VAUXHALL VICTOR 101

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 9

VAUXHALL VICTOR 101

A MONG the popular family cars in the four-cylinder field is the Vauxhall Victor, which was recently given a new body style and mechanical improvements. This has resulted in the latest Victor being more roomy, with a much bigger boot, and better handling. The Victor 101 has neither outstanding faults nor outstanding virtues. It is a roomy, comfortable, and safe car which will be good family transport.

The standard model, as tested, has its engine, of slightly less than 1600 c.c. capacity, driving through a three-speed column-change gearbox with synchromesh on all forward ratios.

The doors are sharply curved, and this adds greatly to interior room. The front seat is of the bench type, and although it gives no lateral support it is quite comfortable. The controls are all well

within reach, and all are very light to operate. The pedals are as light as the other controls. They are well placed in relation to one another, and have short movements.

INSTRUMENTS In front of the driver is a ribbon speedometer, and gauges for fuel tank contents and water temperature. There are warning lights for oil, ignition, and main beam. The ignition switch is on the steering column, and a T-handled handbrake is also beside the column.

The steering wheel is well placed, and sensibly small. It has a full horn ring and a padded centre, which in the test car was not very firmly attached.

There are capacious parcel trays in front of the passenger for storing oddments, but the front of the dash, where one would expect to find a glove box, is solid. The space behind the dash on the passenger’s side is thus wasted. The front of the dash is covered with a wide strip of shiny metal, which occasionally reflects sunlight at the driver. The top of the horn ring tends to reflect in the windscreen in front of the driver. VISIBILITY

Visibility is good, although one cannot see the rear extremities of the car through the large rear window. The rear vision mirror is of a good size, but vibrates at speed. The wipers clear a generous area of the screen but have only one speed. The horn is reasonably loud. Legroom in the front is good, and in the rear it is fair, as is headroom. The boot is very large, and the spare sits at one side where it would be accessible with the boot full of luggage.

A prop has to be used to hold up the bonnet, but all service points are very accessible. On the road it is noticeable that the lower two gears are not very quiet, having the same whine as many previous Vauxhalls. Top is quiet. GEARS

The gear-change is light and smooth, and the synchromesh unbeatable. The engine will not pull happily much below 25 m.p.h. in top, and while the three gears are quite adequate in town, the absence of a four-speed gearbox is noticeable on hills.

The Victor gives a good ride over all surfaces, and handling is predictable and safe. The change from the usual basic understeer is very gentle and progressive, being really noticeable only on tight corners, when it seems to some extent started by the roll angle. While the roll angle is more restrained than on the previous Victor, it is still noticeable, although it does not cause undue discomfort. An interesting feature of the handling is a slight but noticeable “dive-in” when the accelerator is released while cornering. While not as marked as with a front-wheel-drive car, it is more marked than with most rear-wheel-drive models. It provides a useful safety factor if someone should enter a corner too fast, for it is neither sudden nor vicious. SUREFOOTED

On a twisting road the Victor combines good ride with safe handling, and is unlikely to give drivers anxious moments. The car feels equally surefooted on gravel and muddy surfaces.

The brakes, drums all round, came through the fade test very well. Towards the

end they smelled, but pedal pressures increased, only slightly and they continued to stop the car in a straight line. The handbrake, as on all Vauxhalls, is powerful.

The noise level inside the car is reasonable and fast cruising is comfortable. The steering is very light and pleasant, and is reasonably direct The turning circle is good, and the small size of the wheel eases driving.

The Victor is not an enthusiast’s car, and its 0 to 60 m.p.h. time of about 17 seconds is only fair for its class. However enthusiast’s are catered for by the Vauxhall VX 4/90, which has individual front seats, disc brakes, fourspeed transmission and a full range of instruments. Nonetheless the Victor is a good family car, with comfort and room, reasonable performance coupled with economy, and safe road behaviour. The standard New Zealandassembled Victor costs £986 (£319 , sterling), while the Victor Super, with improved fittings, costs £lO3O (£329 sterling). The VX 4/90 costs £1244, and is English assembled, while the standard Victor station waggon costs £ll6O (£558), or £1259 (£605) for the deluxe version. English-assembled Victors cost £llO6 (£528) for the deluxe model, £lO3B (£495) for the super, and £lOO6 (£479) for the standard model.