Vauxhall Cresta PA

Production period:	1957 to 1962
Class:	Motor car
Body versions:	Saloon, estate
Engines:	Gasoline: 2.3-2.65 litres
Power:	60.7-69.5 kW
Length:	4505-4515 mm
Width:	1740 mm
Height:	1500 mm
Wheelbase:	2667 mm
Curb weight:	2675 lb

Vauxhall Cresta PA was produced from 1957 to 1962 as the second generation of the Cresta.

History

The Cresta PA is best known for the American fashion of the huge tail fins, panoramic windows and whitewall tires, but with European dimensions. low, wide appearance. The car could be ordered in single or two-tone paint colours. With safety in mind, the facia is padded, as are the sun visors. There are "childproof" locks on the rear doors. Colour schemes are extremely varied. There are nine single-tone exterior finishes and seven two-tone. Interiors with front and rear bench seats are made to match in either leather or nylon.

The engines such as a 2,262 cc six-cylinder engine produced 82.5 bhp (61.5 kW) at 4,400 rpm. A single Zenith carburettor was used. The transmission was three speeds.overdrive on second and top gears, giving an optional five-speed gearbox at the flick of a switch, the toggle switch that cuts the Normanville overdrive unit in and out is mounted on the
wrap-round windscreen surround, to the right of the steering wheel or hydramatic automtic transmission as a option, which has a six-position quadrant marked P, N, D, S, L
other positions on the quadrant,which are picked out on a perspex indicatorjust above the steering boss, P indicates the parked position, which mechanically locks the propeller shaft, rear axle and rear wheels.Fitted independent front suspension with coil springs and an anti-roll bar at the rear fitted with a rigid axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs standard for the time.

Inside,is roomy, Instrument layout is all the necessary dials and warning lights being placed immediately in front of the driver, and are easily read through the two-spoked steering wheel.An indicator band moves along a horizontal scale, the band changing colour from green to amber at 30 m.p.h. and amber to red at 60 m.p.h. Incorporated in the same dial is an odometer calibrated in tenths of a mile, a water temperature gauge and a fuel gauge There are also warning lights oil pressure, headlamps, main and flashing indicators.
Below this, to the left of the steering column, is the combined ignition and starter switch. switch also an "accessories only" enabling such extras as the radio to be switched without turning on the ignition. On the right of the steering column is a driving, panel and switch (all in one) and below it a combined windscreen washer and wiper control. Flashing indicators are operated by a stalk lever from the right of the steering column.

There is no manual choke control, as the single downdraught Zenith carburetter takes care of this automatically. Where you might expect to find a manual choke control, the Cresta has a cigarette (or cigar) lighter. Other luxuries include an electric clock mounted the panoramic windscreen, lockable glove box on the front passenger's side, a thermostatically- controlled heater with booster fan and a demister-defroster switch which channels all the hot air to the windscreen all as standard equipment

Features

The 2 1/4-litre 2,262 c.c. 6-cylinder Engine, developing 82.5 b.h.p. at 4,400 r.p.m.,The compression ratio of 7.8:1 gave 77.9 b.h.p. at 4,200 r.p.m. with optional low compression ratio 6.8:1 for export markets.

fitted with 6-phase carburetter with automatic choke, accelerator pump and part-throttle economy valve, air filter, silencer and flame arrester; mechanical petrol pump; pressurised cooling system with centrifugal pump and temperature indicator; oil-filled ignition coil;12-volt 53-amp./hr. battery and current voltage control regulated generator

The single dry plate hydraulically operated clutch, with an diameter of 8 in.and recirculating ball type steering for the 3 forward speeds gearbox providing ratios of 2.866:1, 1.635:1, direct, reverse 3.050:1, fitted with Vauxhall controlled synchromesh on first, second and top, controlled by gear change lever mounted on steering column.

Suspension via independent front wheel springing with stabiliser bar; semi-elliptic rear springs with angle-set shock absorbers.For the brakes fitted with hydraulic brakes and steel disc wheels with 6.40-13 tyresOther features such as easy jacking system to lift the car.

The 6-Seater Saloon with 4 doors and equipment including body conformity front and rear bench-type seats with door armrests and centre armrest in rear seat; windows operated by winding handles; no-draught ventilators incorporating independent locking catches and drip channels; 2 sun visors; The dash containes self-parking, 2-speed, electric windscreen wipers; 2-spoke steering wheel with horn ring.

At the front sealed pre-focused head lamps; separate front parking lamps; separate front amber flashing direction indicators; At the rear large luggage boot;twin rear lamps incorporating within translucent mouldings red reflectors and red stop lights; separate rear amber flashing indicators and number plate illuminating lamp.
The Colour schemes: such as imperial ivory, charcoal grey and imperial ivory with red leather upholstery also royal glow and imperial ivory with black and charcoal grey nylon upholstery.

Accessories: radio, 2 fog lamps, anti-glare mirror, vanity mirror, front seat centre armrest.Options such as external mirrors fog lamps, reversing light, locking filler cap and inside a radio. Lockheed brakes used 9 in drums front and rear.  Front disc brakes later became an optional extra.

By 1959 the Cresta was given a facelift, Low-set radiator air-intake with grille of thin bars. Hooded headlamps, straight-through wings to shallow, tapered fins and vertical tail-lamp clusters. Smaller tail-lamps on 1961 models. Front bumper dips in centre, rear bumper is plain. Gently sloping roof line. Disc wheels have four large perforations. new front grill and front sidelights and indicators also a single wrap around rear screen and rear lights. A new engine with longer, cylinder block and a capacity of 2651cc. now with 95bhp at 4,600rpm.

All PAs were four-door saloons there was estate versions that were converted by coachbuilders Friary of Basingstoke with utility styling, Roof line carried rearward to prominent peak over rear window. Rear side window framing raked forward unusual triangular rear quarters. Cresta " fins " are still retained on this estate model.  

Australian GM Holden. also built the PA Cresta from 1958 up until 1965.

 A Cresta PA can be seen in the 1981 music video "Ghost Town" by The Specials.