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Vauxhall Motors Limited is a British car company currently owned by General Motors. The company was initially founded in 1857 to build pump and marine engines and it was not until 1903 that it built its first car. The original vehicle was steered with a tiller and had no reverse gear, but better designs quickly emerged that were more suitable for sale to the general public. Initially, the company was not known for its more sporting cars, but that reputation changed after World War I.
Vauxhall produced cars such as the Y-Type, which were designed by Laurence Pomeroy to compete in racing events. They were so successful that it eventually led to a production car based on this model, known as the A09. This subsequently inspired the production of the Vauxhall A-Type, which firmly established Vauxhall as a successful car manufacturer.
In 1925 the company was purchased by General Motors, which brought about a transformation of the company's image; a low cost model, the Vauxhall Cadet, was the result. By the 1960's the company's reputation was not of the highest standard, though Vauxhall sales remained reasonably healthy. In the 1970's new Vauxhall cars, such as the Chevette and the Cavalier finally began to improve the company's fortunes. The Vauxhall Astra became another popular model for the company as well as the Corsa. A second generation Corsa, launched in 2000, saw sales soar and a used Vauxhall became a popular choice with many buyers.
Vauxhall is perhaps best known for the Cavalier. In the 1980's the Mk2 Cavalier, which was a front-wheel drive hatchback, was possibly the most popular medium sized family car in Britain, along with the Ford Sierra. At their height, Vauxhall sales of the Cavalier reached over 130,000 per year.
