The Vauxhall Wyvern is a Mid-size car introduced by Vauxhall Motors 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 (1948–1951)
The L-series Vauxhall Wyvern, along with the
Vauxhall Velox, were Vauxhall's first new post-war models. Incorporating American influence, the Wyvern started production in September 1948 and finished in July 1951. Many of them were exported to help the British economy. The car was fitted with a four-cylinder engine, generating , with a top speed of . The optional extras available were a radio, heater and foglight. The model is a forgotten classic, with very few surviving. Due to its American styling, the Wyvern resembled a "miniaturized" Chevrolet Fleetline.
Australian vehicles carried the model code LBX.[ VAUXHALL L TYPE - WYVERN & VELOX SPECIFICATIONS, vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com Retrieved 22 August 2017]
Wyvern EIX (1951–1957)
In August 1951
[Vauxhall Motors Limited. The Times, Tuesday, 28 August 1951; pg. 2; Issue 52091] a completely new Wyvern was launched, featuring a modern Ponton, three-box shape in a unitary construction body. In spite of the abandonment of the old RAC horsepower tax system which favoured long stroke engines, the old long stroke four-cylinder engine from the L-series was retained and permitted a claimed top speed above despite the car's increased size. As before, a more powerful Vauxhall Velox was available with the new body.
5313 were made.
- Wyvern EIXW
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 at 4,000 rpm, maximum speed rose to . 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.
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 in 1957.
A car with the engine tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1952 had a top speed of and could accelerate from 0– in 37.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of was recorded. The test car cost £771 including taxes.
105,275 were made.
- Wyvern EBX
The EBX model code was applied to the Australian "chassis only" variant of the Wyvern EIX.
[Model Designations, Authorised Service Parts for Vauxhall Model E and Bedford Model CA, Vauxhall Motors Limited Parts and Accessories Department, Copyright March 1957]
Australian production by General Motors-Holden
Holden produced Vauxhall Wyvern models in
Australia from 1938 to 1957. Although the external appearance was very like that of the British cars, which featured unitary construction, some of Australian Vauxhalls retained a separate chassis frame. As well as countering prejudice against using "chassisless" vehicles on outback roads, the separate box girder chassis provided either an open tourer body or a utility body.
The new post-war Holden car was "chassisless", so the Vauxhall gave GMH customers the option of a ute or a convertible with a chassis.
Wyvern 10 horsepower
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. It was built on a separate chassis with a box-section cruciform frame. The six-light body with protruding luggage boot built to Holden's "turret-top" design used many of the front pressings of the unitary construction British Vauxhall H Series. It was produced in saloon and open Calèche body styles.
[ VAUXHALL 'WYVERN' IN TWO SMART 10-H.P. MODELS The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Tuesday 22 Feb 1938, Page 4, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au] The Calèche was offered in 2-seater roadster and 4-seater tourer models.
[
]
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> 1939 VAUXHALL WYVERN GMH SALES BROCHURE, www.ebay.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org The Wyvern had a 94-inch wheelbase and used a 10 hp engine.
[ The saloon featured a six light body ][ VAUXHALL H - 10-FOUR LAUNCH & MODEL HISTORY, vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com Retrieved 27 December 2018] with a side window behind each rear door unlike the British H Series 10-4 model. The wheelbase was increased in 1940 [ 1940 Vauxhall Wyvern Is Smart Performer, The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954) Monday 29 July 1940, Page 6, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au] to 97¾ inches.[ 1940 VAUXHALL WYVERN GMH SALES BROCHURE, www.ebay.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org]
Production ceased in 1941 but was resumed in 1946, using pre-war tooling. A new grille with horizontal bars was adopted, replacing the previous vertical bar design.[Vauxhall - Preview 1946 Range - 10 H.P. Wyvern and 14 H.P. Senior, The Australian Monthly Motor Manual, May 1946, page 33] The 10 h.p engine was used,[ New 10-hp Vauxhall Wyvern, The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) Tuesday, 23 July 1946, Page 9, as archived at trove.nla.gov.au] but this was soon replaced by a 12 h.p. unit.[Vauxhall Wyvern, The Australian Monthly Motor Manual 1947 Annual, page 44]
For an image of a 1938 sedan see external links below
Wyvern LBX (1948–1951)
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,[ Velox Caleche Sporty with Comfort. (Melbourne) Argus, 16 March 1950] or with the unitary construction English saloon body. Besides having a separate chassis 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. Australian vehicles carried the model code LBX.[
File:Vauxhall Wyvern Saloon (LBX, 1949, Australia (1).jpg|The Australian Vauxhall Wyvern Saloon (LBX) differed from the English Saloon (LIX) in having an additional window behind the rear door....
File:Vauxhall Wyvern Saloon (LBX, 1949, Australia (2).jpg|... and a more rounded boot
]
Wyvern EBX (1952–1957)
The E Series Wyvern was produced from 1952 to 1957. In addition to building the 4-door integral body-chassis Wyvern sedan, GMH continued to build a separate chassis[ Tourer is Fast and Smooth. (Melbourne) Argus, 1 June 1953] and developed a 2-door convertible and a Coupe Utility for it. The convertible was initially marketed as the Caleche and later as the Vagabond.[
target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> VAUXHALL VELOX and WYVERN - 1952 SEDAN and VAGABOND BROCHURE, www.ebay.com As archived at www.webcitation.org on 10 September 2014] 1954 was the last year for the Coupe Utility, and the Vagabond was not included in the facelifted E Series range released in April 1955.
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