GOODBYE GRIFFIN HOUSE

Vauxhall’s emotional departure from its home of 55 years

Vauxhall Motors bade farewell to Griffin House – its engineering and styling centre-cum head office – on 3 May, ending 55 years of company involvement at the site.

Vauxhall marked the occasion by bringing eight classics from its Heritage Collection ‘home’; all bar one model, the Victor FD, were developed at Griffin House (or ‘Engineering and Styling Centre, AJ Block’ as it was known) in its heyday.

Vauxhall’s purpose-built Engineering and Styling Centre opened in 1964, becoming the firm’s head office in 1991.

The firm has kept its head office in Luton, Bedfordshire, marking only the second time that it has changed postcode in 112 years.

While head office staff move into a new building, Chalton House, Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre – whose future appeared to be in jeopardy at one point – will remain at its current Luton premises while fundraising begins for a custom-built site elsewhere in the Stockwood Park area of the city.

Vauxhall’s Head of Product PR & Heritage, Simon Hucknall, confirmed that talks with Luton Culture to bid for National Lottery Heritage funding were underway. He said: ‘ Vauxhall’s Heritage collection has been judged of national importance, which qualifies us for a higher rate of funding.

‘ We’re committed to preserving our heritage, its collection, and keeping it in the city of Luton.’

Onwards and upwards: eight of Vauxhall’s Heritage fleet celebrated the firm’s 55 years at Griffin House with office staff. The site is now for up sale.