Photo: Vauxhall
The world's first sportscar is getting ready to celebrate 100 years since its introduction. Intrigued? That figures. Why, you may ask? Because it's a common belief nowadays that sportscar means an indecent amount of power and a whole lot of speed.
And it couldn't be more wrong! Being a sportscar, so to speak, is more about being light than powerful. It's actually all about Colin Chapman's "Simply, then add lightness" creed, and few automakers have been applying it long before Lotus did. This is why the world's first sportscar, the Vauxhall 30/98, is now 100 years old.
Designed by Laurence Pomeroy and introduced in 1913, the Vauxhall 30/98 was manufactured in Luton, United Kingdom, until 1927. The 584 units built were using a 4.5-liter engine with an output of 90 HP, later to be increased at 115 HP, and a four-speed gearbox.
Once the more powerful engine was introduced in 1923, the British built a special two-seater model that became the first production car to reach a speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Note that the 30/98 was 400 kgs lighter than the Bentley 3 Litre, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927.
The celebrate the vehicle's centenary, around 100 surviving examples of the 30/98 will gather in a Centenary Run on July 5, to travel from Brooklands to Vauxhall's HQ in Luton and then on to the Millbrook Proving Ground. Those of you who will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year may get to see a 30/98 Vauxhall over there as well.
Designed by Laurence Pomeroy and introduced in 1913, the Vauxhall 30/98 was manufactured in Luton, United Kingdom, until 1927. The 584 units built were using a 4.5-liter engine with an output of 90 HP, later to be increased at 115 HP, and a four-speed gearbox.
Once the more powerful engine was introduced in 1923, the British built a special two-seater model that became the first production car to reach a speed of over 100 mph (160 km/h). Note that the 30/98 was 400 kgs lighter than the Bentley 3 Litre, which won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1924 and 1927.
The celebrate the vehicle's centenary, around 100 surviving examples of the 30/98 will gather in a Centenary Run on July 5, to travel from Brooklands to Vauxhall's HQ in Luton and then on to the Millbrook Proving Ground. Those of you who will attend the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year may get to see a 30/98 Vauxhall over there as well.
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