MARQUES & MODELS THE VAUXHALL CAVALIER
The Cavalier evolved at a desperate time for Vauxhall. By 1973, following serious problems with the Viva HC, General Motors decreed Vauxhall would no longer export vehicles to Canada, their principal overseas territory. Sales in other countries and at home were also falling, and Vauxhall’s finances were in an unhealthy condition. That year, Car magazine suggested the company should ‘concentrate on trucks – in which field it has an excellent record – and, on the car side, switch to assembling Opels, with or without styling modifications.’
At that time, Vauxhall was working on the Viva HD, a larger replacement for the HC that would compete directly with the Ford Cortina. However, General Motors cancelled the project in favour of an Anglicised version of the forthcoming Opel Ascona B. The two cars used the same body, and Wayne Cherry, Vauxhall’s design director, created the Cavalier’s distinctive sloping front. In 1979, he told Autocar: ‘People remember other people’s faces more than they remember other features. It’s the same with cars.’
Vauxhall’s need for a Cortina rival was so acute they decided to bring forward the launch from 1976 to 1975. This meant the Cavalier would use Opel 1.6-litre and 1.9-litre engines rather than Luton’s slant-4 units and the cancellation of a rather stylish five-door version. A Bedford-badged van and a pick-up would also not enter production.
On 29th September, dealers had their first sight of the new model at a gathering at Elstree Studios. Also in attendance were Patrick Macnee and the Monty Python team, although there are no records of anyone saying: ‘And now for something completely different…’ on seeing the Cavalier.
Shortly afterwards, the public launch of the car that allowed you to ‘liveone headline read: ‘Stop This Foreign British Car.’ reported: ‘Vauxhall is going to maintain its own identity on the car side and not become a licence building offshoot of Opel.’ more accurately noted: ‘Altogether, this Opel with the Vauxhall badge and styling is an interesting addition to the British market.’
