After 66 Years, an Historic Vauxhall Wyvern makes it's return to Luton and the vauxhall Heritage Centre.

• Historic Vauxhall completes all-decade representation in Heritage Centre

A Vauxhall Wyvern, which rolled off the Luton production line in 1949, put its wheels back on to British soil for the first time in 66 years last week when it drove from the Netherlands to Vauxhall’s Heritage Centre, where it will form part of the company’s ever-growing collection of historic vehicles.

Manufactured at the famous Kimpton Road plant, the black Wyvern formed part of Vauxhall’s response to the Government’s ‘Export or Die’ drive, where car makers were ordered to send at least half of their production overseas. The left-hand-drive Wyvern was initially sent to Portugal, where it was registered BE-15-95 by the General Motors Overseas Corp in Lisbon.

After passing through numerous owners in Portugal, by the 1980s the Wyvern was in a sorry state until it was discovered by a member of the Vauxhall Owners Club Holland. The car was returned to the Netherlands where it underwent a comprehensive restoration over a number of years, and re-registered AL-74-81.

Two decades later, after the death of its saviour, the Wyvern passed into the hands of the VOCH’s Treasurer, Reyer Gerritsen, who has maintained the car in its current state over the last ten years. Reyer finally offered the car to Vauxhall Heritage due to a shortage of space after a house-move.

‘The Wyvern is a significant acquisition for us,’ said Andy Boddy, Senior Vehicle Restorer at Vauxhall Heritage. ‘The 70 vehicles that make up our collection, aged between 10 and 112 years, represent all but one of the decades Vauxhall’s been in business. The Wyvern fills the gap from the 1940s, and is also an interesting car thanks to its history. It’s also the first LHD Vauxhall that we’ve owned for a long time.’

The L-type Wyvern was made between 1948 and 1951. While much of its architecture was based on the pre-war H-type, its unitary construction – which Vauxhall pioneered in the UK – was a key to its light weight, giving it around 1cc per 1b of running weight. Handling was improved greatly, with different spring and damper rates, and while power wasn’t in abundance, the Wyvern was the liveliest and roomiest car in its class.

Vauxhall Heritage has one of the largest manufacturer-owned collections of its kind in the UK. It started in 1948, and now comprises around 70 Vauxhalls and Bedfords, including rare examples of iconic models like the 1903 5HP, Prince Henry, 30-98, Lotus Carlton and Firenza Droopsnoot. A majority of the cars are ready to use and kept busy at shows, events and through loans to the media.

Honda celebrates production the 300,000,000th motorcycle, in just 65 years.

Achieving a milestone more than 65 years in the making, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today announced production of its 300-millionth motorcycle. The milestone bike is a Honda Gold Wing produced at the company's Kumamoto Factory in Japan.  Honda will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic Gold Wing in 2015.

Honda began mass production of motorcycles in Japan in 1949 when it built the Honda 98cc Dream Type-D.  Today, Honda produces motorcycles, ATV's and side-by-sides at 32 plants in 22 countries, including two plants in North America.

"This incredible milestone is the result of the millions of customers who have placed their trust in Honda and we would like to thank all of our customers, associates, dealers and community partners in North America for helping make it possible," said Bob Gurga, Vice President and Manager of Motorcycle Division for American Honda. 

"Now, we are focused on the future and the ways that we can harness the challenging spirit of Honda associates to create new joy for Honda customers."

In 1958, Honda introduced the Honda 50, known globally as the Super Cub, which would go on to revolutionize the industry.  This iconic bike paved the way for Honda's expansion into the U.S. in 1959 and Canada in 1969. The Super Cub, which has sold nearly 90 million units globally since its inception, was the focus of a mid-1960s advertising campaign, ‘You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda,' that played a major role in the transformation and growth of the U.S. motorcycle market.

In the 1960s, Honda became the best-selling motorcycle brand in the U.S. and the world, leading to the establishment of Honda of America Mfg. and the company's first U.S. production facility, the Marysville Motorcycle Plant.  The plant, which opened on September 10, 1979 in Marysville, Ohio, produced both motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) until 2009.  

Production of ATVs has since shifted to Honda of South Carolina Mfg. (HSC) in Timmonsville, South Carolina.

Since the start of production in 1979, Honda has manufactured more than five million power sports products in North America using global and domestically sourced parts.  Today, HSC manufactures FourTrax ATVs and Pioneer side-by-sides and engines, while the Honda plant in El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico, produces motorcycles.

Furthermore, the research and development of Honda ATVs and side-by-side vehicles for both local and global markets is now being led by a team of engineers at Honda R&D Americas – with Powersports R&D operations in Los Angeles, Ohio and South Carolina.

The successful startup of motorcycle production at Honda of America Mfg. in 1979 was soon followed by the auto production at the Marysville Auto Plant in 1982. Motorcycle production continued in Ohio until 2009 and planted the seeds of manufacturing expertise that has led to many Honda facilities across North America. 

Today, Honda operates 17 major manufacturing facilities in North America, producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles and side-by-sides, power equipment products and the HondaJet light jet.

USA - 65 years ago a car that became a legend was first sold in the USA - That car was the Beetle.

The first VW Beetle arrived in the United States in January 1949. Since then, more than 5.5 million Beetle models have been sold in the U.S., in three distinctive designs

This month, the Volkswagen Beetle celebrates 65 years since it first arrived in the United States. In January of 1949, a Volkswagen “Type 1,” or Beetle, was shipped to New York City by Ben Pon, Sr., a Dutch businessman and the world’s first official Volkswagen importer. That car—and another, subsequent Beetle— found buyers the same year, marking the first time that Volkswagen vehicles were sold in the United States.

A cultural touchstone for an entire generation and one of the most iconic cars in the world, the Beetle led to the establishment of the first Volkswagen of America headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., in October 1955. In 65 years, Volkswagen has grown from selling two Beetle models in the U.S. to a brand that offers 11 different models that are sold by 644 dealers. In 2013, Volkswagen sold 407,704 vehicles, its second straight year of selling more than 400,000 vehicles and the first time this feat had been achieved since the 1970s.

By the mid-1950s, more than 35,000 Beetle models were on the road, and by 1960, nearly 300,000 had found buyers. Americans were not only drawn to the affordability and practicality of the early Beetle, but were so charmed by its unique design, its size, and its fuel economy that they’d forged an emotional bond with the cars.

“Since its arrival in the United States 65 years ago, the Volkswagen Beetle has preserved its reputation of being more than just a car, but a symbol of uniqueness and freedom,” said Michael Horn, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “The Beetle has become part of the cultural fabric in America and we are proud that its rich heritage continues to live with fans around the States.”

From custom paint jobs to open-top Dune Buggy bodies, the Beetle fit perfectly into the counter-culture of the 1960s. By 1968, as many as 423,008 Beetle vehicles a year were being sold in the United States. In 1977, the last “Type 1” Beetle rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle in 1998, a vehicle that paid styling homage to its predecessor, although its engine was water cooled rather than air cooled, and mounted at the front rather than at the rear.

Redesigned for just the second time in history, the third-generation Beetle entered the U.S. market in 2011. While staying true to its roots, today’s Beetle would be unrecognizable to buyers in the 1950s, thanks to its combination of powerful and fuel-efficient engines, sure-footed handling, and myriad technology and safety features. In addition to being fun-to-drive, the 2014 Beetle earned a 5-star Safety Rating from the Government's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

The third-generation Beetle sold more than 43,000 units in the United States in 2013, making it one of the most popular vehicles in the Volkswagen family, and a leading player in the market for two-door specialty coupes and convertibles.