101 variations

I was drawn to The Way We Were picture of Inverness in the late 1960s in the 17 May edition and the picture of a white Vauxhall Victor 101.

You suggest the 101 designation stemmed from its alleged 101 improvements over the previous FB model. Are you sure this is correct? I recall the 101 designation reflected the engine size of the vehicle, this being 101 cubic inches in USA/GM speak. Would you agree? As far as I remember, only one engine was offered in what looks a 1965 model in the picture. The FC was supported by three trim/equipment levels – 101 Basic, Super and Deluxe. The Deluxe may have come with leather trim and a four-speed floor-mounted gear shift/or powerglide auto. On the Super a three-speed column gear shifter was employed along with Vynide trim. I was a teenager when these cars were commonplace. My father had a PB from the Cresta/Velox range at the time with the engine rated at 3.3 litres. This capacity equated to 201 cubic inches I believe. I learned to drive using this vehicle; and once I’d passed my test, it was a nice car to go cruising in. The only downside to it was its appetite for fuel. I’m sure the 101 was a much better bet at the petrol pumps.

Mike Chilton, Norfolk

The 101 improvements over the previous FB model idea was quoted by Vauxhall some years following the car’s launch. Actually, it turns out that ‘101’ was planned as the start of a numerical series – until Peugeot went and copyright-registered all variations of three digit numbers with a zero in the middle in late 1965 – Ed.