Vauxhall Royale Overview: Generations, Specs and Which One to Buy
Overview of the Vauxhall Royale coupe (1978–1987): generation details, 86–180 hp engine range, and which versions stand out based on the data.
The Vauxhall Royale is a rear-wheel-drive coupe produced from 1978 to 1987, with engine outputs spanning 86 to 180 hp. It suits buyers looking for a classic British-badged grand-touring coupe with a choice of manual or automatic transmissions and a wide spread of power levels across its 23 modifications.
Vauxhall Royale generations
1 generation (1978–1987)
The first and only generation of the Vauxhall Royale ran from 1978 to 1987 exclusively as a coupe. Power output ranges from 86 hp to 180 hp, and all versions drive the rear wheels. Both automatic and manual gearboxes were offered across 23 modifications. The Vauxhall Royale 2.8 AT (1 generation) pairs a 2800 cc engine with an automatic transmission and produces 140 hp, making it the mainstream choice of the range. At the top sits the Vauxhall Royale 3.0 MT (1 generation) with a 3000 cc engine, a manual gearbox and 180 hp. The range also includes the Vauxhall Royale 2.3 MT (1 generation), a diesel version with a 2260 cc engine, a manual gearbox and 86 hp.
Which Vauxhall Royale to buy
- 2.8 AT (1 generation): the mass-market version of the range, its 2800 cc engine delivers 140 hp through an automatic transmission — a solid middle ground between the 86 hp and 180 hp extremes.
- 3.0 MT (180 hp) (1 generation): the most powerful Vauxhall Royale at 180 hp from a 3000 cc engine, paired with a manual gearbox for drivers who want the top of the range.
- 2.3 MT (1 generation): the diesel option with a 2260 cc engine and 86 hp — the least powerful version, but the only diesel noted in the lineup.
Every Vauxhall Royale on the used market dates from 1978–1987, so any example is now several decades old; the single-generation lineup at least keeps the search simple, since all 23 modifications share the same coupe body and rear-wheel-drive layout.
Which Vauxhall Royale to avoid
No version is strictly dominated by the numbers in the data: the 86 hp Vauxhall Royale 2.3 MT is the weakest, but it is also the only diesel, so it serves a purpose the petrol versions do not. Choose by transmission and power: 140 hp with an automatic, 180 hp with a manual, or 86 hp with diesel economy of purpose.