Vauxhall Carlton I (E) gallery (1978–1986)
An executive rear-wheel-drive saloon and estate based directly on the Opel Rekord E platform.
The first-generation Vauxhall Carlton was launched in late 1978 as a direct successor to the Vauxhall Victor FE series. Mechanically identical to the Opel Rekord E, the rear-wheel-drive executive car was based on the GM V-body platform and produced in both saloon and five-door estate configurations. Early models featured Vauxhall's distinctive droop-snoot front-end styling with horizontal air intake slots. The vehicle was powered by a range of Cam-in-Head (CIH) four-cylinder petrol engines displacing 1.8, 2.0, and 2.2 litres, alongside a 2.3-litre naturally aspirated diesel option. Transmission choices spanned four-speed and five-speed manuals alongside three-speed GM automatic gearboxes. A major mid-life facelift in 1982 aligned the Carlton with the updated Rekord E2, introducing aerodynamic front panels, integrated bumpers, refreshed interior trim, and enhanced soundproofing before making way for the all-new Carlton in 1986.
