1953 Vauxhall Velox Vagabond 'Holden Bodied' Convertible (Project)

Description

Alongside the original FX/FJ series Holdens, General Motors’ Australian arm produced a range of cars based on English Vauxhalls, including two uniquely Australian versions of the Wyvern and Velox saloons – the open topped Vagabond and a Coupe Utility.  The four-cylinder Wyvern and six-cylinder Velox were sturdy saloons designed to meet the demands of families in post-war Britain and a new series of each, using monocoque construction techniques, was announced in August 1951.  Designated the Model EIP, the latest Velox was powered by a 2275cc engine rated at 58 horsepower, mated to a three-speed manual transmission.  Vauxhall upgraded the Velox in April 1952 with a new, over-square 2262cc engine developing 68 horsepower, resulting in markedly stronger performance.  One of the more glamorous sights on Australian roads in the early 1950s, the Vagabond was a Holden-bodied derivative based on the sturdy utility chassis, negating the need for any reinforcement and was available in both Wyvern and Velox versions.  A sports tourer with Transatlantic styling touches, standard features included twin wing mirrors, a chrome bonnet ornament and dress rings.  A full five-seater, the Vagabond sported a neat folding hood and a long list of dealer options, including fog lamps, whitewall tyres, heaters, radios and additional chrome decoration.  Production of the Vagabond came to a premature end in February 1955 with GM’s latest update of the Wyvern/Velox series, Holden’s bean counters deciding sales simply weren’t strong enough to justify an open-topped version.  In the end something like 1,200 were built, of which very few have survived in roadworthy condition and fewer still have been restored to as-new condition.  

 

History

- Glamorous and rare Australian Vauxhall variant
- Original ‘survivor’ in barn-find condition
- Well-documented history from new

Probably the last unrestored Vauxhall Velox Vagabond in Australia, this ‘survivor’ has body number 20 of approximately 1,180 built and left the factory in the same colour combination of Tarragon Green with tan and brown upholstery it wears today.  From the initial batch of 24 of Vagabonds produced January 1953, this was the first example to reach Tasmania, flown directly to Hobart on an Australian National Airways Flight for the launch held on February 20. 

Retailed through authorised dealer Reeman & Manning of Launceston to the first owner Olga May Summers, a young nursing sister from Scottsdale where her father was a policeman and her brother George a RAAF trained mechanic. The car was a familiar sight around Launceston for over 10 years, serviced by Olga’s brother who opened an authorised GM-H garage at Tunnock. Eventually the car was traded back to Nettlefolds in Hobart on a new Vauxhall Viva. 

Although the second owner’s identity isn’t known, it appears they didn’t register the Vagabond for long given the last label expired in 1965. We understand the car was stored in a chook shed on a farm south of Hobart, where the original engine was removed and dismantled. A Hobart garage owner purchased the car and motor as a future retirement project circa 1980 but no progress was made and it sat for almost 30 years. 

The current owner, a Sydney enthusiast with a particular passion for the Vauxhall marque, tracked the Vagabond down in 2007. Recognising its unique history and originality, our vendor researched the car’s back story through the Tasmanian Archives, State Library of Tasmania and sourced period photographs of the car when new from Olga’s surviving family members. Sensitively preserved in its original state, the vendor installed a period-correct Vauxhall six-cylinder engine in 2018 to get the car running but the original matching numbers engine block is included with the sale. Showing 76,000 miles on the clock, this body has survived in remarkably solid condition, there’s a full set of side curtains included and although it’s sold unregistered, even the original Tasmanian plates WHC-152 are there. The opportunity to purchase one of these desirable Holden-bodied Vauxhalls doesn’t come along very often, particularly one in completely unrestored condition and this very special Vagabond is ripe for restoration back to its former glory.