Vauxhall Light Six

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

Vauxhall Light 6
1935 Vauxhall Light 6
Overview
ManufacturerVauxhall (General Motors)
Also calledVauxhall Fourteen
Vauxhall ASY/ASX
Vauxhall DY/DX
Production1933 to 1938
AssemblyUnited Kingdom
Body and chassis
Body style4-door saloon
2-door coupé
2-door roadster
LayoutFR layout
Powertrain
Engine1530cc or 1781cc I6
Dimensions
Wheelbase101 in (2,600 mm) [1]
Length154 in (3,900 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorVauxhall Cadet
SuccessorVauxhall 14-6

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 4000 rpm and the 1781 cc produced 43bhp at 3500 rpm. 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 coachbuilders.

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 new designations although they kept the same engines. 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 978-0-333-16689-5.
  2. 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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