help identify this car

[goingbush]

Found dumped outside wreckers (closed) at Longreach today
looks really interesting but I cant identify it, a bit like a Riley at the back, but an american looking front, suicide doors, and original convertible, not a backyard chop. funny kneebone front suspension. I can not think what it is.

[p38arover]

Vauxhall Vagabond or possibly Velox Caleche convertible and possibly too rare to wreck. See http://www.mister-cars.com/Article/V...leche-1950/721

See the concave sections going back along the bonnet - there should be a chrome strip in there.

The suspension looks the same (or very similar) to the suspension the 1938 Vauxhall 14HP Model J that I owned in 1964-66.

You should have been able to read the name Vauxhall on the chrome strip on the front of the bonnet.

I hope you don't mind if I pass the pix onto the VOCA - I've just spoken to the Secretary.

[PhilipA]

Yes Vauxhall for sure.
Regards Philip A

[Cobber]

I'm fairly sure it's a Vauxhall Wyvern/Velox Caleche circa 1950.
Note the indentation on the side of the bonnet in the original post, compared to the picture below.
Normally, the semi-cutaway doors would give it away, but they are missing!

Not being a Vauxhall aficionado, it's hard to tell if it's a Velox (6 Cylinder) or Wyvern (4 cylinder)

Like this ...

[Bigbjorn]

Vauxhall Caleche, late 40's, early 50's. Australian body. Available in 4 or 6 cylinder versions. Very popular at the time.

[goingbush]

Great, Thanks Ron

just zoomed in on the 1st image, and indeed yes I can see HALL on the remaining chrome strip, Full Marks

I hope you don't mind if I pass the pix onto the VOCA - I've just spoken to the Secretary.

no problems

here is a crop of image

[Cobber]

Vauxhall Caleche, late 40's, early 50's. Australian body. Available in 4 or 6 cylinder versions. Very popular at the time.

To add to this, and my above post, these were Australia only, and quite popular for a while.
There was something like 55000 of this shape Wyvern (saloon and Caleche) made total over 9 (or 10?) years, maybe 5% would have been the Australia Caleche ... I wouldn't imagine there would be that many left in working order, registered or otherwise. Perhaps a couple of hundred?

Now the subject has come up, if somebody is part of a Vauxhall/British car club I would love to know a rough number still on the road

Great find by the way I do wonder what the plans for it were though to end up outside a wreckers in Longreach? Potential hotrod?

[p38arover]

And that, Cobber, is why I've advised the Vauxhall Owners Club. It may well be worth saving.

I was in the Hillman Owners Club and we were often given old cars which we collected and stored in an old poultry shed. My winch-equipped Rangie classic rescued a number of them. (The winch was never used whilst 4WDing. )

[V8Ian]

I'd say you're onto it Ron. As I viewed the photos they screamed Vauxhall and whispered Vagabond.

[UncleHo]

G'day Folks

Yup! Vauxhall "J" type from memory,the later "E" type were the Vagabond,52-54,all had side curtains,same as the Austin A40 Devon/Dorset Tourers,the Morris Minors and Ford Zephyr had wind up windows,I had an A40 and later Mk1 Zephyr (these were imported)like the Morries,the Vauxhalls were wood framed with steel skins and the Austins were metal framed, both were Australian models only,the later Austin A 40 Somerset Convertable was imported I think that 1954 was the last of the Australian built convertibles/tourers.


Then I graduated to side valve Ford V8's from 35 to 54 Customlines never really likes the OHV models with the "Y" block, threw oil everywhere.


cheers