Britain scrapped the horsepower tax that had forced this engine's long-stroke design years earlier — but Vauxhall kept building it anyway, out of pure inertia.
Lead trim: 1.4 four-cylinder (35 bhp) · up to 45 hp
Vauxhall Wyvern EIX1951–1957
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Vauxhall Wyvern EIX yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactBritain scrapped the horsepower tax that had forced this engine's long-stroke design years earlier — but Vauxhall kept building it anyway, out of pure inertia.
In August 1951 a completely new Wyvern was launched, featuring a modern Ponton, three-box shape in a unitary construction body. In spite of the abandonment of the old RAC horsepower tax system, which favoured long-stroke engines, the old long-stroke four-cylinder 35 bhp engine from the L-series was retained and permitted a claimed top speed above 62 mph despite the car's increased size, and a more powerful Vauxhall Velox was available with the new body. A 1508 cc 45 bhp engine followed in 1952; 110,588 were produced.
Collectors Spotted in the Vauxhall Wyvern Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Vauxhall Wyvern yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4 four-cylinder (35 bhp) | 1951–1952 | 1.4 L Inline-4 | 35 hp | 68 lb-ft | — | — | — | — |
| 1.5 four-cylinder (45 bhp) | 1952–1957 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 45 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Britain scrapped the horsepower tax that had forced this engine's long-stroke design years earlier — but Vauxhall kept building it anyway, out of pure inertia.
Vauxhall may have named an entire car after a mix-up: the Wyvern's name likely comes from someone misreading the griffin on the Vauxhall badge as a wyvern.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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