Vauxhall Light Six

Vauxhall Light 6
1935 Vauxhall Light 6
Overview
Manufacturer Vauxhall (General Motors)
Also called Vauxhall Fourteen
Vauxhall ASY/ASX
Vauxhall DY/DX
Production 1933 to 1938
Assembly United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
2-door coupé
2-door roadster
Layout FR layout
Powertrain
Engine 1530cc or 1781cc I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase 101 in (2,600 mm) [1]
Length 154 in (3,900 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor Vauxhall Cadet
Successor Vauxhall 14-6

The Vauxhall Light 6 is an automobile which was produced by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1933 to 1938.[2]

Model ASY/ASX

Based on the Vauxhall Cadet the new car had a smaller version of the existing engine created by lengthening the stroke to 100 mm and reducing the bore to 57 mm for the 1530 cc ASY and 61.5 mm for the 1781 cc ASX. With overhead valves and Zenith down-draught carburettor the smaller engine produced 36bhp at 4000rpm and the 1781 cc produced 43bhp at 3500rpm. The power was transmitted to the rear axle via a single-plate clutch to a 4-speed gearbox, with “silent third” and synchromesh on 3rd & 4th gears. Twelve volt electrics were fitted.

The Cadet chassis was shortened by 6 in (150 mm) and extra cross-members added. Semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension was fitted to front and rear axles.

The factory standard bodies used many panels from the Cadet but the radiator was now sloped back slightly and the filler cap was under the bonnet. All the windows used "Triplex" toughened glass. The chassis was also supplied to external coachbulders.

The launch price for the standard saloon was GBP195 allowing Vauxhall to advertise a 12hp car for less than GBP200. Unusually, the 14hp ASX was sold for the same price and became by far the better seller.

Body types

  • Standard Saloon (12 hp only)
  • De Luxe Saloon (by Vauxhall) with sliding roof and no-draught ventilation
  • Fixed Head Coupé (by Vauxhall) 2-door with sliding roof and no-draught ventilation
Special Coachwork
  • Tickford Foursome Coupé (by Salmons)
  • Pendine 4-seater Sports Tourer (by Holbrook)
  • Suffolk Saloon Sports Tourer (by Holbrook)
  • Stratford 4-seater Sports (by Whittingham & Mitchel)
  • Tourer (by Duple)
  • 2-seater with Dickey (by Duple)

23,294 cars were produced. [2]

Model DY/DX

The model was revised in 1935 and given a new designation although it kept the same engine. The chassis was re-designed with Dubonnet type independent front suspension enabling the engine to be moved forwards.

A revised version appeared in 1937 with a curved radiator grille and pressed-steel wheels replacing the wire-spoked ones.

1936-38 saloon with the updated grille

20,026 of the earlier cars and 39,537 of the post 1937 version were produced. [2]

References

  1. ↑ Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.
  2. 1 2 3 Michal Sedgwick & Mark Gillies, Vauxhall J-Fourteen-Six, A-Z of Cars of the 1930s, Haymarket Publishing Ltd, 1993, page 208
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