Something completely different -

[Guest]

Hi all

I suspect that you guys don't see a 1962 Vauxhall Cresta every day (ever seen one?). I've had this car for a couple of years now and still get a kick out of driving it. The Vauxhall Cresta PA is an English GM brand first introduced in 1957. The PA style has obvious influences from the US. It was considered a 'big' car over here in OZ at the time but it is about the size of a Ford Falcon of the same era. Now that my partner Julia's Mazda has finally died I'm going to press it into service as a daily driver.

Cheers
Mark

[simplyconnected]

Yes, that car was very popular in Ireland when I was there. I recall, the headlights tracked along with the steering. - Dave

[Guest]

Nothing so technical I'm afraid. The only thing that tracks with the steering on this car are my eyeballs!

[scumdog]

I had a '71 Vauxhall Victor with 3.3 litre motor (202ci) & 4-speed in '73 as my 1st car.

Like a baby '69 Chevelle/69 Camaro cross in style, a nice car and fast in its day!

[SandyBoy]

Because I am in my 60s, I can recall and tell you that car was indeed sold in America, at PONTIAC dealers in the early 1960s as a Pontiac compact, but it retained its Vaxhall nameplates. It lasted under 2 years and was quietly dropped/

[FINSRIN]

Looks right in what seems to be perfect color scheme for it.
Now seeing it, brings back cobwebby semi-memories of those.
Bill

[Guest]

They are pretty rare here and even in England there aren't many left. Rust was the big killer and these cars were extravagant rusters!

[scumdog]

And I think the same body-shape Vauxhall with the three-piece rear window (like a 57 Olds) was known as a PAX, one model had a large oval tail-light the other had a smalle semi-rectangular one.

I also (from memory) think they had a 2.6 litre motor and three-speed column-shift trans.

[DKheld]

Nice one !

I wondered about the power plant - guessed in line 6.

Daily driver !! Bet it will get some well deserved thumbs up.

Hey - they stole the Tbird fins.....but shortened them about 3ft

"extravagant rusters!" - now that's funny.

Eric

[simplyconnected]

..."extravagant rusters!" - now that's funny...

It wasn't so funny when my '71 Pinto rusted a hole on the INSIDE of the passenger's door. The bottom inner panel was steel and after a few short years, I could put my fist through the hole.

I even popped for 'lifetime' rustproofing applied at the dealership before I took delivery. When I tried to enter a claim, the dealership said, "Oh, we don't deal with SimTech anymore. You will have to call the company down in Ohio (somewhere)." I did, and the only satisfaction I could get is the amount I paid for the rustproofing application.

SimTech successfully clogged all my drain holes and promoted accellerated rust at record rate. That's when I was young and dumb. I see Ziebart isn't around anymore, either.

American cars rusted terribly all through the '70's. So, you guys weren't alone. - Dave

[Guest]

You are pretty close Scumdog. The first PA Cresta, the PAD came out in 1957. It had a 2.2 litre (132 ci) motor and was only available as a manual. Mine is the later model, the 61-62 PAX Cresta which had a 2.6 litre (162 ci) motor and was available with a GM Hydramatic. Not my favourite transmission, bit of a dog actually! There was a Velox in the same body shape but it was the lower spec manual form, vinyl upholstery, no heater, clock, carpets etc.

[scumdog]

My failing memory...

You are pretty close Scumdog. The first PA Cresta, the PAD came out in 1957. It had a 2.2 litre (132 ci) motor and was only available as a manual. Mine is the later model, the 61-62 PAX Cresta which had a 2.6 litre (162 ci) motor and was available with a GM Hydramatic. Not my favourite transmission, bit of a dog actually! There was a Velox in the same body shape but it was the lower spec manual form, vinyl upholstery, no heater, clock, carpets etc.

In my defence I will say I was depending on my memory only - I didn't use Google or anything!

I never owned any of the PA series but my mates did - and I like their style.

BTW: I saw a two-door convertible model driving around at this years Beach Hop, it look 'spiffing', you would swear it was a factory item.

[Guest]

I attempted to drive the Vauxhall home from a small farmlet I have up north of Sydney - about 250 kms. The car was driving beautifully until it blew a small expansion plug in the head and it got very hot after dumping all of its water. It was dark and we were on a highway about 20 kms from the nearest service station. I don't consider myself a bush mechanic but I cut a piece of green branch from a tree and rammed it into the hole. Then I topped it up with water, loosened off the radiator cap and drove on. Probably can't do that with a new car