Vauxhall Chevette HS | Spotted
Remarkably, the HS is approaching RS2000 values. But why shouldn't the 'Shove-it' be as sought after?
Mention the Vauxhall Chevette these days, and you’ll probably get a vacant stare followed by “What’s that, then?” if you’re speaking to a millennial. Or a flippant “You mean the Vauxhall Shove-it” from someone old enough to remember the days of disco and Donna Summer. But then you remember that Vauxhall’s humdrum hatch from 50 years ago had an oft-forgotten alter ego: the Chevette HS.
As you’ll now be recalling if you were around at the time, the HS was a corker. A successful Group 4 rally homologation special designed to bloody the nose of the pesky Ford Escort RS2000, which ruled the dirty roost at the time. And it wasn’t that long ago that you could pick up an HS for a lot less than an RS, but this one’s commanding similar money to its long-time rival. And why shouldn’t it? It is a fine example of something equally deserving as the Escort, which goes some way to justifying that epic price tag.
It's resplendent in silver, of course – the only colour you could order one in. Eventually, other colours were available, but only after some hasty repaints in black, for example, to help shift the HS, because at the time it wasn’t flying out the dealers’ door as quickly as Vauxhall had hoped. This one left the dealer, though: D.H. Chesney & Co. Ltd. in Ireland, judging by the original dealer’s sticker in the back window. Nice touch, that, for a car that can only be described as mint and mostly original.
The glaringly obvious things that are not ‘as new’ are the two side-draft Dellortos sprouting from the slant-four 2.3-litre motor. The original’s were Strombergs, of course, that garnered 135hp from the 16-valve head. These replacements, according to the advert, offer better breathing – enough to push the peak power to 150hp, which is what the development HSR came with in 1980. Mind you, even 135hp was enough to stick two fingers up to the 110hp the RS2000’s Pinto could muster.
The Chevette already had what, in the ‘70s, amounted to an aerodynamic front end. The standard car’s angled nose cut the air with the grace of a…well, probably a butter dish to be honest. I doubt Adrian Newey’s studying its fluid dynamics for inspiration for next year’s RB19. Still, at the time it seemed slippery smooth. So much so that Ford emulated it in the iconic polyurethane add-on front end of the RS2000, and not to be left out, Vauxhall created a one-piece polyurethane bumper and air dam for the HS. And a neat little flick-up spoiler on the boot, which, by the standards of the day, seems almost restrained.
Other treats lay in store. The HS had a dogleg, close-ratio Getrag five-speeder, and when you got in you were met with more tartan than an American who’s just discovered his tenuous Scottish roots. But here it works. Well, to my mind at least. I can think of few cars this side of a Peugeot 205 GTI that carry off the black with red carpets combo so well.
The main instrumentation is as simple and clear as can be. Nothing but a speedo reading to 120mph, a rev counter that red-lines just past 6,000rpm, a clock and six warning lights. One of those is, I am assuming, the brake fluid level, which would’ve been quite novel at the time. That simplicity is supplemented by the quartet of gauges crammed low down in the centre console. But, for me, the best bit has to be that deeply dished, three-spoke, leather-trimmed steering wheel. It’s just gorgeous.
I am not going to go all out and call the Chevette HS a stunner – it has a slightly dumpy-looking side profile – but I will risk a verbal onslaught by calling it a more cohesive design than the Mk2 Escort RS2000. The best-looking Escort will always be the Mk1. Whatever you say about its looks, though, objectively can anyone knock this HS’s condition? I mean, really? The advert says it’s a ‘stunning example’ and I can’t challenge that after studying the pictures closely. If it isn’t ‘the best in the country’ as stated, I’d love to know why? I could stare at the under-bonnet shot all day, which is immaculate, and the basic design of that canted-over four-pot makes the Pinto seem thoroughly mundane.
I am happy I spotted this. It’s got the lot, really: an acclaimed motorsport pedigree, plus it’s rare, interesting, beautifully presented and definitely quirky. If you don’t agree, then as far as I am concerned you can shove off. Because I’m all about the Shove-it.
Specification | Vauxhall Chevette HS
Engine: 2279cc, four-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 135 @ 5,500rpm (standard)
Torque (lb ft): 134lb ft @ 4,500rpm
CO2: N/A
MPG: 25 (ish)
Recorded mileage: 32,000
Year registered: 1978
Price new: N/A
Yours for: £44,995
Not sure I could convince myself to part with £45K for it, mind you: I had a Chevette converted to run a 2-litre Fiat Twin Cam on twin Dellortos (about 145bhp) with the Fiat 5-speed box, back in the day, that did much the same job and cost me £900, if I remember correctly.
I had a mate with a HSR.
We did discuss selling our various toys and pooling our cash to buy a Lancia Stratos (which at the time could be picked up for ~£35K), but we decided that dealing with the issues around shared ownership would be too complicated...
Sadly they were only the same performance as the XR3i of a few years after. Still, sometimes it’s not how fast you go ….. but how you go fast and for the avoidance of doubt I’d pick the HS over the Astra 1300S or XR…. or preferably a Manta GTE with an i200 gearset instead.
Not surprised at the asking - probably rarer than the Daytona featured at 10times the asking last week
This
The Chevette HS and Lotus Sunbeam were in a different league altogether than anything Ford had to offer.
- As well as the Strombergs missing , so is the cambelt cover. Its also got some offside Innerwing damage. That looks to have been in quite a heavy smash. The bonnet catch area doesn't look good either..
I had a mate with a HSR.
We did discuss selling our various toys and pooling our cash to buy a Lancia Stratos (which at the time could be picked up for ~£35K), but we decided that dealing with the issues around shared ownership would be too complicated...
A friend looked at and test drove one but then decided he’d want an HSR with the extra poke - the HS was very affordable in the mid 80s but he never got into an HSR to try
He’s not anti-GM as if I remember correctly he really enjoyed his Ascona 400……. and that was something that did seem quick
Often wonder if it was his old car that went flying past us one evening by Oswestry. That certainly seemed Lotus Sunbeam quick
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