The Velox was a large family car, directly competing in the UK with the contemporary six-cylinder Ford Zephyr, and to a slightly lesser extent, with the A90, A95, and A110 Austin Westminster models.
The classic four-door saloon boasted a newly developed straight-six-cylinder engine of 2,275 cc (138.8 cu in), with overhead valves.
The LBP model ID was applied to "chassis only" exports to Australia,[3][7] where local production included a two-door Caleche tourer[4] and, in early four-door saloons, a unique "six-light" body featuring an additional rear window behind the back doors.
Velox LIP production also took place in Switzerland, where a 400 kg van version (built by Geser of Lucerne) was a common sight in the 1950s serving as Swiss Post Office vehicles.
[10] In August 1951[14] a longer, wider Velox was launched, designated as the EIP series,[11] and featuring a modern 'three box' shape and integral construction.
Ford's test car was fitted with options including a radio, a heater and leather seating: thus equipped the Zephyr came with a recommended retail price of £842.
[15] In April 1952 the Velox was redesignated as the EIPV series,[11] and received a new over-square 2262 cc engine which had been in the development pipeline for several years.
The 1954 VELOX also differed from the 1953 which had a side opening bonnet, by having a front opening bonnet Detroit was by now favouring annual facelifts, and Vauxhall reflected that trend, announcing further facelifts for 1956 (wind-up windows, larger rear window, wider grille slats, separate amber rear flashing indicator lights replacing US-style red units incorporated into the brake/tail light lens, new instrument graphics) and again for 1957 (electric wipers, larger tail lights, new grille, new 'magic ribbon' AC speedo) in line with the Wyvern model.
In Australia, Holden built a quantity of utilities (pickup trucks) as well as the 2-door Vagabond Convertible based on the EIP Velox.
The Velox was also assembled at the General Motors New Zealand plant in Petone, north of Wellington, through to and including the PC Cresta of the late 1960s, by which time buyer favour had turned to the similarly sized GM-dealer stablemate from Australia, the Holden Belmont/Kingswood.
Particularly eye catching was the new wrap-around windscreen; combined with a three part rear window it created an airy passenger cabin providing exceptional all round visibility, Like the Cresta on which it was based, the PA Velox took styling cues from the 1957 Buick Special.
The October 1960 facelift for 1961 was marked by further modifications to the trim, new rear lights with modified tail fins (no longer with indicators built in), combined front park/indicator lamps and a new dashboard with the two round dials replaced by a rectangular cluster with "magic ribbon" speedometer – the strip indicating speed changed from green to amber at 30 mph and to red at 60 mph.
The UK had recently embarked on its first programme of motorway building, and the Velox now boasted a straight line maximum speed of 94 mph (151 km/h).
Velox models were also assembled at the General Motors New Zealand plant in Petone with special versions again built for local traffic police.
For 1962, the painted dashboard gave way to simulated wood, the ashtray was moved from an in-dash drawer to the dashtop, wipers were lengthened to overlap slightly, a horn ring was added to the Velox steering wheel and there were minor instrument cluster changes to increase the size of warning lights.
[21] The 2.6 was retained for some export markets in which government tax thresholds penalised buyers and users of cars with engine sizes above 2800 cc.
PB Velox models were again assembled at the General Motors New Zealand plant in Petone and special versions were again built for local traffic police.