The Velox was to the Cresta what the Consul was to the Zephyr, although in the case of the big Vauxhall the changes tended to be related to trivial bits of trim rather than mechanics. In fact, the Velox started life as a superior six-cylinder version of the Wyvern, becoming a subordinate, less glitzy version of the Cresta from 1955 onwards, when it did without leather trim, two-tone paint, heater, clock, mascot and locking filler cap.
The flamboyant 1957 PA Cresta, with its fins and wrap-around screen, had a more austere Velox derivative (single-tone paint, no heater, cigar lighter or carpets), and the theme continued with the more soberly styled PB models which, in 3.3-litre form with a four-speed manual gearbox, were for a time Britain's fastest-accelerating family saloons: 0-60 in 10 seconds, which was faster than a Lotus Cortina.
|
