Once the PD Cresta & Viscount programme was cancelled in 1969 Vauxhall continued production of the PC Series until the 1972 model year in the hope that the top of the FE range Ventora would serve as an interim replacement even though it was considerably smaller than the PC and, in the case of the Viscount, less well equipped. Another option was the FE Viscount 4.2litre V8, this was to be announced at the 1973 Motor Show as a show car to gauge public reaction but as the world was gripped in the middle of a fuel crisis it was pulled at the last minute and never shown. In any case yet another variation on the standard FE platform was unlikely to appeal to prestige car buyers. In order to meet the required size another project was undertaken in conjunction with Panther to build a stretched version of the VX Series, this car is described in detail within the VX Series section of vauxpedia. The car met the size and equipment targets but the FE Prestige model, as it was known within Vauxhall, was by the time completed based on a four year old V72 Platform model and was not something suitable for launch in 1978 as something new and competitive in the market place.

In 1976 two new design programmes were initiated: One was based around the V78 Opel Rekord E with modifications to the exterior styling, particularly the now familiar droop snoot front, and with completely different dashboard. The other was also based on the V78 platform but using a completely new 5 door hatchback body and interior design unique to Vauxhall.

The plan was to only offer the car with one name – Ventora - in one hatchback style with 1.7, 2.0 & 2.2E CIH engines which were all being planned for use in Opel’s version of the V78 Programme. This would have given the new Ventora a similar coverage of the previous VX Series engine options. The Hatchback concept was an obsession within Vauxhall at this time, there were no plans for an Estate version because it was felt the body style would cover both saloon & estate buyer requirements, ironically Rover were planning the same thing with their SDI which would launch in 1978 as well.

The design featured some typical Wayne Cherry styling cues. The overall shape was aerodynamic with large glass area and looked attractive from any angle, it featured slim pillars and completely recessed door handles with smoothed out door mirrors integrated into the window corners. The rear end featured large wraparound rear light units with a traditional Vauxhall black panel in between, the hatch was large and stretched from the roof line down to the rear lights, it featured air vents at the base of the rear window which used a Griffin transfer at the bottom as identification as a Vauxhall. The exhaust was a typical Vauxhall design studio item and would have been something that would have changed if the car had ever reached production. At the side the car featured a prominent swage line with a Ventora transfer just below on the front wings which was later changed to a chrome badge on the rubbing strip itself.

Possibly the biggest surprise was the front, instead of a droop snoot there was a colour coded split grille above & below the bumper with indicators and fog lights combined into large units moulded into the front valence. A discreet red Griffin badge was mounted in the centre of the upper front grille.

Overall the design echoes that of the Cavalier MK2 Hatch that would launch 6 years later and so had the Ventora made it to production it would have fitted in perfectly with the family identity. Unfortunately the huge tooling costs for making a unique Vauxhall model that only shared a floorpan & engines with the Opel V Car were the reason for the cancellation of the Ventora Concept, the changes made to create the Carlton MK1 were a fraction by comparison and the chances of recouping the additional costs of the Ventora were an unknown quantity especially as a large hatchback had no track record in the market place at the time. Personally speaking I think if it could have been built then it would have been a bigger sales success than the 1978 Carlton was but whether it would have made money for Vauxhall is another question. In any event it is yet more proof of the latent talent that resided in Vauxhalls Design Department.