Makes › Vauxhall › C-type "Prince Henry" · Rare production · 1911–1914 Extremely Rare
Vauxhall
C-type "Prince Henry"
Early British sports car derived from the 1910 Prince Henry Trial cars; NMM example
Still being researched: identification guide, full specifications. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 175 Built
- Years
- 1911–1914
- Engine
- 3,000 cc / 3 LFactory: 3 L
- Power
- Not yet verified
- Top speed
- 145 km/hFactory: 90 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Laurence Pomeroy
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Prince Henry is described by Vauxhall as Britain's first true sports car. It came from the C-10 chassis that Vauxhall entered in the 1910 German Prince Henry Trophy and became the starting point for the 30-98.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Vauxhall C-type "Prince Henry" (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vauxhall C-type "Prince Henry" (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Calreyn88 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vauxhall C-type "Prince Henry" (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK · CC BY 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model production"Prince Henry" Vauxhalls produced for sale to the public (43 of 1912 + 66 of 1913 + 66 of 1914) | 1751 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
In 1910 chief engineer Laurence Pomeroy entered three C-10 chassis in the 1230-mile Prince Henry Trophy, a German trial for touring cars. The cars were driven by Vauxhall's managing director and two co-directors, did not win an award but finished the event.
The road-going Prince Henry type was built from 1911 to 1914 and cost 515 pounds for the chassis alone. Early cars had a 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine rated at 20 hp; later cars grew to 4.0 litres and 25 hp. Vauxhall guaranteed more than 90 mph when a single-seat body was fitted.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard C-type "Prince Henry".
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Not yet verified |
| Cylinders | 42 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 3,000 cc / 3 LFactory: 3 L2 Independently researchedLater cars 4.0 litres per the same source. |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Fuel system | Not yet verified |
| Power | Not yet verified |
| Power at | Not yet verified |
| Torque | Not yet verified |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Not yet verified |
| Rear suspension | Not yet verified |
| Brakes | Not yet verified |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | Not yet verified |
| Length | Not yet verified |
| Width | Not yet verified |
| Height | Not yet verified |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 145 km/hFactory: 90 mph · converted2 Independently researchedGuarantee for a single-seat body; stated as more than 90 mph. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Motor Sport, January 1946 – Veteran Types XXVIII Level C
- 175 "Prince Henry" Vauxhalls produced for sale to the public (43 of 1912 + 66 of 1913 + 66 of 1914)
-
2
12 brilliant Vauxhalls Level B Classic & Sports Car
- 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine
- first models used a 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine
- guaranteed 'more than 90mph' when fitted with a single-seat body
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