Meet The Owner – Dave Troughton and his Vauxhall VX4/90

“See! Look Into! Admire! Sit in! Drive! Hold your breath!” That is how Vauxhall promoted the FB-Series VX 4/90, and looking at Dave Troughton’s example makes you realise how Luton produced a car of “true distinction and international appeal”.

When Vauxhall replaced the original F-Type Victor with the FB in late 1961, the new range included the VX 4/90 as an alternative to the MG Magnette Mk.IV or even the Sunbeam Rapier. The 1,508cc engine had 44% more power than the standard Victor, thanks to an aluminium cylinder head and twin carburettors, combined with a four-speed, all-synchromesh transmission operated by a floor-mounted lever. 

The specification also included servo-assisted front disc brakes, individual “bucket type” front seats, PVC upholstery “with the luxury and feel of leather”, plus a tachometer, oil pressure gauge and an ammeter set in a dashboard of artificial wood veneer. There was even a headlamp flasher control “in the Continental manner” in the indicator lever. Meanwhile, the rather striking tail lamps, side flash and radiator grille were shared with the Canadian-market Envoy FB. 

The result was a “prestige car for the enthusiast”; i.e. you could look down on Ford Consul Classic drivers. UK sales began in January 1962, and the price was a reasonable £984 3s 1d. Naturally, keen motorists would want to invest another £4 15s in a pair of fog lamps (plus a set of driving gloves), so they could better envisage themselves as the Graham Hill of Acacia Avenue. Motor Sport regarded the VX 4/90 as “a sensible, spacious saloon with a maximum speed of nearly 90 mph, and extremely good acceleration, which dispels the boredom of long journeys”.

The Motor thought the VX4/90 was a very good all-rounder, and Autocar observed: “It is easy to see why such large numbers of the buying public have opted for this model.” When Small Car, the precursor to Car magazine, tested the FB opposite the Ford Cortina GT Mk.1 it regarded both as “honest pieces of engineering with very real deep-down improvements over their sisters in the servants’ hall”. Motoring writing has certainly changed since the 1960s.  

In 1963, Vauxhall increased the FB’s engine size to 1,594cc, a year before the FC series replaced the range. By 1965, the original VX 4/90 enjoyed a measure of screen fame in the BP Trade Test film, The Empty Chair. A cad (played by a young Roland Culver) drives his Vauxhall in an anti-social manner. Fortunately, a police sergeant demonstrates the correct way to drive a Wolseley to the viewers.   

Dave points out: “One televisual VX representation is The Saint episode, The Russian Prisoner.” Simon Templar drives a left-hand-drive version in ‘Switzerland’ (near Elstree). The story also features Yootha Joyce as a KGB Colonel, Anthony ‘Tony Blair’s Father-in-Law' Booth as her sidekick and lots of balsa wood furniture.” Dave also notes: “A VX 4/90 appears in the background in more than one episode, so I suspect a senior member of the production crew had one.”

Such insights are only to be expected from a Vauxhall enthusiast of many years’ standing. Dave finds his VX4/90: 

surprisingly pleasant to drive; the ‘four on the floor’ gear lever and tougher Cresta running gear makes the transmission feel like a later vehicle. The twin carbs add a bit of ‘joie de vivre’ and the disc brakes make it stop properly, unlike its drum-braked peers of the ‘medium family car’ size. My brother Gavin is the VX 4/90’s real owner, though we work together on the FB Victors.

And it is hard to resist a car with a “100 mph speedometer” and a choice of “nine lovely colour schemes”.

With thanks to Dave Troughton for his time and permission to use the images in this blog.