1974 Vauxhall Firenza HP Droopsnoot Tribute

Highlights

• Excellent homage to a rare and iconic model
• Freshly and comprehensively restored
• In stunning condition throughout
• Tuned 170bhp 2.0-litre Red Top XE engine
• Many new and upgraded parts
• Magazine featured
• Registered as an historic vehicle

Overview

Vauxhall may be better remembered for its mundane family runabouts but let's not forget the car maker from Luton and latterly Coventry dropped some absolute bangers on us over the years. And we're not talking about the beat up and noisy type. Or sausages. There's the Lotus Carlton, for example, and who could forget the V8-powered Monaro or the VX220? And back in the '70s there was the Firenza, a car that captured the imagination of many an enthusiast and whose legacy still inspires today, especially in HP “Droopsnoot” form.

Named for its rather pointy front end and with the HP standing for High Performance, the Droopsnoot – with its 2.3-litre, slant-four engine – took the original Firenza, gave it a facelift and beefed it up for an increased power figure of 131bhp, meaning the car could hit 60mph in seven and a half seconds and press on to a top speed of 120mph. Produced in incredibly limited numbers (just over 200 were ever built) finding a genuine example in good condition nowadays is a tall ask, which is why this homage – based upon a 2.3 SL – is a very tempting, and indeed far more attainable proposition.

A meticulously restored and sympathetically modified example that has been rebuilt as a high-quality tribute, this Droopsnoot Firenza perfectly combines the unmistakable styling of one of Vauxhall's most iconic models with the reliability and performance of the renowned 2.0-litre 16-valve Red Top XE engine mated to a Getrag five-speed gearbox. Every aspect of the project has been approached with the aim of producing a reliable, well-engineered driver's car while respecting the heritage of the original and the results really do speak for themselves. The full details of the work involved can be found below but suffice to say this is a wonderful opportunity.

History and documentation

• 1973 model year
• V5C present and correct
• First registered 01 Aug 1973
• Originally supplied as a Vauxhall Firenza 2300 delux, the car is believed to have enjoyed some period competition history, although little documentation survives to verify the details
• Nine registered former keepers
• Registered as an historic vehicle
• During the 1990s the car was rebuilt as a Droopsnoot homage and included as the centre piece in a well-known classic car magazine feature dedicated to high-performance Vauxhalls, highlighting both the quality of the conversion and its significance within the marque's enthusiast community
• Around 2001 the previous owner purchased the car and embarked upon what was intended to be a complete restoration with the body stripped and painted but the project remained unfinished and was stored for more than twenty years
• Acquired by the current owner in 2024 and comprehensively restored, effectively rebuilding the vehicle from the ground up while incorporating carefully considered mechanical upgrades
• Multiple invoices for various parts
• Four keys
• Tax and MOT exempt
• London ULEZ compliant
• HPI clear
• 54,537 indicated miles
• Vendor reports less than 50 miles covered since being rebuilt
• The car can be delivered by the vendor via trailer within a 100 mile range if petrol costs are covered

Interior

• The interior has been renewed during the restoration and presents beautifully throughout
• The cabin remains faithful to the original design while offering a significantly higher standard of finish
• New sound deadening throughout
• New carpets
• Fully retrimmed seats in the same material and style as the Droopsnoot
• Mountney four-spoke leather steering wheel
• Some slight damage to the headlining
• Rev counter not connected
• No reports of any electrical issues - the seller tells us that the battery warning light showing in the video has been resolved by tightening the fan belt
• All gauges look to be in good condition
• Boot space is clean and tidy and comes complete with new carpet and a spare steel wheel and tyre
• Detailed engine bay presents very well

Exterior

• The car's bodywork presents exceptionally well
• Starfire Silver paintwork (originally blue, and repainted yellow in the 80s) is in superb shape and complements the distinctive Droopsnoot styling
• The underneath of the shell has been stripped to bare metal removing decades of paint, underseal and accumulated road grime
• Vendor reports the condition of the underneath proved exceptional for a 50-year-old Firenza, requiring only two small localised repairs before being correctly welded and finished
• The entire underside has been treated with rust inhibitors before being refinished with high-quality protective coatings to ensure long-term preservation
• Considerable engineering has gone into the installation, with numerous bespoke components manufactured specifically for the project, meaning no alterations were made to the bulkhead in order to fit the engine
• Refurbished Revolution 13” alloy wheels appear to be free from any damage or blemishes
• Tyres are all Nankang Econex NA-1 models that the vendor reports as new
• Note that the walk around video shows the off side rear light not working but the vendor advises that this has now been resolved 
• The refurbished underside reflects the standard of workmanship applied throughout the build

Mechanical

• 170bhp, 2.0-litre naturally aspirated 16-valve Red Top XE engine
• Engine has been treated to an oil change, new plugs, HT leads, cambelt and water pump
• Twin Weber 45 carburettors
• Jenvey inlet manifold
• DTA engine management system
• Professionally rolling road tuned
• Getrag five-speed manual gearbox
• Rear-wheel drive
• Suspension stripped, painted and re-bushed as required
• ECU-controlled electric cooling fan and fuel pump
• Refurbished brake calipers, fuel tank, and four-branch tubular exhaust manifold
• New brake shoes, flexible lines and wheel cylinders
• New fuel pump, filters, rubber lines, and fuel tank sender unit
• Recent battery, cam belt, water pump, alternator, fan belt and adjuster, spark plugs, coil pack HT leads and oil cooler
• Custom Prop shaft, alloy radiator and pipes, engine bay wiring , DTA ecu wiring loom, brake system (including master cylinder with remote reservoir and remote electric servo and pump
• Original heater valve provided, with grommet for bulkhead water pipes
• Spare ignition lock included (key in original is broken but still works)
• Vendor reports a small oil leak from the differential and the need for different air filters as the holes are too small
• The vendor informs us that the car starts straight away and runs and drives fine but they have not covered many miles since it was set up on the rolling road

Summary

Clearly a labour of love with no bolt or washer seemingly left unturned this 1973 Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot restomod offers the character of an iconic period sports coupe with genuinely modern usability and unlike many older restorations has been rebuilt with long-term reliability in mind. Combining carefully refurbished original components with bespoke engineering where improvements could be made without compromising the car's legendary character this really is a very well thought out and brilliantly put together tribute to one of Vauxhall's finest offerings.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Hinkley, Leicestershire.