Vauxhall Motors has come a long way since it produced its very first car way back in 1903. The 6HP was the first motor produced by the British-based manufacturer 110 years ago, and it is safe to say that things have moved on a lot since its slow-revving single-cycle engine took to the road.

As the UK's oldest surviving manufacturer, Vauxhall boasts a suitably large, and quite fanatical fan base. Enthusiasts from all over the country got together at the company's Luton heritage centre in August to celebrate the anniversary, and celebratory events are still on going. Selected Evans Halshaw dealerships for example put on a series of special events and promotions in October, to raise a glass of sparkling fruit juice to this amazing landmark.

To celebrate Vauxhall's birthday, we thought it would be fitting to remember some of manufacturer's classic creations from the past - and no we don't mean the Vauxhall Rascal.

30-98

2013 also marks the 100th birthday of one of the most celebrated and loved sports cars of the 20th century - the 30-98. It was the first car in the UK to top 100mph while in production, and was the precursor to the Cascade convertible you see today.

Of the 600 30-98s produced, unbelievably almost a third still exist today. As a result, a group of enthusiasts got together at Waddrington Fell in Lancashire to celebrate the 30-98 achieving the fastest time in the hill climb 100 years ago to the day.

PA Cresta

After ceasing commercial vehicle production during World War II to aid the war effort by manufacturing the Churchill Marks I - III tanks, Vauxhall got back into the swing of things in 1948 with its Velox and Wyvern models.

Nine years later came the PA Cresta, complete with American-style tail fans and a longer, lower and wider look and feel. This four-door saloon was a huge hit, exciting the British public with new pink, green and turquoise colour schemes. The PA Cresta was also a huge hit with '50s revivalists such as the teddy boys, becoming synonymous with rock 'n' roll in the process. In fact, a 1960 edition of the Cresta even appeared in the video for Ghost Town by the Specials.

SRV

Although never intended for production, the striking SRV concept vehicle was unveiled at the 1970 Earls Court Motor Show to raise the profile of the company. Inspired by the sleek, stylish Le Mans racers of the time, the SRV was able to comfortably seat four adults.

The SRV was designed by Wayne Cherry, and won plaudits for its "extreme study on angular design".

Cavalier

The Vauxhall Cavalier is one of the best-selling cars of all time. Launched in 1975, the Cavalier series was in production for 20 years before the final Cavalier Mk III was pulled in 1995. Originally created as a replacement for the Victor after it was overtaken by the Ford Cortina in the nation's collective hearts, the Cavalier brilliantly filled a huge gap in Vauxhall's vehicle line-up.

As Vauxhall was losing market share fast to Ford, the management decided to adapt the Ascona B created by German cohorts Opel to go head-to-head with the Cortina. The Cavalier trumped the competition in terms of quality, comfort and performance. After much initial critical acclaim for the Belgium-built models, production moved to the UK and the rest, as they say, was history.

Corsa

After conquering the saloon market with the Cavalier, nearly 20 years later Vauxhall decided the small car sector was next on the hit list. Step forward the Vauxhall Corsa.

Bringing features such as power steering, anti-lock brakes and car alarms to this area for the first time, the Corsa also featured water-based paints. Like the Cavalier, the Corsa was originally an Opel supermini, but was rebadged to great effect by Vauxhall in the 1990s, remaining one of the most popular small cars to this day.

Guest Post - 25 Nov 2013