Vauxhall XVR

The Vauxhall XVR, short for eXperimental Vauxhall Research, was a concept car built in 1966 and shown at the March 1966 Geneva Motor Show, where the press reviewed it favourably. It never went into production. Three prototypes were built in five months: two glassfibre mockups without engines and one working metal bodied car made by Motor Panels of Coventry. The working car carried several front mid mounted engines, finishing the show circuit with a 2.0 litre slant four of about 100 brake horsepower, fully independent suspension and four wheel disc brakes. The design team led by David Jones included Wayne Cherry. Its styling drew on the Chevrolet Mako Shark II and it had a split windscreen, pop up headlamps and gull wing doors. Only one mockup survives, at the British Motor Museum; the running car was scrapped after damage in Canada.