Vauxhall Velox

Vauxhall Velox: which version to buy

If the question is which Vauxhall Velox to buy, the catalogue numbers point to two different answers.

If the question is which Vauxhall Velox to buy, the catalogue numbers point to two different answers. For the strongest measured power on the same kerb weight, the 4 generation (1962–1965) 3.3 MT at 117 hp / 86 kW is the peak: 21 hp more than the same generation’s 2.7 MT (96 hp), on the same 1188 kg kerb weight, same 48 L tank, same 165 mm ground clearance, same Sedan body, same Manual 3-speed gearbox and RWD. For the lightest car with a measured 0–100 km/h time, the 2 generation (1951–1957) 2.3 MT at 65 hp is the one with figures: 21.4 s to 100 km/h and 129 km/h top speed at 1021 kg. There are 4 generations, all Sedan, from 1948 to 1965. Prices, listings, and “for sale” stock are not in this dataset.

Generations: what actually changed between Velox years

1 generation (1948–1951) is one version only: 2.3 MT, 56 hp / 41 kW at 3300 rpm, 143 Nm at 1200 rpm, 2276 cm³, Gasoline, 6 cylinders Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, engine Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, bore and stroke 69.5 × 100, fuel 76, Manual 3, RWD. Top speed is 120 km/h; 0–100 km/h is not measured. Kerb weight 1084 kg, ground clearance 127 mm, tank not measured. Front suspension is Independent, torsion; rear Dependent, leaf spring. Brakes are Drum / Drum. This is the only generation with torsion front suspension in the data.

2 generation (1951–1957) is three versions, all named 2.3 MT, so they must be split by power: 65 hp, 68 hp, and 56 hp. Body remains Sedan. Versus 1 generation, kerb weight falls from 1084 kg to 1021 kg (63 kg less) on the two later 2.3 MT cars that share that figure. Front suspension changes to Independent, spring. Tank is 45 L. Two of the three engines keep 2262 cm³; one keeps 2276 cm³. This is the only generation with measured 0–100 km/h times.

3 generation (1957–1962) is two versions: 2.3 MT (84 hp) and 2.7 MT (96 hp). Body Sedan. Tank rises from 45 L to 48 L (+3 L). The 2.7 MT kerb weight is 1193 kg — 172 kg more than the 1021 kg 2 generation cars. Ground clearance on that 2.7 MT is 178 mm. Brakes stay Drum / Drum. The 2.3 MT kerb weight and clearance are not measured.

4 generation (1962–1965) is two versions: 2.7 MT (96 hp) and 3.3 MT (117 hp). Body Sedan. Front brakes become Disc; rear stays Drum. The 2.7 MT keeps 96 hp / 71 kW but peak power rpm drops from 4800 (3 generation) to 4600, torque is measured at 200 Nm at 2400 rpm versus 187 Nm at 1600 rpm on the previous 2.7 MT (+13 Nm). Kerb weight is 1188 kg (5 kg less than the 3 generation 2.7 MT). Ground clearance is 165 mm (13 mm less than 178 mm). Compression ratio on both 4 generation engines is 8.5, versus 8.1 on the 3 generation 2.7 MT.

Years that show up in searches (1952, 1954, 1955, 1956) sit inside 2 generation. 1957 straddles the end of 2 generation and the start of 3 generation. 1960 is 3 generation only.

Vauxhall Cresta vs Velox and PA-era pairing are common search phrases. This catalogue has no Cresta rows, so no Cresta numbers are stated here.

Vauxhall Velox specs and engine table

Exact version names as in the database. Duplicate names are split by horsepower.

Engine size in this set is 2262, 2276, 2651, or 3294 cm³. Every version is Gasoline, 6 Inline, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Carburetor, Manual 3, RWD, fuel grade 76. There is no automatic and no other drive type in the data. Compression ratio: not measured on 1 generation 2.3 MT; 6.4 on 2 generation 2.3 MT (56 hp); 7.6 on both 2262 cm³ 2 generation 2.3 MT cars and on 3 generation 2.3 MT; 8.1 on 3 generation 2.7 MT; 8.5 on both 4 generation engines.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres):

• 1 generation 2.3 MT: 56 / 2.276 ≈ 24.6 hp/L
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (56 hp): 56 / 2.276 ≈ 24.6 hp/L
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (65 hp): 65 / 2.262 ≈ 28.7 hp/L
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (68 hp): 68 / 2.262 ≈ 30.1 hp/L
• 3 generation 2.3 MT: 84 / 2.262 ≈ 37.1 hp/L
• 3 generation 2.7 MT: 96 / 2.651 ≈ 36.2 hp/L
• 4 generation 2.7 MT: 96 / 2.651 ≈ 36.2 hp/L
• 4 generation 3.3 MT: 117 / 3.294 ≈ 35.5 hp/L

The highest specific output is the 3 generation 2.3 MT at about 37.1 hp/L. The 3.3 MT is the strongest in absolute hp, not the strongest per litre.

Performance, 0–100, top speed, mpg

0–100 km/h is measured on two versions only, both 2 generation 2.3 MT:

• 65 hp: 21.4 s, top speed 129 km/h
• 56 hp: 23.7 s, top speed 125 km/h

That is 2.3 s slower and 4 km/h slower for the 56 hp car versus the 65 hp car, at the same 1021 kg kerb weight. The 68 hp 2.3 MT in the same generation has 0–100 not measured and top speed not measured.

1 generation 2.3 MT: 0–100 not measured, top speed 120 km/h — 5 km/h below the 2 generation 56 hp 2.3 MT and 9 km/h below the 65 hp 2.3 MT.

3 generation 2.3 MT, 3 generation 2.7 MT, 4 generation 2.7 MT, 4 generation 3.3 MT: 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured.

City, highway, and combined consumption: not measured on every version. CO2: not measured. Eco class: not measured. There is no mpg figure in the source data, so none is stated.

Dimensions, weight, tank, wheels

Overall length, width, height, and wheelbase are not measured on any version. Wheel sizes are not measured on any version. Gross weight is not measured on any version.

Kerb weight:

• 1 generation 2.3 MT: 1084 kg
• 2 generation all three 2.3 MT: 1021 kg (63 kg lighter than 1 generation)
• 3 generation 2.3 MT: not measured
• 3 generation 2.7 MT: 1193 kg (172 kg heavier than 2 generation)
• 4 generation 2.7 MT and 3.3 MT: 1188 kg (5 kg lighter than 3 generation 2.7 MT)

Ground clearance:

• 1 generation 2.3 MT: 127 mm
• 2 generation: not measured
• 3 generation 2.3 MT: not measured
• 3 generation 2.7 MT: 178 mm (51 mm more than 1 generation)
• 4 generation both versions: 165 mm (13 mm less than 3 generation 2.7 MT, 38 mm more than 1 generation)

Tank:

• 1 generation: not measured
• 2 generation: 45 L
• 3 and 4 generation: 48 L (+3 L)

kg per hp where kerb is measured:

• 1 generation 2.3 MT: 1084 / 56 ≈ 19.4 kg/hp
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (56 hp): 1021 / 56 ≈ 18.2 kg/hp
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (65 hp): 1021 / 65 ≈ 15.7 kg/hp
• 2 generation 2.3 MT (68 hp): 1021 / 68 ≈ 15.0 kg/hp
• 3 generation 2.7 MT: 1193 / 96 ≈ 12.4 kg/hp
• 4 generation 2.7 MT: 1188 / 96 ≈ 12.4 kg/hp
• 4 generation 3.3 MT: 1188 / 117 ≈ 10.2 kg/hp

The 3.3 MT is the lowest kg/hp in the set. 3 generation 2.3 MT cannot be ranked on this axis because kerb weight is not measured.

Which Vauxhall Velox version to choose

There is no price in the data, so “what extra money buys” is only what extra displacement and generation buy in the table.

If the goal is maximum listed power: 4 generation 3.3 MT, 117 hp / 86 kW at 4600 rpm, 3294 cm³, 8.5 compression, bore and stroke 92.08 × 82.55. Versus the same-generation 2.7 MT that is +643 cm³ and +21 hp (21.9% more power) at the same 1188 kg, same 48 L tank, same 165 mm clearance, same Disc / Drum brakes. Torque for the 3.3 MT is not measured, so the torque comparison stops at the 2.7 MT’s 200 Nm.

If the goal is the same 96 hp with a measured torque figure and disc fronts: 4 generation 2.7 MT rather than 3 generation 2.7 MT. Power is identical (96 hp / 71 kW). Displacement is identical (2651 cm³). The later car adds 13 Nm (200 vs 187), moves peak torque from 1600 to 2400 rpm, drops peak-power rpm from 4800 to 4600, raises compression from 8.1 to 8.5, cuts 5 kg, cuts 13 mm of clearance, and changes front brakes from Drum to Disc.

If the goal is the highest power per litre in a 2.3-litre Velox: 3 generation 2.3 MT, 84 hp from 2262 cm³ (≈37.1 hp/L). That is +16 hp versus 2 generation 2.3 MT (68 hp) and +19 hp versus 2 generation 2.3 MT (65 hp) on the same 2262 cm³ and the same 7.6 compression. Versus 1 generation 2.3 MT it is +28 hp on a slightly smaller engine (2262 vs 2276 cm³). Kerb weight, 0–100, top speed, and clearance for this 84 hp car are not measured, so it cannot be ranked on those axes.

If the goal is a measured sprint and a measured top speed: only 2 generation supplies both, and only on two of the three 2.3 MT names. Choose 2.3 MT (65 hp) for 21.4 s and 129 km/h. The 2.3 MT (56 hp) in the same generation is 2.3 s and 4 km/h slower, same 1021 kg, same 45 L tank, same Drum / Drum brakes. The 2.3 MT (68 hp) has the highest 2 generation power (+3 hp vs 65, +12 hp vs 56) but 0–100 and top speed not measured, so it does not win on the only measured performance rows.

If the goal is the lightest Velox in the file: any 2 generation 2.3 MT at 1021 kg. That is 63 kg under 1 generation and 167–172 kg under the measured 3 and 4 generation sixes.

If the goal is the smallest ground clearance (lowest ride in the file): 1 generation 2.3 MT at 127 mm. If the goal is the largest measured clearance: 3 generation 2.7 MT at 178 mm. 2 generation clearance is not measured.

If the goal is the early long-stroke 2276 cm³ engine: 1 generation 2.3 MT or 2 generation 2.3 MT (56 hp). Both use 69.5 × 100. The later of those two is 63 kg lighter, makes the same 56 hp at 3000 rpm instead of 3300 rpm, has compression 6.4 (1 generation compression not measured), and is the only one of the pair with 0–100 (23.7 s) and a tank figure (45 L). Torque 143 Nm is measured only on 1 generation.

If the goal is a four-door saloon of a specific year: 1952 / 1954 / 1955 / 1956 map to 2 generation and its three 2.3 MT power levels. 1957 is the handover year (2 generation stop 1957-12-31, 3 generation start 1957-01-01). 1960 is 3 generation 2.3 MT or 2.7 MT. 1962–1965 is 4 generation 2.7 MT or 3.3 MT.

What does not decide the purchase from this file: fuel use (all not measured), wheel size (all not measured), gross weight (all not measured), eco class (all not measured), and asking price (not in the data). Gearbox and drive do not decide either: every version is Manual 3 and RWD.

Short ranking from the numbers that exist: 3.3 MT (4 generation) for peak hp and best kg/hp; 2.7 MT (4 generation) if 96 hp plus measured 200 Nm and Disc fronts is enough; 2.3 MT (3 generation, 84 hp) for best hp/L; 2.3 MT (2 generation, 65 hp) for the only competitive measured 0–100 and top speed on the lightest kerb weight.