Vauxhall 20-60
| Vauxhall 20-60 R-type and T-type | |
|---|---|
Vauxhall T-type Kimpton saloon (1930) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Vauxhall (General Motors) |
| Production | 1927–1930 |
| Model years | 1928–1930 |
| Assembly | Luton, United Kingdom |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | medium |
| Body style | open 2-seater 5 seater tourer saloon cabriolet limousine Chassis only also supplied |
| Layout | Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | I6
|
| Transmission | by single-plate dry clutch to the 4-speed gearbox coupled by a fabric joint and 2¼ in. diameter tubular propeller shaft to the spiral-bevel driven semi-floating rear axle with a banjo case |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
ground clearance 9 in (230 mm) |
| Length | and width and height depends on coachwork |
| Kerb weight |
|
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Vauxhall 14-40 |
| Successor | Vauxhall Eighty – see this page |
| 20-60 engine R-Type | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Vauxhall (General Motors) |
| Layout | |
| Configuration | inline 6 |
| Displacement | 2,762 cc (169 cu in) |
| Cylinder bore | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Piston stroke | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| Cylinder block material | 6 cylinders, iron cast en bloc and with the upper half of the crankcase. Crankshaft runs in 9 bearings and is statically and dynamically balanced. Pistons are of cast-iron. Three rings are set around the pistons above the gudgeon pin, one is a scraper. |
| Cylinder head material | cast-iron, demountable |
| Valvetrain | overhead through steel push rods and aluminium rockers from a three-bearing camshaft driven by silent-type chain. |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Autovac, Triple diffuser Zenith carburettor, water-jacketted induction pipe |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Cooling system | water-cooling fan-assisted, water circulated by impellor, temperature thermostatically controlled |
| Output | |
| Power output | not published Tax rating 19.82 h.p. |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Vauxhall 14-40 |
| Successor | T-Type – see this page |
The Vauxhall 20-60 is a four or five-seater saloon, limousine, tourer or coupé-cabriolet manufactured by Vauxhall of Luton. It was announced on 28 September 1927 with a six-cylinder engine and a four-speed gearbox. A cautious move downmarket. "The first time any six-cylinder Vauxhall has been sold under £1000!" "British & Vauxhall". The initial 2.7-litre engine was enlarged to 3-litres after twelve months.
Priced to be at the lower end of the luxury market with six cylinders, four speeds and five brakes, the better endowed 20-60 replaced the 4-cylinder Vauxhall 14-40. Though the new engine's capacity or swept volume was enlarged by just 465 cc, the vagaries of the RAC or tax formula moved its tax rating from 14HP to 20HP. This tax increase was a significant impost for owners. Its design was completed before General Motors took control in late 1925, making the car "in construction and plan British".
The 20-60 – it was given a 3.3-litre engine in October 1930 and renamed 80, later Silent Eighty – remained in production until the introduction of Vauxhall's first true General Motors large-car design, the Vauxhall Big Six, announced and displayed in October 1933 but not delivered until August 1934 long after the GM-designed medium-sized Cadet released in October 1930.
This gap in Vauxhall's programme may reflect the sales-failure of their very expensive 25-70 sleeve-valve car.
General Motors had taken control of Vauxhall 16 November 1925.