Vauxhall Wyvern

The Vauxhall Wyvern is a medium-sized family car introduced by Vauxhall 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 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 1442 cc four-cylinder engine, generating 35 bhp, with a top speed of 62 mi/h. 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.[2]

Australian vehicles carried the model code LBX.[3]

Wyvern EIX (1951–1957)

Australian production by General Motors-Holden

General Motors-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.[7][8] 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.[9] The Calèche was offered in 2-seater roadster and 4-seater tourer models.[10] The Wyvern had a 94-inch wheelbase and used a 10 hp engine.[10] The saloon featured a six light body [11] with a side window behind each rear door unlike the British H Series 10-4 model. The wheelbase was increased in 1940 [12] to 97¾ inches.[13]

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.[14] The 10 h.p engine was used,[15] but this was soon replaced by a 12 h.p. unit.[16]

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,[17] 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.[3]

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[18] 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.[19] 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.

manufacturer	Vauxhall
production	1948–1951 55,409 made
engine	1442 cc Straight-4 35 bhp
body style	4-door saloon
length	164.5 in‡R1R‡
width	62 in‡R1R‡
height	65 in‡R1R‡
wheelbase	97.75 in‡R1R‡
related	Vauxhall Velox
predecessor	Vauxhall 12-4
weight	1022 - 1032 kg