Vauxhall Victor 101 Original Polarity

[Old Sparky]

Knowing that this model dates from the early 1960s, I would assume that they were Positive Earth ex-factory, but does anyone know for sure?

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
The Victor 101 (FC) started in the 1965 model year. My dad had one and it was negative earth, unlikely to have been changed as he was the second owner.

EDIT. What normally happens is the new models would be put into production after the tooling is redone in August. The old Victor FB would stop in July 64 and the 101 (FC) start late August, so there is some "B" registered 101's.
They originally came with a dynamo so it is possible some came with positive earth. You'd need to find out the year of the 101 your asking about. When the 101 had the 4/90 option an alternator was fitted across the range and that was in 1966 (D reg) and they all were negative earth.
Hop that helps.

[Old Sparky]

Thanks, Trevor. It seems the 101 in question was/is Negative earth. I'm surprised I couldn't find that out by looking up the specifications on the 'net/

[Murphyv310]

Nice old car, huge boot too. I learned in my dad's 101, 3 speed column change etcetera and a British Relay Escort 1100 Estate.

[Crackle]

Trevor, I have to ask, what is the point of that fuelly thing in your signature.
Why is it reporting that your Fiat Panda is returning 47.5 MPG, surely that is not good for a Panda.

Mike

[Murphyv310]

Hi Mike.
Fuelly keeps a record of all your fuel ups and manufacturers use the data too.
Most of my running is around town and I've just done over 1000 miles since the 29th January. When you consider I was only getting 17mpg in the Rover then 47 in the Panda is brilliant. The last fuel up was 53mpg and that was due to an Edinburgh run that was included in that. No complaints at all with the Panda.

[Geordie McBoyne]

From Honest John: https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/review...victor-fc/

Wasn't the Victor 101 one of the first British cars to have curved side glass?
Also, the rust issues of the FA and FB models were addressed with this model.

Geordie McBoyne.

[Murphyv310]

Yes the 101 (FC) did have curved windows and it was allegedy the first UK car to have curved windows.
The FB addressed a lot of the rust issues of the Victor "F", they did still rust just like every other car of the time, the "F" thoug.h was a joke

[Cardigan]

From Honest John:  https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/review...victor-fc/

Wasn't the Victor 101 one of the first British cars to have curved side glass?
Also, the rust issues of the FA and FB models were addressed with this model.  

Geordie McBoyne.

There was no such Victor as the FA - the first ones were the 1F and 2F, officially the Series F Type 1 and Type 2. Also, the FB Victors didn't rust anywhere near as badly as the F-series either (my father had an FB) as pointed out by Murphyv310 above - and at 11 years old when he sold it during the 1973 fuel crisis it was presentable and solid enough to be on sale within a day at the forecourt of the garage he bought its replacement from. Now, this car I do know was positive earth and was an early (1962) FB.

There are a number of official Vauxhall training manuals for the FC on eBay at the moment, as well as one of the Pearson's books (a precursor to the Haynes manuals). A search  for "Training Manual Victor101" should yield the required results.

I have to say, I thought the FD to be the most handsome car Vauxhall ever built, especially with 'Rostyle' wheels and in a dark colour, such as this:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1972-Vauxhall-...3106285113

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
The FD was a big gamble for Vauxhall with its OHC engine and coke bottle styling. It sold relatively well but really didn't last the pace. My favourite was the first VX4-90 in the FB shape.