1961 Vauxhall Cresta PA - Raw Classic Cars 

if ever I win the lottery this is my first purchase, have loved these cars since I was young.

Probably the prettiest car I’ve ever owned. It was a rust bucket and went faster than it’s handling and brakes should have. Loved it.

My Dad bought one second hand in 64. I was six years old and spent hours sitting in the window gazing at it. To me, it was the most beautiful car in the world. It gave me a lifelong love of finned chrome beauties, especially the American fifties autos. I hate the bland jelly mold clones that inhabit todays roads. Bring back some style!

Around 61 when I was 5, a neighbour bought one of these new. It was red and grey with the grey being where this one is white. He ran the car for over 30 years. always looked an impressive car.

Loved this car my favourite classic.

Love the simplicity of the engine compared to today's cars.

I had a drive of one of these , when I was very young, I thought it was superb, the steering was brilliant like Ford Consuls & Zephyrs effortless holding a straight line, I think less hard work than some modern cars. Cars of these eras were bullet proof, they rarely missed a beat, red lights never came up, there was usually only one for the generator. Extremely cheap to maintain, miles better than new cars, quick & easy to get at anything, totally simple, quick to do anything.

Back in the 60 s when I was a small kid, a neighbour had a stunning black Cresta, absolutely beautiful, amazing to see driving about.

What an absolute beauty of a car!

Beautiful motor and a nicely judged commentary, just the right amount of time spent showing us over the car before taking us for a spin.

I love these cars,never had one unfortunately but good to see some being preserved.

Always loved the Cresta PA, definitely the most American looking UK car of its era.

A very nice presentation.Some of these early 1960's Vauxhall cars were sold in Australia at dedicated Vauxhall showrooms. This model (or possibly the Velox) actually won the first series production car race at Phillip Island in 1960 before the venue was changed to the famed annual Bathurst 500(later 1000) production car race in 1963.Happy days indeed and thanks for the memories:)

The rear door handle flows very well into the fins. Unique.

Utterly unique styling; pity such a concept has disappeared, with car manufacturers terrified that their products might actually look different from the opposition.

God it's been a long time since I've seen one of them wonderful.

My Father owned a Vauxhall Cresta in the mid 60's. It was white and the upholstery was red. Oh my, it was a beauty!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL

1984. I had just arrived at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. I walked to the local garage in Barton Mills and rented their green-gold Viva until I bought a new car. Great time.

The MOST Beautiful British Car - Ever - Bar NONE!! 👍😎

Mmmmmmm mmmmmm. Memories! My best mate Neil across the road his Dad had a PA, my Dad had a PB, going for a ride in either was a treat but the PA was always my favourite, it was the coolest car in the street, two tone yellow and white and had so.much more presence and verve than the plain white PB my Dad had. With the straight 6 engine it was quick and powerful but Dad didnt have it for long as the fuel consumption wasn't very good. Such happy memories though❤

I OWNED ONE OF THESE IN THE 1960s IN GOLD AND PALE YELLOW,ONE OF THE BEST CARS I EVE OWNED!🧑

The background music didn't bother me at all. Just a point but the 3 window PA was the first 58 model. later models were as this 61 shows, a one piece window. A very nice car that with a bit more care could make it a really good show car. Really nice to see it and thanks for posting.

This car brings me back when I was a young man. I had have Velox 1954, 1955, 1955 and Cresta 1959, 1961, 1965 And my heart belongs to Cresta 1959 if I can find one for sale I buy it!!

My family owned two Vauxhall's, one was the 1958 Victor F, and the other was the '58 Cresta ( not the PA model) therefore less chrome. I seem to remember just how peppy these cars felt, once I was allowed to drive them ! The Cresta, being powered with that OHV in-line 6 cylnder was the more powerful, but both were impressive, for the day. I do wish I could have both of these here with me today!

I had one of these cars two tone as well, nice car.

I had one of these. in1968. It was brilliant. You could put start it put it in gear get it moving then get out of the car and jog alongside it . Used to do this on an old runway while serving in the RN Both my friends had these too. The bench seats were brilliant like single beds 😜. Also they ere so easy to work on I took the engine apart and replaced all pistons and Big end bearings in a small lock up garage with no special.tools I just improvised and jacked up the engine block.

My dad owned one of these and I learned to drive in it. 3 speed column change with switchable overdrive on 2nd and 3rd gears I can vouch that it is indeed possible to select reverse rather than 2nd ! The speedo band was green to 30mph, then orange to 60 then red over that. It was quite a large car for its day , or at least it seemed so to a 17year old learner, yet now seems quite small by comparison to modern cars. However it was a Vauxhall and so rusted in front of your eyes.

Would love to have a cresta A beautiful classic and the full front seats just love it !

I had several cresta PA's apart from massive rust problems was the knee breaking wrap around windscreen the amount of time's i hit my knees getting in and out im suppressed i can still walk apart from these 2 big faults they were a fantastic car of the fifties and early 60's next to the ford 2.6cc of the same era.

I had one of those. It's still a really stylish car. I blew the engine on a road trip. A water coreplug blew out and shot the water everywhere, then the engine started to sieze. Stripped it down and completely rebuilt but had to sell it in the end. Loved it

A lovely car to drive, and seats 6 people. The American designed engine was very torquey and could pull smoothly from 20mph in top gear. The suspension was as good as a Jag, so you could hos it around those country lanes, but with more roll than a Jag. Spongy steering was par for the course in that era due to too many rubber bushes in the linkage, but you get used to it. Much better to to drive than the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac models.

Shades of a different era. Literally. Enjoyed your respectful description of this dated but still gorgeous car. I want to go back and drive it around at 30 mph without p...ing anyone off!

Bought a 1958 Cresta PA in 1962 two tone blue with matching leather uphostlery. Fabulous car to drive and quite economical too. Rust on the rear wings was a problem. Sold it to my cousin who was rear ended by a London bus and it went to the scrapyard in the sky.

Fantastic car, it looked like something from the future at the time!

This is a great looking car

That straight 6 was quite a low revving engine, and would happily idle @500 rpm, it would eventually be taken out to 3294cc for the “PC” Cresta & Viscount models along with the FD Ventora. The steering was via a box with a lot of linkages so while being easy to drive on the move it could be heavier at parking speeds than a car with rack & pinion steering.

Served my time repairing bodywork {rot} on all these Vauxhalls

Beautiful. I grew up in Rhodesia with these type vehicles. Never had the opportunity to drive or own the crests.

Than you for posting. Brings back some memories. The Vauhhall Cresta PA in my view was a better car than what was offered by FORD at the time, and also better than what was offered by GM HOLDEN in Australia. The only problem with the VAUXHALL CRESTA (which was solved later in 1964) was the close tolerances of the engine made it unsuitable for the much higher temperatures we have in Australia, particularly Summer. The GM HOLDEN engines were built to take the heat, but by design would rattle, and lack the smoothness of the VAUXHALL CRESTA which was a nice quiet engine at idle and normal road speed 30 MPH - 50 KmH The ROVER P4 at 01:26 happens to be in the state of VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. One of my uncles gad the 1961 Vauxhall Cresta PA. Two tone Gray & Maroon. He always kept it in beautiful condition. I liked it better than My dad's Ford Zodiac, which was a smokey gray and pale Blue. Even then I knew the Vauxhall had a better engine, ran much smoother than the Ford. I was fascinated by the Chromatic strip Speedometer in the Vauhall. He still had the car in the mid 1970's. I wilL have to investigate to discover what happened to the car, his son will now be 70 (in 2019) RELATED: ► The Armstrong 500 (1960-1964) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PlqFiPA6XXU.html ★ Evan Green introduces us to the first years of the race known as the Armstrong 500, then the Bathurst 500. The race was initially held at Phillip Island in Victoria and later at Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia. Evan Green was the journalist who published a controversial newspaper article in 1972 which caused what was known as the "Supercar Scare". For more info on that story see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercar_scare For more info on the first Armstrong 500 in 1960 see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960_Armstrong_500 © All credit to Channel 7 Sport, Sydney. ► 1973 FIRST HARDIE-FERODO 1000 Bathurst_ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xyBZ7NiS1_Q.html ► 1966 GALLAHER 500 Bathurst ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-reh8yNE6xhE.html ★ The 1966 Gallaher 500 was an endurance motor race for production cars, held on 2 October 1966 at the Mount Panorama Circuit just outside Bathurst, New South Wales in Australia. It was the seventh running of the Bathurst 500 race and the first time that the event had been staged under the Gallaher 500 name. All credit to the original owner. ▼▼ For more info see: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1966_Gallaher_500 ► Bathurst V8 Supercars ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JQPOroesMWI.html ► ALLAN GRICE Takes Holden Commodore To Europe 1986 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-omj-RLuPaII.html ★ Step back in Australian Touring Car History and revisit the guts a determination of the Aussies Allan Grice and Peter Brock who took on the Europeans in their own backyard back in 1986. Together they won the King's Cup. created this video with the RU-vid Video Editor (ru-vid.com)

What a really nice car, I'd love one of these.

This was my first car...what a car

I really like the design and looks of this car. Haven't seen one for sale in the US, especially with left hand drive.

Takes me back, My Dad had a 61 Velox after a long string of Consuls, Zephyrs and other Fords. We loved it. In the late 70' after I passed my test I owned 2, a two tone yellow Cresta ( had an original valve radio too) and a Maroon Velox with overdrive. Both had Whitehall tyres, a must! There was a guy who lived locally who had a mint black and grey Cresta which I believe, may have been bought off the owner, by Vauxhall for their museum. Saddened to hear that there could only be 29 left on the road, if so, I saw two of them recently.

I remember my Dad having a cresta when i was little. My brother and i loved it. Was so comfy...i think he gave my Mum a driving lesson in it and she nearly took all of us over a bank and down a steep hill until Dad stopped her!! So ended the lessons after that! I wonder why. Ha! Great car shame not hardly any seen anymore 🤔

What a beautiful 🚗 🚘 car.The best feature on this car is the wraparound windscreen which eliminates A-pillar blind spot,often found on most cars these days😊👍🚗🚘

loved the PA Cresta, as so few about these days

I bought this car when I was 19,!! Worked my balls off for it,,,,cost £375 ,!,,I’m now 74 and wish I’d kept it,💕💕💕👍👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

Ma's second car was a 58 Vauxhall PA Velox. Same car not quite as fancy. In the course of 8 years it proved very reliable. It could be relied upon to get you to your destination OR get you back. Nobody relied on it for both directions. The gear shift used to freeze one the temperature went below freezing. It was broken for parts at 8 years old because the rot was so bad it was not safe. The structure inside was no more than piles of powder. Nice looking cars, but the beauty was skin deep

Brother had a duo tone blue PA , as a kid loved the ribbon speedo which changed colour over 30 and over 70 I think , green ,amber and red , I remember he had a Luxembourg" kiss in the car license " sticker lol , mind your knee when you get in though .

Thank you for all the great comments, likes and subscribers. I intend to get more videos uploaded once the great British weather warms up a bit so stay tuned!

I saw one in the carpak in a local shopping centre last Thursday - numberplate CRESTA. While there were a modest number of Veloxes brought in here (not many people were interested in them for pretty understandable reasons) my memory is that the Cresta was never officially imported.

Could have bought one in 1971 for £100, but was on £3 a week back then,so it was a lot of dosh, would love one now.

My dream car but I want the 3 window model with indicators in the fins and the earlier straight front grill.

In his final thoughts he says that in his opinion "... it is not as usable as a later car, such as a Triumph Stag" . Why do people compare cars of different types? The Stag is not a family cruiser, it's a sports car. I would have thought the Cresta would be a perfect car for the purpose it was built (even possibly for present day usage), a roomy boot, plenty of passenger space. How would the Stag measure up as a functional family cruiser?

Always loved the Cresta PA especially the estate version.

Looks like a 1962 to me with the all in one tail light, from 59 to 61 the pa had large oval tail light and the indicators in the fins. you can see where the oval tail light has been replaced with a large chrome insert, but still a very classy car its a shame they rusted so badly

I can recall, here in New Zealand, in the 70s , a mechanic telling me how, he had just started his apprenticeship at a Vauxhall dealership, when the original (3 section rear window) pa's came out. He said."To us, they looked like flying saucers." So apparently, in the late 50s, when these cars first came out, they caused quite a sensation!

Nice to see this. I grew up having to go to school in my dads green and black PA. loved the bench seat and coloured Speedo!

Back in the day, I drove four of these. I had the 1959 (dark blue and white), a 1960 in blue (a rust bucket), a beautiful looking lime yellow Velox (yes, rust was there but it hid itself, eventually the gearbox packed up), a really beautiful 1960 Velox in maroon and grey (this one was a true beauty and I really should have held onto it longer than I did), finally I was tempted by a 1965 PB model (square shaped), not as good as the PAs but better roadholding. Great cars but the PA really did feel like one was driving a boat!

Reminds me when my passengers, on the rear seat, shouted at me as the spring hanger and springs went through the trim and the car bottomed. It was left on the side of the road and we walked home. It had a mind of its own as far as steering was concerned!

Had this model in 1972 - same colour scheme (though the red was slightly more maroon) - I took my driving test in it with a cracked bell-housing that made pulling away very problematic...... Loved that car and a photo above my PC screen reminds me it's a Goal to tick off my bucket-list (If I win the Lottery that is :-)

I keep seeing articles about the Cresta and others and comments about its similarities to American cars. Its true but why is the 1958 to 1961 Vauxhall Victor and Envoy Special always ignored. They look much more like the 55 and 56 Chev then the Cresta. I have several of them and i loved those cars. Nice looking and nice to drive. Very rare now because they rusted badly here in Canada but i still have one good enough to restore. I also no of someone who had quite a nice Cresta over here. Last i heard it was sitting on a farm.

I knew someone in the 1980s who squeezed a V12 Jag engine and running gear into one of these, went really well. He sold it to someone who wrote it off withing three days of buying it.

Those were the Days !!! Had one just like it .

Absolutely brilliant! 😀

My dream car, although I'd prefer a 3 window with the straight upper grille.

Gorgeous car

This Cresta was a prolific gas guzzler. 3 litre engine which did about 10 mpg! I would describe it as a PILE

WISH THEY WOULD BRING THIS CAR BACK TODAY WITH a modern engine would sell like hot cakes also ford zodiac

Very nice and knowledgeable presentation Freind .

Did my apprenticeship on these models,loved driving the automatic version

My first car at 18 yo, worked my balls off and bought it,,I’m 74 yo now,👍👏👏👏🇬🇧

Very nice video, love it.I used to work on pa's as an apprentice mechanic at the main Vauxhall dealers in Nottingham, Oscrofts, on castle boulevard....I always gave them a good road test after a full service brilliant to drive. I used to replace the broken wavy washer that caused the gear lever to rattle. don't forget the knee knocker when getting into the vehicle lol. 90 mph was the most I ever got out of one, then nearly s##t myself when I could't stop because of brake fade, this particular car had front drum brakes....brilliant....

Probably the best of all the rust buckets

When I left school in 1962 I was an apprentice electrician and my electrician had a Cresta estate very rare

One of these in Pea Green was my first car with the wood cappings from the Auto version.

1:16 The Humber Hawk Mk.6 is an honest, sincere car design that avoids the extravagence of America,

10 out of 10 for the car and also such a well made video.

What a beauty!

Beautiful! 😍😍

They were common when i was a kid. Also the earlier Vauxhall Velox n Cresta. Strong shrunken American styling. My mums eldest sister had one. My Dad by then had a Mk1 Jag so he thought it was rubbish. Aussie Holdens are similar, heavy steering, 6 cylinders, 3 speed column, float like boat, thirsty.

Blimey, is this from Vauxhalls Heritage museum--or a bottom up full restoration? Fantastic looking car. I was a teenager when this came out, I like it better now.

I have a '62 Velox PASX which is pretty much the same car, from what I can see in this video, apart from some slight cosmetic changes. Mine also has the 2.6L engine and three-speed manual. I note that this one has had a brake-booster fitted, which is a good idea. My one does not have that, and it is like trying to stop a tank sometimes. ;) Wallowing steering is normal for these cars due to the pitman-arm steering system, but it does mean you need to keep both hands on the wheel at all times - not necessarily a bad thing! :p They cruise like an ocean liner though.

My father had a '61 Velox, basically same car as this. The only trouble he had was with the gearbox: after about 50K miles it started jumping out of 2nd. The gear change needed frequent attention - it got very sloppy with a lot of use, and gear change was always a bit baulky and slow. It badly needed overdrive (which it didn't have) - in those days people wanted to bumble along in top at 10 mph, which meant that the cars were often woefully undergeared for long-distance driving. He sold it after about 5 years - rust was starting to eat away the undersides of the front wings, and was starting to be visible. The rear suspension was far too soft for towing a heavy luggage trailer - he had helper springs fitted, which made a big difference.

Great car, bench seats, column change gear shift, shooting stick hand brake, and did 100 mph.

Loved them

beautiful car, i think the PB and PC are even nicer!

The interior (tan leather?) Is beautiful!

I had one for 3 years great car

I saw two these for sale in a dealer showroom in the mid 60s. 165 pounds each. The guy took us for a spin in one even though I'd said I couldn't afford one. Nice car for its time. Bit of a banger these days though..

I remember these, always rusted out I'm afraid and lost out to the ford zodiac. Nice to see one still alive tho can't be many left

Brilliant little video and I like the subtle music in the background. Hope to see you do more videos on classic cars.

When I was an apprentice mechanic my boss had one,he asked me to service it,I think it was the litre ,the power was fantastic ,

Very nice car!

They look magic, with their juke box styling but they had a dreadful reputation for rust, long before other cars did.

Lovely cars, back in the day I had two, a 57 Velox one of the first PA's and a Cresta like yours. Previous to that I had two E models. Yours is a very nice example. Your registration is Number is Caithness , it could have come from there but I suspect it has been re registered.

Most of these older motors were so heavy ,built so well and strong but running one now ,you'd need the road tax wave to buy fuel but what was so special to many of us back then ,the smell inside spose you'd call someone who likes this ,a petrol head .

That background music is unnecessary and distracting

Had one just like it !! Like most 'Old ' = Better ,Those were the Day's my Friend I thought they'd never end.....Sadly they do all to soon !!!!!