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1978 Vauxhall Full range Catalogue – Part 5 – Royale

August 11, 2024
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by Quarter Light
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    • by: @gaufrid1956
    • 6 months ago

    The nose of the Vauxhall Royale, with its headlight wipers, is identical to the nose of the Aussie Holden Commodore SL/E. In 1978, it was only a four door sedan. There were three trim levels, L, SL, and SL/E. At that time, I think there were three engine choices as well, a 2850 c.c. six cylinder, 3300 c.c. six cylinder, and a 4.2 litre V8. The Royale nose grafted onto the Carlton body allowed for the larger engines that Aussies preferred. The wagon didn't arrive until 1979, and, unfortunately, there was never a three door hatchback coupe version. I guess that was because Holden stopped making the Monaro coupe a few years earlier. Funny you know that the last Holden that was sold in Australia was imported from Europe and was a hatchback coupe. When I was in Australia in 2023, I saw one drive by, and I had no idea what it was. So I think if I had the chance and the money, I would have loved to have a Royale hatchback coupe.

    • by: @mattw8332
    • 6 months ago

    I think that the 2.8 litre engine used in the Royale is an Opel unit that dates back to the 1960s. I prefer the styling of the Opel versions .

    Were the Senator and Monzathe first car to receive smoked tail lights?

    • by: @NiceCakeMix
    • 6 months ago

    By this point GM wanted Vauxhall and Opel to use a combined range, so Vauxhall just had to rebadge Opels and do some subtle styling updates for the UK market. Remember Opel sold their cars in the UK too and Vauxhall sold theirs in Europe also. So GM wanted the Opels to be seen as the higher up the scale than the Vauxhall hence why the Royale had the 2.8 engine while the Opels had a 3.0. The Opels like you said, had the smoked rear lights where as the Vauxhalls didnt. Also its a strange time for Vauxhall, you see the new Carlton with its Cavalier/Chevette front end, the droop snoot front, then you have the Royale, which has the front like the Astra A, Cavalier B and in the end the Carlton B, would have. I agree that the interiors of these did look nice. Imagine going into the dealership and seeing this parked next to a Viva. My favorite car of the whole brochure would be the Cavalier 2000GL but thats only because i had one. This was a nice series, i enjoyed it seeing these late 70s Vauxhalls. I would love to see a similar year Datsun/Honda brochure too as their range was nice in the late 70s and early 80s.

    • by: @adampowell5376
    • 6 months ago

    I think that the Carlton and the Royale succeeded because Vauxhall did not over-extend themselves. The Carlton had one engine with one trim level and the Royale had one engine and trim level. The Carlton was a soon and an estate and the Royale was a saloon and a coupe. These were two small projects done well and then they expanded out. By contrast, the Princess had three engines, three trim levels and a limousine version and none of them worked because I don't think that BL had the commitment to make it a success.

    • by: @MohdjesriOthman-oi1id
    • 6 months ago

    nice too see Vauxhall royale, this is the best models that time, luxury car, base on opel senator, same spec, in the uk now, this is car still on the road now

    • by: @adampowell5376
    • 6 months ago

    The Royale coupe filled a niche vacated by the Mk1 Ford Granada 3.0 Ghia coupe.

    • by: @Mtandy-vm2pt
    • 6 months ago

    Wow brilliant " now ya" cooking" I love these big Vauxhall's: i actually had a 1979 Opel Monza 3:0 E .) I bought in 1991: it was brilliant & went like a rocket!! It was light metallic green with plush green velour seats! I later owned the MK2 vauxhall senator's in 2:5 & 3:0 form: in mid to late 90's but somehow they didn't feel as special as my Opel Monza.

    • by: @owensteele1645
    • 6 months ago

    I would say the whole car's body styling was well ahead of its time. The mark 2 Cavalier, which was introduced three years later, took many styling cues from this car from the front and side, particularly around the glass areas.

    • by: @keithnewton8981
    • 6 months ago

    Yes they are alloy wheels my dad had saloon and couple gold and red. Had ac aswell it was a nice car it did ride well but not a patch on our family jaguars and daimlers I much preferred them but the couple was nice tinyb5050 rear seat. At the end of Royal life some did get 3.0 basically they where senators with vauxhall toual badge dont know if they where sold via dealer dad got his sight from Vm. But very quickly they became vauxhall senator. Monza. They did a gold yellow interior

    • by: @shaun30-3-mg9zs
    • 6 months ago

    A very classy car the Royale I do like both models, saloon and coupe, I did like the Viva as well as the Magnum and Firenza which was entering it's last year of production I think it ended at the end of 1979 never made it to 1980 and yet the HA Viva van ( MK1 ) out run the HB and HC and ended in 1983 but these were the Bedford Viva. The car at the time I liked was not in this catalogue was the Viceroy but I think this came out in early 1979 which was an in between car it sat in the middle of the Carlton and Royale. The Viceroy had the front of the Royale and the rear of the Carlton, looks the same as it's Australian cousin the Holden Commodore ( if you wan't information on Australian cars watch Mark Behr channel ) he is on the Holden Commodore at the moment. This was a good time for Vauxhall a mix of the older cars and cars that are ready for the 1980's. I've enjoyed the late 1978 range of Vauxhall and were good cars the ones with memories as a passenger and drove are the Chevette and Cavalier also it's Opel cousin the Ascona. As always a great video Take care

    • by: @martinmcdonald4207
    • 6 months ago

    Opel had the Monza, which was the coupe version of The Opel Senator. Lovely cars in their day.

    • by: @zolbad
    • 6 months ago

    My Father had a Royale in the early 90's…burgandy…lovely car…was stolen and torched unfortunately ….I was a Test driver at Millbrook around 2007 ..Great job to have

    • by: @ianmedium
    • 6 months ago

    My uncle had one of these to try out when he was looking for a new car. The one he tried had a lovely shade of gold paint and a matching interior. The one thing I remember to this day was the vinyl trim which had a spongy feel to it. In the end he went for a used silver shadow which was wonderful!

    • by: @Coastmac2001
    • 6 months ago

    The Aussie VB/VC Commodore SLE was similarly specced to the Royale .

    • by: @club1fan552
    • 6 months ago

    Love how your cat has run of your house opening the door and letting themselves in. Hilarious! Another great episode but take care of yourself Mate.

    • by: @robfalcon3404
    • 6 months ago

    I remember a mate of mines dad had a senator in late 80s loved it would drive one now

    • by: @danentwisle8885
    • 6 months ago

    It has to be a Royale Coupe in White Gold met with beige velour. I really love the channel by the way!

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