Product type | Automobiles |
---|---|
Produced by | GM Canada |
Country | Canada |
Introduced | 1959 |
Discontinued | 1970 |
Related brands | Vauxhall |
Envoy was an automobile brand created by General Motors of Canada and used to sell badge engineered British built Vauxhall and Bedford vehicles on the Canadian market from 1959 to 1970.
"Envoy" remained a trademark owned by Vauxhall and the name resurfaced as a trim designation in the 1990s, and was used to denote the entry level trim of various Vauxhall cars into the mid 2000s.
The Envoy name was first used in the Canadian market for a version of the Vauxhall Victor F Series 2. [1] It was sold through Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealerships at the same time as the Vauxhall version was sold though Pontiac-Buick dealers. [1] Introduced in 1959, the Envoy models differed from the Vauxhalls in terms of trim and equipment. The saloons were initially sold in Envoy Standard and Special models [2] and the estate version as the Envoy Sherwood Station Wagon. [3] An up-market Custom Saloon was added to the range in 1960. [2]
Envoy versions of the Vauxhall Victor FB were available through Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealers from 1962 [1] to 1964. [4] Externally the Envoy FB resembled the European market Vauxhall VX4/90, but used Victor mechanicals and interior. [4] The Envoy FB range again comprised Standard, Special & Custom Sedans and a Sherwood Station Wagon. [4] The Envoy received an uprated 1594cc engine for the 1964 model year. [4]
The sedan version of the Vauxhall Victor FC was marketed as the Envoy Special and the estate version as the Sherwood Wagon. [5] Again the Envoy utilized the exterior trim of the VX4/90. [5]
The Vauxhall Victor FD was sold under the Envoy name from 1968 to 1970. [6] It was offered in 4-door Sedan and Estate Wagon variants with a choice of 1599cc and 1995cc 4 cylinder engines. [6] Again the Envoy shared its grille with the Vauxhall VX4/90 model although its use for the Canadian Envoy FD model predated the release of the FD series VX4/90. [6]
The Envoy name was used on Bedford CA van and minibus models on the Canadian market, where it was called the EA Envoy van. The various models were designated the EASV (Envoy half ton van), the EALV (one ton van) and the EAZ (half ton chassis only). [2]
In 1964 the Vauxhall Viva HA was introduced in to the Canadian market as a Vauxhall and also as the Epic. [1] The Epic differed from the Viva in that it used the grille and rear lights from the Viva SL. [1] Although not marketed as an Envoy, [7] it carried both "Envoy" and Epic" badging. [8]
The Vauxhall Viva HB was launched in Canada in 1967 as a Vauxhall and also as the Epic. [1] The Canadian models were distinguished by a four headlamp front grille, different trim, different body side mouldings and badging. [1] The Epic HB was offered in 2 door sedan, 4 door sedan and Estate Wagon models. [1] 1159cc, 1595cc and 2000cc engines were available. [1] After the 1970 model year the Envoy brand was replaced with the Chevrolet Vega at Chev-Olds dealers, while the HC Vauxhall Viva continued to be imported under the Firenza name until badge engineering returned with the Pontiac Astre, a Vega twin, becoming Canadian Pontiac-Buick dealers' small-car offering in 1973, two years before appearing in US showrooms.
Pontiac, or formally the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, was an American automobile brand owned, manufactured, and commercialized by General Motors. It was originally introduced as a companion make for GM's more expensive line of Oakland automobiles. Pontiac quickly overtook Oakland in popularity and supplanted its parent entirely by 1933, in turn establishing its position as one of GM's dominant divisions.
The Vauxhall Viva is a small family car that was produced by Vauxhall in a succession of three versions between 1963 and 1979. These were designated the HA, HB and HC series.
The Opel Astra is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) developed and produced by the German automaker Opel since 1991, currently at its sixth generation. It was first launched in September 1991 as a direct replacement to the Opel Kadett. As of 2021, the car slots between the smaller Corsa supermini and the larger Insignia large family car.
The Pontiac Sunbird is a model line that was manufactured and marketed by Pontiac from the 1976 to the 1994 model years. Loosely deriving its name from the Pontiac Firebird, the Sunbird was introduced as the eventual replacement for the Pontiac Astre, replacing it entirely in 1978 as the smallest Pontiac.
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The Pontiac Catalina is a full-size automobile produced by Pontiac from 1950 to 1981. Initially, the name was a trim line on hardtop body styles, first appearing in the 1950 Chieftain Eight and DeLuxe Eight lines. In 1959, it became a separate model as the "entry-level" full-size Pontiac.
The Opel Omega is a executive car engineered and manufactured by German automaker Opel between 1986 and 2004. The first generation, the Omega A (1986–1994), superseded the Opel Rekord. It was voted European Car of the Year for 1987, and was available as a saloon or estate. The second generation, the Omega B, was manufactured from 1994 to 2004.
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The Pontiac LeMans is a model name applied to automobiles marketed by Pontiac. The name came from the French city of Le Mans, the site of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world's oldest active sports car endurance race that began in 1923. Originally a trim upgrade package based on the Tempest, the LeMans became a separate model in 1963.
The Pontiac Trans Sport is a minivan that was marketed by Pontiac from the 1990 to 1999 model years. The first minivan marketed by the division, the Trans Sport marked the beginning of a wider transition of moving away from sedans and station wagons as family-oriented vehicles. Marketed between the Chevrolet Lumina APV and the Oldsmobile Silhouette took its name from a similar 1986 concept vehicle.
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The Pontiac Parisienne is a full-size rear-wheel drive vehicle that was sold by Pontiac on the GM B platform in Canada from 1958 to 1986 and in the United States from 1983 to 1986. Right-hand drive models were locally assembled in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa until 1969. For most of its run, the Canadian Parisienne was nearly mechanically identical to the American Chevrolet Impala or Chevrolet Caprice. The Parisienne wagon continued under the Safari nameplate until 1989. Parisienne or La Parisienne means a grammatically female person or thing from Paris, France.
The Vauxhall Victor is a large family car produced by Vauxhall from 1957 until 1976. The Victor was introduced to replace the outgoing Wyvern model. It was renamed Vauxhall VX Series in 1976 and continued in production until 1978, by which time it had grown significantly and was viewed, at least in its home market, as a larger-than-average family car.
Meteor was a marque of automobiles offered by Ford Motor Company of Canada from 1949 to 1976. The make was retired for the 1962 and 1963 model years, when the name was used for the Mercury Meteor sold in the United States. It succeeded the Mercury 114, a Canadian-market Mercury based on the Ford, the "114" name being taken from the car's wheelbase.
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General Motors New Zealand Limited, is a subsidiary of General Motors that distributes GM' motor vehicles, engines, components and parts in New Zealand.