Vauxhall - Vauxhall 30/98
The Vauxhall 30/98 started off as a special one off Vauxhall built to the request of Joseph Higginson. Higginson was the inventor and manufacturer of the Autovac, and his business interests included the agency for the French car called the La Buire, with which he made best time of day at the Shelsley Walsh hillclimb using his 13.8 litre example. Later he wanted something more powerful to return with the following year, yet something that was practical and usable on the road. The car Vauxhall supplied was a second hand ex competition Prince Henry chassis with some modifications to raise the chassis by about 2 inches, which was fitted with the larger Vauxhall hydroplane 4 cylinder 93x146 which was in stock. This engine was bored and stroked to new dimensions of 98x150 mm. However when in production with a new block, the 30/98 settled on a reduced bore 95x150 giving 4.5 litre capacity. Few cars were built to the outbreak of the war, and the monobloc 30/98 E Type engine gradually evolved into the overhead valve 30/98 OE engine which was introduced from 1922, with stroke reduced giving 4224cc, yet the power was now 112hp (as opposed to the earlier 90hp). Most 30/98 chassis carried the standard factory Velox tourer. The Vauxhall 30/98 stayed in production for a short while after the Chrysler take over in 1925, production ending in 1928.
Vauxhall 30/98 tyre size was originally 820x120 beaded edge, of which Blockley produces the best tyre and matching 820x120 inner tubes. We have a specification sheet from 1928 listing the tyre size for Vauxhall 30/98 as a straight sided 32x4 1/2, so these were clearly a factory fitment toward the end of 30/98 production, using the 23" wheel rim. Both these correct 30/98 tyre sizes are shown below, with full details. For those cars fitted with later rolled rims and using 21" or 23" wheels, Blockley also produces these sizes of tyres. In addition, for Trialling some owners like to fit the taller 880x120 beaded edge tyres for the extra ground clearance, a size that may have been fitted to some of the exported cars to the Colonies in period.
