Vauxhall had seen its market share in Britain collapse in the early 1970s, and attempts to sell the Viva Hc had been disastrous. A new Viva HD was designed, but a change of Managing Director saw the project promptly dropped. As an alternative, Vauxhall called on its German cousins who released their U-car model, the Opel Ascona and Manta, and this was turned into the Vauxhall Cavalier MkI launched at the Earls Court Show in 1975. In 1981 Vauxhall was given its own version of the General Motors J-car family to form the Vauxhall Cavalier from 1981 to 1988. In 1988 Vauxhall rebadged the new Opel Vectra as the Vauxhall Cavalier MkIII which continued until 1995 when a new Opel Vectra B was badged as the Vauxhall Vectra and the 'Cavalier' badge was dropped.