Vauxhall 14-6


The Vauxhall 14-6 is an automobile which was produced by Vauxhall in the United Kingdom from 1939 to 1948.
Announced in early October for the 1938 Earls Court Motor Show the 14-6 was offered as a six-light, four door saloon and was powered by a four bearing, OHV, 1,781cc Straight-six engine. It had a top speed of 70mph and could accelerate from 0-50mph in 18.2 seconds.

Engine, transmission and suspension

The previous engine was retained but with compression ratio raised from 6.25 to 6.75:1 and revised timing increasing the output to 48bhp at 3000rpm. Other features included independent front suspension using torsion bars in place of the previous Dubonnet system with semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear, Lockheed hydraulic brakes and a three-speed all-synchromesh gearbox in place of the four-speed "silent third" gearbox.

Unitary chassis-body

The car now had a unitary hull which had a longer wheelbase and wider track than its predecessor which made it larger than the 12-4 model announced at the same time. Previously the 12 and 14hp models had shared the same body. Interior features included individual leather front seats and a rear seat with fold-down arm rest, a rear window blind and a sliding sunroof.
Post-war models can be distinguished by bonnet-louvre and grille changes.
45,499 examples were produced, including 30,511 in the post-war period.

Australian production, Vauxhall Senior

A Vauxhall 14 J was built by General Motors in Australia without unitary construction which was beyond the capacity of local presses but sharing much of the English car's styling. The separate chassis allowed the Australian firm to provide open and utility bodies. Commencing in 1939, the 14 was offered in sedan, coupé and roadster body-styles. and as in UK but in a Holden version, a light utility.
A 14 sedan was the first civilian car to be produced by GMH in the post-war period, leaving the Fishermans Bend assembly line on 21 May 1946.

1939 Vauxhall-Holden 14 DHC.jpg| drophead coupé 1939
1940 Bedford JC coupe utility.jpg| Bedford coupé utility 1940 or business roadster
Vauxhall 14 Model J of 1946.JPG| 1946
note Holden's divided windscreen and roof