| Vauxhall cars and vans are commonplace on the | | | | consumer and some of the names are still in |
| roads and motorways of the UK. With a range of | | | | production today, notably the Astra. It was during the |
| cars to suit a wide range of budgets and tastes, | | | | 1970's the Astra and Cavalier cars were designed and |
| Vauxhall are a popular choice for both new and used | | | | built and these models were a huge success for the |
| car buyers. | | | | company. |
| This well established brand is perhaps older than you | | | | Vauxhall further developed the popular cars of the |
| think. The first Vauxhall car was made shortly after | | | | 1970's, and in 1982 the manufacturer revealed plans to |
| the turn of the century in 1903. Since that date the | | | | launch diesel engines for the Astra and Cavalier. As a |
| company has had an unbroken record as a major car | | | | demand for sporty cars grew in the 1980's Vauxhall |
| designer and manufacturer. | | | | captured the imagination of young car buyers with the |
| In 1905 the company moved to their first factory in | | | | lunch of the Astra GTE and later the Nova GTE |
| Luton and produced its first 4-cylinder car. The | | | | sports models. |
| company Vauxhall Motors Ltd was established shortly | | | | Throughout the 1990's the Vauxhall range continued to |
| afterwards in 1907 and in 1910 it was a Vauxhall 20 | | | | thrive, both in the UK and European markets (where |
| horsepower car that became a record breaker, being | | | | Vauxhall cars are banded with the Opel name). |
| the first to exceed to 100mph mark. | | | | Success brought significant expansion and investment, |
| In 1925 Vauxhall Motors Ltd became part of the GM | | | | with millions of pounds being spent on both the Luton |
| Motors family, an American car manufacturer with | | | | and Ellesmere Port facilities during the 1990s'. It was |
| worldwide reach and it remains within the GM Family | | | | towards the end of the 1990's when Vauxhall identified |
| today. | | | | a need to develop attractive yet practical family cars |
| In 1931 Vauxhall Motors launched itself as a commercial | | | | with a seating capacity of 5 or over. The Sintra was |
| manufacturer and introduced the Bedford van to the | | | | Vauxhall's first model in its MPV range. Cars such as |
| market. The popularity of the Bedford was so strong | | | | the Zafira and Agila soon followed. |
| that Vauxhall quickly launched alternative Bedford | | | | Just before the turn of the millennium, Vauxhall |
| models, with varying weight capacities and capabilities. | | | | became the first car manufacturer to sell cars on the |
| As part of the war effort, Vauxhall produced 250,000 | | | | Internet, now a multi billion pound market place where |
| Bedford trucks and 5640 Churchill tanks between 1939 | | | | all car manufacturers and retailers compete for |
| and 1945. By the time 1947 was reached Vauxhall had | | | | business. |
| manufactured a staggering 500,000 Bedford trucks. | | | | Restructuring in 2000 saw the close of the Luton plant, |
| In 1953 the organisation reached a significant milestone, | | | | but Luton was the base for Vauxhall's European |
| its 50th anniversary. And it was during this year that | | | | Customer Assistance Centre. |
| production of Vauxhall vehicles passed the 1 million | | | | Cars within the Vauxhall family now include models |
| mark. To cope with increases in demand Vauxhall | | | | such as the Corsa, Astra, Vectra, Zafira, Meriva, |
| needed a larger factory and in 1959 announced a new | | | | Insignia, Antara and the range topping VXR8. |
| plant at Ellesmere Port, northwest England. Production | | | | Vauxhall is continuing to design a range of cars and |
| at this plant finally started in 1966. | | | | vans for the future and remains a significant car |
| During the 1970's Vauxhall launched a range of cars | | | | manufacturer both in the UK and Europe. |
| that offered practicality, style and value to the | | | | |