Vauxhall 20-60

Vauxhall 20-60 R-type and T-type
British & Vauxhall T-type Kimpton saloon 1930
Overview
Manufacturer	Vauxhall (General Motors)
Production	1927-1930
Model years	1928-1930
Assembly	Luton, United Kingdom
Body and chassis
Class	medium
Body style	open 2-seater 5 seater tourer saloon cabriolet limousine Chassis only also supplied
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
Powertrain
Engine	I6 R-Type 169 cu in (2,762 cc) T-Type 178 cu in (2,916 cc)
Transmission	by single-plate dry clutch to the 4-speed gearbox coupled by a fabric joint and 2¼ in. diameter tubular propellor shaft to the spiral-bevel driven semi-floating rear axle with a banjo case
Dimensions
Wheelbase	10'3" 3,124.2 mm (123 in) LWB 10'10" 3,302.0 mm (130 in) track: 4'8" 1,422.4 mm (56 in) ground clearance 9 in (230 mm)
Length	and width and height depends on coachwork
Kerb weight	no weight advised for a complete car chassis only 1,143 kg (2,520 lb) 22½ cwt
Chronology
Predecessor	Vauxhall 14-40
Successor	Vauxhall Eighty – see this page

Vauxhall 80
Silent Eighty Kingston Coupé 1932 quieter engine and gearbox, rubber mounts for body
Overview
Manufacturer	Vauxhall Motors Limited
Production	1930-1933
Assembly	Luton U.K.
Body and chassis
Class	medium
Body style	saloon fabric saloon coupé (x2) 7-seater limousine special sports chassis only also supplied chassis only for own bodywork, short or long wheelbase
Layout	Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout
Powertrain
Engine	I6 T-Type 202 cu in (3,317 cc)
Transmission	all strengthened to cope with increased torque Silent 80 constant mesh 3rd gear made available October 1931
Dimensions
Kerb weight	1,727 kg (3,808 lb) 34 cwt chassis only 1,270 kg (2,800 lb) 25 cwt
Chronology
Predecessor	Vauxhall 20-60 – see this page
Successor	Vauxhall Big Six

I6

The Vauxhall 20-60 is a four or five-seater saloon, limousine, tourer or coupé-cabriolet manufactured by Vauxhall of Luton. It was announced on 28 September 1927 with a six-cylinder engine and a four-speed gearbox. A cautious move downmarket. "The first time any six-cylinder Vauxhall has been sold under £1000!" "British & Vauxhall". The initial 2.7-litre engine was enlarged to 3-litres after twelve months.

Priced to be at the lower end of the luxury market with six cylinders, four speeds and five brakes, the better endowed 20-60 replaced the 4-cylinder Vauxhall 14-40. Though the new engine's capacity or swept volume was enlarged just 465cc the vagaries of the RAC or tax formula moved its tax rating from 14HP to 20HP. This tax increase was a significant impost for owners. Its design was completed before General Motors took control in late 1925 making the car "in construction and plan British".

The 20-60 – it was given a 3.3-litre engine in October 1930 and renamed 80, later Silent Eighty – remained in production until the introduction of Vauxhall's first true General Motors large-car design, the Vauxhall Big Six, announced and displayed in October 1933 but not delivered until August 1934 long after the GM-designed medium-sized Cadet released in October 1930.

This gap in Vauxhall's programme may reflect the sales-failure of their very expensive 25-70 sleeve-valve car.

General Motors had taken control of Vauxhall 16 November 1925.

The iron engine block is cast in one unit with the crankcase. It has been given a crankshaft with nine bearings which makes the strongest contribution to the engine's smooth running, even at high speed. The overhead valves have been given double springs and the cup-and-ball joints on the rockers are fed with oil forced up to the rocker shaft. The cast-iron cylinder head may be removed without disturbing valve settings. The valve mechanism has an easily removable light aluminium cover. The crankcase has a breather on the oil filling cap. Drive to the three-bearing camshaft and the built in generator is provided by chain. Spark timing is controlled automatically. The distributor is positioned at the back of the engine.

Inlet and exhaust manifolds are on the right hand side of the block. the inlet manifold's two branch mixing chamber has a vee-shaped piece inside which is heated by exhaust gases. An air-cleaner is provided. Petrol is supplied from a 14-gallon tank at the rear of the car through an Autovac tank on the dashboard. Further engine details are provided in the panel to the right.

Engine clutch and gearbox are assembled as one unit and mounted at three points.
Designer Charles Evelyn King.