The Cresta E version, launched in 1954, had the same 2262 cc six-cylinder engine in the same state of tune but scored over the Velox in having a choice of leather or fabric upholstery, optional two-tone paintwork, a heater as standard, a small electric fascia mounted clock, a cigar lighter, a lamp automatically illuminating the boot when opened and a vanity mirror on the inside of the front passenger's sun visor along with a special ornamental badge above the V (for Vauxhall) badge on the nose of the car.

The balanced drop windows were replaced by ones with proper winding mechanisms, there were interior trim improvements, separate amber rear flasher lights and windscreen washers became standard.

This model was assembled in New Zealand, alongside the Wyvern and Velox, with 840 being built in 1956, according to a local owners' group with access to copies of the GM Petone plant ledgers.

In June 1957, the Cresta received a redesigned engine of the same capacity based on the deeper block design introduced in four-cylinder form in the Victor F series in March of that year.

[7] It mimicked the American fashion for tail-fins, wrap-around windows and white-wall tyres, taking its cues from Harley Earl's 1954 Pontiac Strato-Streak concept.

All factory-built PAs were four-door saloons: the estate cars were converted by Friary of Basingstoke, Hampshire and are rare today.

[9] In August 1959, the Cresta was given a facelift, with a new, larger, grille and the replacement of the three piece rear window with a single wrap around screen.

The Vauxhall flutes on the front wings finally disappeared, replaced by a straight chrome side moulding which was also the division point for the two tone colour scheme.

Further changes came in August 1960 with the introduction of a new engine of square dimensions (bore and stroke were both 82.55mm) with a redesigned, longer, cylinder block and a capacity of 2651cc.

A further increase in compression ratio to 8.0:1 and larger valves in wedge shaped combustion chambers contributed to a power output of 95 bhp at 4,600rpm.

The front sidelights and direction indicators, previously separate were now in a combined housing and there were redesigned wheel trims and hub caps.

The engine was the same 2,651 cc (162 cu in) straight six as the last of the PA series and although the compression ratio was increased to 8.5:1, power output remained at 95 bhp.

In October 1963, an estate conversion was made available, the work carried out by Martin Walter Ltd. of Bedford Dormobile fame and fully approved by Vauxhall.

[15] No longer offered as a lower specification Velox version, it was designated PCS (standard), PCD (De Luxe) and PCE (Executive), this last model having its own name, 'Viscount'.

It was a different car, larger and styled with the coke-bottle look that would also be seen in the FD Victor series: it now resembled a slightly smaller Chevrolet Impala and also the second generation Opel Kapitan/Diplomat, although it had no engineering commonality with either.

It was similar to the Australian Holden HR, but larger and better trimmed, and featured the 3.3-litre straight-six engine with 140 hp SAE gross (104 kW; 142 PS) at 4,800 rpm for its entire seven-year production run.

Later cars, from about 1971, came with four-speed manual or three-speed automatic, both with floor shift though the base Cresta continued with a bench front seat.

[14] The estate version was 2+1⁄2 inches (6.4 cm) higher than the saloon due to a combination of heavy-duty rear suspension, an increase in the outer diameter of the tyres (to 7.00-14 in from 5.90-14in) and the modified roof line.

Introduced early in June 1966,[15] with the same engine and mechanical components as the Cresta PC, the Viscount was the "executive" version of it (hence the PCE model code).

The dark green, blue or maroon paintwork featured simulated, hand painted coachlines, along each flank, to give the car a coachpainted appearance.

[15] The British version of the Vauxhall Viscount automatic with the two-speed Powerglide transmission was road tested by Motor in September 1966.

The later automatic Viscount model, with the three-speed Strasbourg GM transmission, ought to have improved on these acceleration figures, especially at the lower speeds.

[18] In the 1950s and 1960s Queen Elizabeth II used a bespoke PA Friary Estate, and later a PC version of the Cresta as personal transport.

The Queen's PA Friary estate forms part of The Royal Car Collection at the Sandringham Exhibition & Transport Museum.