Vauxhall Prince Henry 100th Anniversary

Vauxhall Prince Henry Celebration
Shelsley Walsh 17/18th July 2010.

The classic Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1914. It had a length of around 4.05 metres (159.4 in) and a weight of 1,250 kg (2,756 lb) depending on the model and the coachwork fitted.
Officially classed as the C-10 type, the name "Prince Henry" was introduced to distinguish the three cars that were entered in the 1910 Motor Trials named in honour of Prince Henry of Prussia. The Vauxhall Prince Henry also competed in other international trials including the 1911 St Petersburg to Sebastopol Trial leading to two cars being sold to Tsar Nicholas II.

The Prince Henry was based on the Vauxhall 20hp that had been designed in 1909 by then draughtsman Laurence Pomeroy (1883-1941) when the company's chief designer F. W. Hodges was away on holiday. The engine was of 4 cylinder monobloc design with side valves and a capacity of 3054 cc giving 40 bhp (30 kW) output. Three of these cars were entered in the RAC 2,000-mile (3,200 km) trial and one won the speed trials at Brooklands which was part of the event as well as winning the fuel economy award for its class. This victory helped Pomeroy to be promoted to Works Manager. This model was known as the A11 Vauxhall and was produced, with periodic improvements until 1914, with about 950 being made.

C10-type

With the decision to enter the Prince Henry Trial the engine power was increased to 60 bhp (45 kW) at 2800 rpm and as a result of the success replicas were put on the market at £580 and called the C10 type but became better known as the Prince Henry model. In 1913 the engine capacity was increased to 3969 cc and the designation changed to 'C type'. Production continued until 1915.


Celebrations are very much in vogue these days and so it was with great excitement that we decided to become involved in the Prince Henry Vauxhall event. I00 years seems a long time and it is quite amazing that these cars have survived at all.

The Vauxhall Prince Henry was an out and out competition car and was made in very small numbers. 57 of the earlier 3 litre cars were delivered to the public and 133 of the later 4 litre model.

As with the Vauxhall 30-98 many of these cars were delivered new to Australia and New Zealand mostly as chassis which were then bodied locally. The local agent in Sydney was George Innes proprietor of The Motor House who in 1913 employed a young Boyd Edkins who was to become a major influence in promoting Vauxhall cars in Australia with his efforts in trans-continental record breaking.

Our celebrations took off with a celebratory “black tie” dinner at the Gables Hotel a short drive from the famous Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb venue. We were honoured with the presence of Nick Reilly the managing director of General Motors Europe who has bought and had restored the 2 seater Vauxhall 30-98 which belonged to Dames-Longworth and appears in it’s as found condition in the book by Stanford and Clutton. It was good to have an excuse to dress up especially for the ladies.

On the 18th July we all gathered at the Hill Climb where we were guests and were part of the display of early Vauxhall cars. During the lunch break we all drove up the hill in style.

The event was organized by Alisdaire Lockhart and was a great credit to him especially as he brought his newly restored Prince Henry to the meeting. This car has an engine that had been cut into three pieces and has now been expertly welded back together again. As someone remarked it is “like Ernie Wise’s toupe” as the joins are invisible!!