I came across this ad in my usual search of what oddball classic cars are for sale nearby. It is a 1960 Vauxhall Victor which is a bit of a rare find in roadworthy condition, but is, according to the ad, owned by a fellow named Victor who lives in a town called Vauxhall. This is too perfect to be a coincidence.
Vauxhall is a small town of 1,222 people as per the 2016 census and is the self described “Potato Capital of the West”. For anyone not familiar with the location, it is southern Alberta between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat. A couple hours drive north of Montana. I believe the only time I ventured to Vauxhall was about a decade ago for a kid’s hockey tournament with my eldest son. I vividly remember it, as it was quite cold outside (-25C/-13F) but the hockey area was somehow even colder inside except for the home team’s bench which had a space heater above it. No heater for the visitors so our team had to take our players outside to our vehicles for a break to warm them up between periods. So my apologies to Vauxhall residents, but that is my most vivid memory of your town.
We have covered the F series Vauxhall Victor a few times already (further reading links at the conclusion) so let’s just take a quick look at this particular example. It looks in reasonable shape with appears to be some recent body and paint work on the passenger door. Someone has gone with a hot rod chic theme with the red wheel with hub cap for the rear, but not followed the idea forward. The two tone color scheme is quite attractive although I might pass on the white wall tires myself.
The ad included a photo of it driving, which is certainly encouraging as most of these survivors that I come across in Southern Alberta have been in long term hibernation.
The front view shows off the less fussy Series II front end styling.
Capping off the ad photos is one of the front fender. The chrome looks to be good shape and complete which is a big positive. However, it is a shame there is no interior shots, as that is often the place these less mainstream classics fall down condition wise, as replacement parts can be hard to track down as they are generally limited to good second hand bits.
I wonder how many other owner/location name connections there can be. Is there a person named Lancia in Monte Carlo owning their namesake? Or a dude named Dodge living in Daytona enjoying his coupe?
Further reading:
Storage Field Classic: Vauxhall Victor F-Series – The British ’57 Chevy
Cohort Capsule: 1960 Vauxhall Victor Super – The American Dream, in 7/8 Size?
The town should chip in to buy this car, rename their hockey team The Vauxhall Victors, and make it their mascot. Maybe try to find a Viva too, to symbolize a cheer of support for the players. Don’t dismiss the idea, that would be Cavalier of you.
COTD winner right here
And it sounds cold enough for a Cresta run too.
https://youtu.be/JAIOzM7SsMo
I’m rooting for you to get it, David, if the team mascot idea doesn’t work out.
I never saw one on the road, but I did see one in a junkyard here in Tennessee back in the mid Seventies. As I recall the data plate had a very English-sounding phrase in capital letters: IT IS NECESSARY TO QUOTE THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS WHEN MAKING ENQUIRIES or something like that.
Such a neat little car.
Truly Epic!
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-european/curbside-classic-1966-vauxhall-envoy-epic-an-epic-find-and-an-epic-beginning/
Neato, but—things that make me go “H’mmmmm…”—why doesn’t the ad include any photos of the rear of the car, or the interior?
The last year’s version with the revised rear window too, so 1961 model year. You’d have been lucky to see an unrestored one that good in 1970 over here.
My wife and I name our cars. Yes, I know but we’ll grow out of it. We previously ran a Vauxhall Agila, which was named Victor (obviously). Got a big laugh down the phone when I booked it in for a service”….reg AG58UTA, blue, answers to the name Victor!”
I had to look up places named Vauxhall in North America, and it appears there’s only two — this town in Alberta, and a community in northern New Jersey.
Regarding people owning their namesake, I do know of someone with the last name of Corona who used to own a Toyota Corona. But that’s it as far as people matching their cars’ names.
When my wife and I were looking to buy a house several years ago, we looked at one subdivision that had a Pontiac Drive and a Tempest Place. Sadly these two streets did not intersect, and unfortunately I didn’t have the pleasure of living on either of them.
There is an upscale residential development off Tuckerman Road, in Potomac Maryland. Street names include Duryea Place, Cord Circle, Maxwell Drive, and Daimler Court.
The builder/contractor of the development in the 1960s was a well known antique car collector and friend, Lloyd “Buzzy” Potter.
Interesting! I went and looked that neighborhood up — looks like some of the subdivision’s early advertising wasn’t shy about the antique-car theme:
Could have been a minx selling her Hillman 😉