Vauxhall 14-6

The Vauxhall 14-6 is an automobile which was produced by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1939 to 1948.[2]

Vauxhall 14-6
Vauxhall Fourteen-Six 1938-1948 unitary hulled six-light saloon 1947 example
Overview
Manufacturer	Vauxhall (General Motors)
Also called	Vauxhall Fourteen-Six Vauxhall Model J
Production	1939 to 1948
Assembly	United Kingdom Australia
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon 2-door coupé (Australia) 2-door roadster (Australia)
Layout	FR layout
Related	Bedford JC
Powertrain
Engine	1,781cc I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase	105 in (2,700 mm) [1]
Length	168 in (4,300 mm)
Width	635 in (16,100 mm)
Curb weight	22.5 cwt
Chronology
Predecessor	Vauxhall Light Six
Successor	Vauxhall Velox

Announced in early October[3] for the 1938 Earls Court Motor Show the 14-6 was offered as a six-light, four door saloon [2] and was powered by a four bearing, OHV, 1,781cc Straight-six engine.[4] It had a top speed of 70mph and could accelerate from 0-50mph in 18.2 seconds.[5]

Engine, transmission and suspension

The previous engine was retained but with compression ratio raised from 6.25 to 6.75:1 and revised timing increasing the output to 48bhp at 3000rpm.[5] Other features included independent front suspension using torsion bars in place of the previous Dubonnet system with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a three-speed all-synchromesh gearbox in place of the four-speed "silent third" gearbox.[4]

Unitary chassis-body

1938-1939 saloon
serving in France 1940

The car now had a unitary hull which had a 4 in (100 mm) longer wheelbase and 1 in (25 mm) wider track than its predecessor which made it larger than the 12-4 model announced at the same time. Previously the 12 and 14hp models had shared the same body. Interior features included individual leather front seats and a rear seat with fold-down arm rest, a rear window blind and a sliding sunroof.

Post-war models can be distinguished by bonnet-louvre and grille changes.[2]

45,499 examples were produced,[4] including 30,511 in the post-war period.[2]

Australian production, Vauxhall Senior

A Vauxhall 14 J was built by General Motors in Australia without unitary construction[note 1] which was beyond the capacity of local presses but sharing much of the English car's styling.[6][7] The separate chassis allowed the Australian firm to provide open and utility bodies. Commencing in 1939, the 14 was offered in sedan, coupé and roadster body-styles.[6] and as in UK but in a Holden version, a light utility.[note 2]

A 14 sedan was the first civilian car to be produced by GMH in the post-war period, leaving the Fishermans Bend assembly line on 21 May 1946.[6]

• 
  (Holden) drophead coupé 1939
• 
  (Holden) Bedford coupé utility 1940 or business roadster
• 
  (Model J) 1946
  note Holden's divided windscreen and roof

Notes

1. "The husky frame has an X-shaped cross-member and the deep side rails . . ." Truth, 4 June 1939
2. Four models, a business roadster, sports roadster, convertible coupe and saloon. The Sun

References

1. Norm Darwin, The History of Holden since 1917, Ford Publications Pty Ltd, 1983, pages 87-89
2. Michal Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, Vauxhall J-Fourteen-Six, A-Z of Cars 1945-1970, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1994, page 212
3. Cars Of 1939, Vauxhall 14 changes. The Times, Thursday, Oct 06, 1938; pg. 17; Issue 48118
4. Michal Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, Vauxhall J-Fourteen-Six, A-Z of Cars of the 1930s, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1993, page 208
5. Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-333-16689-5.
6. Norm Darwin, 100 Years of GM in Australia, January 2002, pages 130-133
7. Motoring, photograph—Vauxhall 14 Sydney Morning Herald, page 6, 2 May 1939