Vauxhall/Opel Items

AT the risk of bringing General Motors close to bankruptcy by drawing to the attention of catalogue collectors their excellent new booklet about their entire range of models, with rally and race successes appended, we feel obliged to comment on the quality of this publication, which is full of useful information for prospective buyers and nicely illustrated in colour, with plenty of beach-girls and other sports-persons showing off the various models, from Nova to Monza coupe. The only disturbing item is that these happy Opel and Vauxhall users are seen driving on Motorways and other roads devoid of number plates! Maybe this is why the man with the Carlton CD saloon is depicted in consultation with a barrister. . .!

We would also commend Vauxhall Motors for not being slaves to the DoE fuel consumption figures. Although they quote these, as the Law demands if discussing petrol economy in advertising matter, the following qualification is made: “The results given relate to the particular car tested; inevitably there are differences between individual cars of the same model. In addition, some cars may incorporate particular modifications. Driving style, road and traffic conditions, vehicle mileage and standard of maintenance may also affect fuel consumption. Therefore the results do not express or imply any guarantee of the fuel consumption attainable”. Which suggests that Vauxhall/Opel agree with our March Editorial on “Fatuous Figures”. .

Having said that, the aforesaid catalogue cannot resist referring to “the over 60 mpg at a steady 56 mph” attainable from the Nova L “on Government fuel-test figures”. Splendidly economical as the excellent Vauxhall Nova is we all know that for the average driver in average usage, this is optimistic; one independent test gives an overall mpg of 35.3 mpg and an estimated best of 47.9 mpg from the 933 cc Nova.

W . B.