946, but only fairly briefly, ending again in 1947.  That post war period saw considerably fewer cars produced owing to the shortage of cars available to UK buyers - driven heavily by government regulation that stated that manufacturers had to sell no more than 120,000 new cars in the UK, with the intention of coercing them to export more. These exports were important as financially, the war had cost the country greatly and drawing foreign money in was one way to bridge the gap.

In 1947, the Government abolished the so called 'horse power' system where cars were taxed according to engine size.  This rendered the 10hp models somewhat obsolete and so production diverted to the 12hp model.  Of course some fifty-odd years later in 2001, the government would re-introduce the tiered system, this time based on exhaust emissions.

 

The specifications published in 1939 were:

Maximum speed:                     60mph in top gear

Acceleration (through gears):    0-30mph in 8.5 seconds, 0-50mph in 24 seconds

Acceleration (in top gear):        10-30mph in 11.5 seconds, 10-50mph in 27 seconds

Fuel consumption:                   40 miles per gallon

Braking (30mph to rest):           35 feet

Weight (excluding driver):         952kg

Length (overall):                       4.029m

Width (overall):                        1.548m

Wheelbase:                            2.483m

Track:                                    1.225m (front), 1.260 (rear)

 

Under construction - I'll add more soon.

 

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Last review was Friday, 31 October 2008