The Vauxhall 10's integral (chassisless) construction followed a pattern set by GM's German subsidiary in 1935. Maurice Platt, who joined Vauxhall in 1937 and later served as Chief Engineer, referred to the Vauxhall Ten internally as the "million-pound car," reflecting the significant investment in tooling for the new model. Optional vent windows, initially called "No Draft Individually Controlled Ventilation" and later "Ventiplanes," were available on GM vehicles from 1933.
The Vauxhall 10 was designated by Vauxhall as the H Type. Its name referred to its fiscal horsepower, placing it in competition with cars like the Morris Ten, Standard Ten, and Ford Model C Ten. The advertised horsepower for the Vauxhall 10 in 1937 was 34 bhp (25 kW).
Production of the Vauxhall 10 was interrupted by World War II, with Vauxhall's Luton plant switching to truck and tank production. The Vauxhall 10 was unavailable after 1940. In 1938 and 1939, a two-door coupé version was offered. This coupé was built on a separate chassis, a shortened and modified version of the earlier DX-series chassis, as the lower production numbers did not justify the tooling costs of a monocoque version. The coupé was heavier and no faster than the saloon, which limited its appeal, though it performed better in some export markets. A total of 55,000 Vauxhall 10-Fours were built until May 1940, when production halted due to the war.
The model was re-introduced in 1946 with the same 1203 cc ohv engine, though with a reduction in claimed power output. The post-war Vauxhall 10 remained largely unchanged in other respects. However, with British consumers facing financial constraints and the small family car market of pre-war design being highly competitive, Vauxhall withdrew the 10 in 1947. From that point until the introduction of the Vauxhall Viva in 1963, the company focused on larger models.
A light commercial model, the Bedford HC, was developed using the same engine as the passenger model and a payload capacity of 672 lb (305 kg).
A car resembling the 10-4 was marketed as the Vauxhall Wyvern and built in Australia by General Motors-Holden's. Lacking the necessary presses for monocoque construction, GM-Holden's fitted a 10-4 front end and mechanicals onto their own chassis and body. General Motors Java also built the 10-4, starting in 1939, and exported these vehicles across Southeast Asia.
The post-war model was coded HIY. Production lasted for only two years until mid-1947. At this point, the body and chassis of the "10" received a larger 1442cc engine, moving it into the 12 tax horsepower bracket, and it became the 1948 Vauxhall Twelve.
The Vauxhall 10 was a significant model for Vauxhall, representing a substantial investment in new manufacturing techniques and a departure from traditional chassis construction.
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