Vauxhall PB Cresta - a beautiful 1960s classic British car

The PB Vauxhall Cresta The story of the Cresta starts in the 1950s, whereby the car came to market to compete as the upmarket sibling of the Velox, competing for the market share with Ford’s Zephyr Zodiac cars. The PA, the car before the PB, came to market in 1957 and was fitted out with the E series 6 cylinder engine. It was the 2262cc and was paired with a 3 speed column change. After sales of just over 170,000 the PB, as we’re testing today, launches at the same place - Earls Court Motor show of 1962. The initial engine was an uprated version of the 6 cylinder used in the Cresta, but just in the autumn of 1964, Vauxhall recognise what the competition are doing and step up to a 3.3 litre engine. Interestingly, the adverts talk about a need for a special kind of power under the bonnet in Britain; citing not only the growing network of the new motorways but the steep hills, congested streets, traffic lights and halt signs. What the advertisers would make of today in comparison is anyone’s guess! There were three transmission options, which were 3 speed all sychro - a big deal for the 60s whereby manufacturers were still churning out cars with no synchro on first or 3 speed with overdrive and of course, the 3 speed auto which was the Hydramatic system. Sadly the overdrive in this is playing games so we won’t test it today, but it was fitted from new The brakes are well appointed and they’re vacumm servo assisted with discs to front and drums to rear. The idea behind this was, better stopping with less effort from the driver. The marketing men, acutely aware of Vauxhall’s reputation for a bit of rot, made a thing of the paint and finish on the adverts and you see them mention the mirror acrylic laquer and underbody seal. Paintwork stays in showroom condition for years, allegedly, but as you and I both know, paint is only as good as the conditions the car is kept in and this is pure marketing spin. The car was fairly well received by press of the time and whilst seen as comfortable and good value, there were grumbles that the car lacked some of the magic of the PA, but I guess it’s hard to be sequel to something so exciting and new! However, it must be noted that Autocar did describe it as the most elegant Vauxhall for many years - which is quite the accolade. it was also described as extremely good value for money by The Motor magazine, which if you’re wondering what it cost, it was initially sold at just over £918 - which priced it at £94 more expensive than the far more spartan Velox. The car, after getting a boost up to the 3.3 engine in the autumn of 64 was then replaced by the PC Cresta in 1965. Vauxhall said of this model of Cresta, ‘it will be remembered in 20 years time not for any one refinement but for its own masterful design’ Is that true, who knows, but if there’s one thing I've clocked today, it’s that in 2026 this is still a car that turns the heads of every smiling passerby and that is truly the pinnacle of a well thought out design.