Vauxhall Prince Henry
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The Vauxhall Prince Henry was a car manufactured by Vauxhall Motors from 1911 to 1913. It had a length of 4.05 m and a weight of 1250 kg.
Officially classed as the C-type, the name "Prince Henry" was introduced after three cars were entered in the 1910 Motor Trials named in honour of Prince Henry of Prussia. The Vauxhall Prince Henry was also very successful in other international races 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 was designed in 1907 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 output. Three of these cars were entered in the RAC 2000 mile 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 A-type and was produced up to 1914 with about 950 being made.
With the decision to enter the Prince Henry Trial the engine power was increased to 60 bhp at 2800rpm and as a result of the success replicas were put on the market at £580. In 1913 the engine capacity was increased to 3969 cc. Production continued until 1915.
There was a demand for more power and in 1913 the engine was enlarged again to 4525 cc. Still using the Prince Henry chassis these cars were called the 30/98 it is believed because the car had an output of 30 bhp at 1000 rpm and 98 bhp at 3000 rpm. Externaly the cars differed from the Prince Henry by having flat rather than V-shaped radiators. Only 13 30/98s were made before war intervened. About 50 of the 3054 cc and 140 of the larger Prince Henrys were made with nine still existing.
From 1912 the D-type was made as a slightly less sporting car with the 3969 cc engine derated to 60 bhp. These were made until 1922 with substantial numbers being used as officers' staff cars in World War I. About 4500 were made in total.
The B-type was an unrelated larger and more expensive car with a 6 cylinder engine of 5103 cc. About 75 were made.
