The original Victor was such bad news for Vauxhall that at the 1958 Motor Show they announced the 1959 model (though it wasn't unusual for models to change annually at that time).
This had slightly simplified styling - the exhaust was kept clear of the modified bumpers and the Vauxhall badge, buried under a clear plastic cover on the top of the bonnet between two "flutes" which ran down the bonnet from around the mid point to the edge was removed to the front of the bonnet, below a single flute which ran down the centre of the bonnet. The rear window was deepened significantly and bucket seats replaced the front bench seats. A new zinc treated metal was used for the bodies which, though not a total solution, cured some of the rot problems.
I've learned that the colour colloquially known as Fire Engine Red was actually only available on the Super and was officially Gypsy Red. Standard colours for the first variant were Charcoal Grey or Black, Deluxe added Empress Blue, Laurel Green and Shantung Beige. The Super, as befitting its more elegant status was produced in a choice of these colours, but there was also the option to have Harvest Yellow, Horizon Blue or Gypsy Red. Export cars were available in a variety of two tone finishes.
Whilst most surviving British examples are carefully preserved and only appear at rallies and in museums, there is a thriving population in both Australia and New Zealand with very active owners' clubs and many of the vehicles, especially those from 1959 - 1961 are in daily use.
The cars sold over 390,000 units throughout the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, India, Ceylon, South Africa, Malaya, and Thailand. The estate car version was the first designed in house at Luton but the body problems just kept coming back at Vauxhall and the 1960 model, with very minor changes, was the last produced and the radically different looking FB was announced for 1961.
Perhaps the best part of the car was the incredibly reliable 1.5 litre in line OHV engine which gained an excellent reputation - pity the body didn't match!
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