The Vauxhall marque goes back a long way. Alexander Wilson, a Scottish marine engineer, founded what was to become Vauxhall Iron Works as early as 1857 in Vauxhall, London. Pumps and marine engines were produced from 1897, and the first car appeared in 1903. Production was transferred to Luton in 1905, and by 1907 the company name had changed from Vauxhall Iron Works to Vauxhall Motors. From 1913-1927 the 30/98 Velox was the principal model, being a notably fast sports tourer.
General Motors of the USA took over in 1925, at a time when Vauxhall was producing only 17 cars per week and was in a financial mess. A complete change of direction ensued, with the company moving into the middlepriced market making smaller and more economical cars in far greater volume. The first really small model was the 1937 10/4, which had unitary construction, an overheadvalve engine, torsion bar
