Vauxhall Royale

Production period:	1978 to 1983
Body versions:	Saloon, Coupe
Engines:	Gasoline: 2.8-3.0 litres
Length:	192 in, 488 cm,Coupe 187.30 in. 476 cm
Width:	68 in, 173 cm
Wheelbase:	105.60 in, 268 cm
Curb weight:	1335-1430 kg

Flagship of the Vauxhall ranger similar in appearance to Opel Senator but powered by 2.8-litre carburettor-equipped instead of 3-litre fuel-injected engine. Available as four-door saloon or three-door hatch coupe.

History

The saloon is based on the German Opel Senator, and the hatchback on the Monza Coupé, both models coming complete with power-steering, automatic transmission, central door locking, sunroof, electric windows, and headlamp wash/wipe equipment. The hatchback has a folding rear seat, making it a useful as well as a fast-sporting coupé. Replacing the VX series, the Royales became the Flagships of the Vauxhall fleet. Apart from the different grille, the interior has individual Vauxhall features, including a different instrument panel. Great care is taken to ensure silence and refinement, including injection of foam into body box sections.

The three-door Coupe model was also offered asides the saloon. Introduced in October 1978 and assembled in Germany. assigned partly to the upper middle class, but partly also to the upper class. Body and technology were derived from the record E (Senator A) and Omega A (Senator B). A successor to Senator B was no longer developed due to the low sales figures.The Smaller-engine of two coupe versions of top Royale model the 2800 Vauxhall model, also available in 3-litre fuel-injected form and supplementing four-door saloon models, all based still based on Opel Senator/Monza range the Opel’s sell only with a 180 bhp fuel-injected 3-litre engine and the Vauxhalls with a 140 bhp carburetted 2.8 litre engine. As on the Opel’s, automatic transmission is standard but a manual gearbox is available to special order at no extra cost.

Royales only come as one version, with a lavish equipment list that is barely matched by even the most expensive versions of its rivals. The Royale's 2784 cc straight-six engine with a seven-bearing crankshaft, and block and head of iron it operates the in-line valves via short pushrods and rockers. Vauxhall's own top speed figures of 113 mph. with 140 bhp (DIN) at 5,200 rpm and 161 1b ft of torque at 3,400 rpm, with single twin-choke carburettor fitted with an automatic choke. The use of a single carburettor to supply fuel to six cylinders is not good fuel distribution,explaining why the Royale's poor fuel consumption at 17.6 mpg, even allowing for the automatic transmission which would give a theoretical range of 350 miles on the 16.5 gallons required to fill the Royale's tank the Royale does not have the luxury of electronic ignition untill later on the 3.0L.

• PERFORMANCE 2.8L
  max speed: 113 mph, 182 km/h
  max power (DIN): 140 hp (103 kW) at 5,200 rpm
  max torque (DIN): 161 1b ft, 22.2 kg m (218 Nm) at 3,400 rpm
  max engine rpm: 6,150
  50.3 hp/l (37.4 kW/l)
  power-weight ratio: 21.8 lb/hp (29.5 lb/kW), 9.9 kg/hp (13.4 kg/kW)
  acceleration: standing 1/4 mile 18.3 sec, 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 8.5 sec
  Fuel consumption: 19.3 m/imp gal, 16.1 m/US gal
• Royale Coupé 2.8L
  max speed: 115 mph, 185 km/h
  power-weight ratio: 21.8 lb/hp (29.5 lb/kW), 9.9 kg/hp (13.4 kg/kW)
  acceleration: 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 9 sec.
• PERFORMANCE 3.0L
  max speed: 130 mph, 210 km/h Coupe 134 mph, 215 km/h;
  power weight ratio: 17.1 lb/hp (23.8 lb/kW), 7.7 kg/hp
  max power (DIN): 177 hp (127 kW) at 5,800 rpm
  max torque (DIN): 182 1b ft, 25.1 kg m (246 Nm) at 4,800 rpm
  59.6 hp/h (42.8 kW/l)
  acceleration: 0-50 mph (0-80 km/h) 9 sec.

Transmission: Single-disc diaphragm clutch and four-speed manual gearbox or three-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive,GM's automatic transmission as fitted to the Royale the gear selector generally has a light and pleasant action it provides the smooth gearchanges, up and down. Although it is not difficult to spin the rear wheels in first gear on a wet road even if you accelerate hard from standstill to achieve full-throttle kickdown you have to push your foot to the floor.

The Royale's straight forward suspension, is nothing unusual with the use of MacPherson strut coil-spring suspension at the front and coil-sprung semi-trailing arms at the rear, along the use of power assistance recirculating ball steering gives precise feel. Front, independent with MacPherson struts. coilsprings, telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar. Rear.independent with trailing arms, coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers and anti-roll bar,

The interior has good size locker, trays on the transmission tunnel, and a pair of front door bins.The amount of legroom available depends not only on the seats' fore/aft settings but also on the height settings, at their highest setting leaves sufficient room for tall rear passengers and Headroom is plentiful. The well-shaped boot with 14.2 cu ft. A two-speed plus intermittent wiper and giving four automatic sweeps of the wipers when the washers are employed, and incorporating headlamp washers for poor weather. The Royale, which has a tilt-adjustable steering wheel only a single column stalk is provided, which controls dip/flash, wash/wipe and indicator, height-adjustable seat, and variable adjustment for the backrest angle. All the major controls are sensibly located in relation to one another, while the seats themselves are well cushioned. The lights switch is a rotary knob on the facia also switches on the interior light when it is pulled out. Switches for the electric windows are located on the transmission tunnel by the gear-lever.

Standard equipment includes alloy wheels, tinted electric window lifts, sliding roof, tinted glass. velour upholstery and head restraints.

With the Royale's instrumentation under a single reflection-free pane of glass display large, calibrated dials for the speedometer and tachometer incorporating a push-to-reset trip odometer, the latter being red-lined at 6,200 rpm with an orange sector starting at 5,800 rpm voltmeter and water temperature gauge to the left along with oil-pressure and fuel gauges additionally a clock on the facia. Four vertical slide controls for heating system; one for temperature; two for flow volume to the floor and screen and the fourth for the fan, which has a variable speed control. Apart from the floor and screen vents, there are also two vents at each end of the facia which can be used to demist the side windows or direct heated air towards the front seats. Fresh air at ambient temperature is provided through two central face-level vents and can be fan boosted.