The mythical creature in the Vauxhall car brand emblem is a griffin.
Vauxhall adopted the griffin as a visual symbol because the company’s name is associated with Fulk le Breant, a medieval mercenary who owned Vauxhall Manor in London. His heraldic arms included a griffin, a legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle.
The emblem has changed substantially over time. Earlier versions showed a more detailed griffin, while later badges simplified the figure for clearer visibility on cars and marketing materials. The griffin is sometimes confused with a dragon or eagle because it combines features of several animals, but its heraldic identity is specifically a griffin.
Vauxhall is the British-market sister brand of Opel. Both brands have used related design themes at different points, although Vauxhall’s griffin remains its distinctive historical emblem.