1964 VAUXHALL CRESTA

1964 VAUXHALL PB CRESTA.
The Vauxhall Cresta is a British automobile which was produced by Vauxhall from 1954 to 1972. The Cresta was introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox, itself a six-cylinder version of the Vauxhall Wyvern.

Introduced as a more luxurious version of the Vauxhall Velox, the Cresta offered the discerning 1950s UK motorist the option of travelling in style approaching Jaguar levels, without the price tag. Over the years, each successive generation of Cresta offered more space, pace and upmarket trim options, culminating in the Viscount which could hold its head high against some far more expensive competitors.

While the early cars with their American-inspired styling were the most popular, the entire Cresta range offered a lot for the money.

Cresta PB
The PB was a major styling revision, completely eliminating the tailfins, with a flat bonnet and generally more conservative styling taking its cues from the Victor FB introduced the previous year and with which it shared its doors. The engine was the same 2,651cc (162 ci) straight six as the last of the PA series and although the compression ratio was increased to 8.5:1, power output remained at 95 bhp. Front disc brakes were now fitted as standard. In October 1963, an estate conversion was made available, the work carried out by Martin Walter Ltd. of Bedford Dormobile fame and fully approved by Vauxhall. The conversion featured a steel-framed glass fibre roof extension and tailgate. The rear doors with squared-off window frames were straight from the factory-built Victor estate. In October 1964 the engine was increased in capacity to 3294cc by virtue of a larger, 92 mm, bore in combination with the original 82.55 mm stroke. Power increased to 115 bhp at 4,200 rpm. The model received a new full-width chrome grille incorporating the headlights and there was a full-length chrome strip along the body sides.

The gearbox was still three-speed with column change but an overdrive was available. As standard, the 3.3-litre cars had a three-speed column-change gearbox, with a four-speed floor-change unit as an option. Three-speed hydramatic automatic transmission was available with both engines but this was changed to the two-speed Powerglide unit towards the end of the 3.3-litre PB run. Servo-assisted brakes, with discs at the front, were fitted. Minor changes to gearing and the option of power steering were introduced early in 1965 and, later in 1965, the white park/indicator front lamps were changed to amber lens indicators with the parking lamps now in the headlamps for the home market due to legislation changes. The PB series continued until replaced by the PC models in October of that year.

Australia continued to locally assemble the PB Cresta. New Zealand fully imported the PB Cresta from Britain.

1962–1965 Production - 87,047 manufactured

CC rating: 3,294cc 201 ci (3.3L) Inline 6

NZ First Registration: 27-Nov-1964