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See Homepage. This page: Pre- and post-war Vauxhall 10s photographed in England, including a derelict example.
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Vauxhall 10.

First up, another old photo found in a discarded album, this particular black and white snap dates to the 1950s and shows a couple with their Vauxhall. The lack of rear quarter windows point to it being a 10. Note the distinctive chrome bonnet flutes, a feature of pre- and post-war models.
Vauxhall 10
The 10hp model was produced between 1937-1940, and for a brief time following WW2 (1946-1947). Despite being a good few years old when this photograph was taken, it still looks to be in decent condition. It's had a minor nerf to the rear roof corner, near the lady's elbow, so perhaps rearward vision was an issue. Rear seat access looks a little tight too, judging by this photo. Lack of leaves on the LH tree, plus the lady's woolly hat, and her dainty gloves, suggest this photo was taken in the Autumn or Winter time.
For comparison, here is another early black and white photo showing a Vauxhall, again either a 10hp or possibly a 12hp model. There are many similarities to the car shown above, although this one has different bonnet side ventilation, and "easiclean" type wheels.
old Vauxhall car

A slightly tired example of a '30s Vauxhall.

Even the best maintained cars usually end their days in a sad state of repair, and the Vauxhall 10 saloon shown below is a classic example of a car that's reached the end of the road. Abandoned, and with one wheel already in the scrapyard, this old Vauxhall (perhaps a Model H?) has been stripped of useful parts, and dumped on waste ground, awaiting the scrapman's cutting torch. A young lad is photographed playing in the once-proud car, imagining what it must be like to drive a car of his own no doubt.
A close look at the photo shows just how much had been removed by this point. No wheels in sight, and components such as the bonnet, radiator, engine ancillaries, screen and the lighting long since removed, perhaps to keep another example on the road. No more bank holiday trips to the seaside, or Sunday afternoon drives in the countryside, for this old Vauxhall. Sights like this were not unusual in the 1950s and into the 1960s, especially once the Ten-Year Test (aka MOT) had been introduced.
A pre-war Vauxhall dumped on waste ground

Another Vauxhall Ten.

Vauxhall Ten, registered AVL 520, is seen parked in a quiet lane with a lady stood alongside. The AVL series was used in the Lincoln area from August 1938 onwards.
Another pre-war Vauxhall Ten.

1947 Vauxhall 10.

Thanks to David now for sending over not just a photo of his father's then-new Vauxhall 10, but also a detailed log of its service history between 1947 and 1951. He actually owned the car until 1955. The car's registration is KHW 508, a Bristol series introduced in July 1947.
(Please click the thumbnail to view full-size image.)
1947 Vauxhall 10 saloon car
The service log gives an insight into the day-to-day running costs of such a car in the 1940s and 1950s. Prices paid for consumables such as Castrolite oil, anti-freeze, a new radiator muff and snow chains for the winter, bulbs, car polish and much more are detailed. At 11,200 miles the 1203cc OHV engine received its first de-coke. This involved lifting and dismantling the cylinder head, removing and re-grinding the engine valves, and de-carbonising the combustion chambers. April 1950 would see the job repeated, at 25,000 miles.
David's father was clearly an organised chap, maintaining a service record such as this. Thanks again to David for typing it up and sending it over, to share here. While the car no longer exists, several of its early tax discs, and a petrol ration book for 1949-1950, do survive.
Page 1 of the Vauxhall's service log
Page 2 of the Vauxhall's service log

A Vauxhall saloon in Uganda.

Whenever someone digs out car-related photos from their family albums, scans them, and emails them over for inclusion on OCC, it's always a privilege to receive and include the images on the site. Adrian provided this next photo of a Vauxhall 10hp (RAC). Regarding this scene, he adds: "... [it was] likely taken in Uganda given that Dad is in tropical kit. If so, then the car is possibly a Vauxhall 10 ("Vickie") and the year would be 1950 - 1954."
No doubt someone will recognise the style of registration plate fitted to the RHD Vauxhall, to confirm that the location is indeed Uganda. Thanks for the photo Adrian.
A Vauxhall 10 in Uganda
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