Car & Classic Visits – Vauxhall Heritage

Selling new cars is all well and good, and for every manufacturer around the globe it’s also fairly important, but that doesn’t mean they should ignore their roots. For some brands, that means the token roll out of an older model for a television advert with a ‘look how far we’ve come’ undertone. For others, heritage means something more. It’s something to be proud of, something to celebrate and something to hold on to. One company that most definitely has that outlook is Vauxhall, which has this incredible heritage collection.

Spanning over 100 years (116 to be exact) the collection boasts an impressive seventy-five cars, including pre-war, post-war and modern-day offerings. To use the old adage, there really is something for everyone. As we walk up to the building, complete with period ‘Vauxhall’ branding, we find our eye drawn to all manner of metal before we even get to the door. The car park outside is packed with interesting cars. There was the BTCC replica Vectra, the two late-model Astras full of roll cage (because they were Top Gear’s ‘reasonably priced cars’) and the Bedford CF that was converted to run on electricity back in the day. So much good stuff, and we were still outside!

As we get to the door we’re greeted by Simon Hucknall, Head of Product Communications for Vauxhall. Within his remit is the heritage collection, and as soon as we start talking to him we get the impression that it’s arguably one of the best parts of his job. Simon has an honest, captivating enthusiasm for the collection. It’s nice to see, because it serves to remind us that this collection wasn’t a box-ticking exercise by the suits. It’s something that has been created and later curated with genuine love and interest. That matters, it’s why we’re drawn to classic cars after all, right?

The building is split into two huge rooms. The first houses the really old metal. For example, there’s a 1918 D Type staff car and the imposing 1926 OE Type. While the L Type Wyvern proudly represents a time after WW2. Moving on in years, there is the Vauxhall H Type from 1937, then the E Type Wyvern from 1953 and as you can see, lots more metal besides.

Through into the bigger part of the workshop and we’re faced with an altogether more familiar, but still largely classic collection of cars. The place is jam-packed with machinery, like some sort of Luton-based automotive Tetris or something. And everywhere you look there’s something to catch your eye. Be it the PA Velox, the Bedford CA van in period livery or the Calibra V6 parked beside it. There’s a Lotus Carlton in there, too. Just sat, waiting to be given a damn good thrashing.

That’s the beauty of this collection – it is a working fleet. As Simon explains to us, there is simply no point in having all these cars as static museum pieces. Of course, there are exceptions like the XVR and SRV concept cars, but aside from those, this is a collection of cars that earn their keep. These cars can only claim a space within the Heritage building if they’re willing to work for it. As such, every car is MOTd, they’re all taxed and they’re all insured. They largely exist to satisfy motoring media and television, though they will also be used for shows and launch events, too.

The collection is maintained by a small team, and they have arguably the best job in Luton. They prep and pamper the fleet, keeping every car, be it an FD Ventora or a VX220, in tip-top condition in readiness for its next outing. These cars want for nothing, and that’s lovely to see. As we touched on earlier, they’re not here to tick a box, they’re here to be enjoyed and celebrated.

Of course, as any of you with a collection of cars will know, you don’t end up with just cars. You get all the interesting paraphernalia, too. Vauxhall’s collection is no exception. Look beyond the cars and you’ll see motorsport heritage in the form of trophies for various race wins. There is marketing material everywhere from days and vehicles gone by. Model cars are present, as are interesting parts and items from around the factory. Pre-production design models, blueprints, the list goes on. We even found a load of unused, adhesive still present, Frontera badges and graphics. The Frontera wasn’t a particularly spectacular car, granted, but there’s a strange thrill to seeing an old unused badge that’s survived all these years.

Vauxhall’s heritage collection is a magnificent gathering of cars. Chevette HS, Firenza ‘droop-snoot’, Opel Monza, there is just so much to take in. It’s a fascinating look into the history of a company that in modern terms, we just take for granted. Yes, Vauxhall has been part of General Motors and Opel, but above all that, it’s been a British company through and through, and as this collection goes to prove, they’re incredibly proud of that, and rightly so.