In its early days, the automobile was, to a large degree, the proviance of wealthy sportsmen. And fro these sporting drivers, the name "Prince Henry" referred to one of the premier racing events in the world. The Prince Henry Trials, first run in 1908, were 500-mile events with speed trials and hill climbs. And, from these prestigious trials emerged what many consider the world's first two sports cars. One of these seminal sports cars was the Vauxhall.
The 1914 Prince Henry Vauxhall, probably the most coveted of the pre-war sports cars, had a 3 litre engine which had been enlarged to nearly 4 litres and could attain a top speed of 75 miles an hour. Despite its speed, its exceptional handling ability and a reasonable price tag of 580 pounds, the Prince Henry Vauxhall sold less than 200 units between the years 1910 and 1914: the lure of the sports car was still several years away. It is its rarity and place in history, however, that have made the Prince Henry Vauxhall an undeniable classic. Now, this esteemed motorcar is reborn in a die-cast model crafted by Matchbox Collectibles exclusively for The Models of Yesteryear: the 40th Anniversary Collection.

(1996)

Scale: 1:47