Wednesday 14th September 2011

Spotted: 1974 Vauxhall Firenza HPF

Still want that Mk2 Escort, then?

---

It's not often that we feature a Vauxhall in Spotted, but the sight of this genuine Droop Snoot Firenza HPF quickly had excited 'have-you-seen-this?' e-mails pinging around the PH office.

Maybe it's the associated imagery of Gerry Marshall hurling a similar car around back in the day or possibly the svelte seventies coupe styling with that eponymous, shovel-like schnozzle, but there's no doubt that this is a cool car.

As is so often the case with low-volume production cars the total number built is disputed, but a total figure of just 204 appears to be there or thereabouts. In the many years that the vendor (an engineer) has owned this car it's been completely restored, including a full bare-metal paint job, and then prepared primarily for track-day use. The list of work he's carried out and the collection of parts included in the sale is enormous and can be seen in full on the advert.

You can also see the net results of all the hard work in the form of an in-car video clip which was recorded at Castle Combe a couple of years ago. The picture isn't great, but what the vid lacks in crispness it more than makes up for with the sound...

The vendor 'conservatively' reckons that the dry-sumped motor is delivering about 170bhp, which is enough to make this a lively car. It comes with full MOT and tax, but if you're planning on putting it to use on Her Majesty's highways you might find the 700lb front springs to be on the firm side...just a tad.

The asking price of £13,000 also seems pretty good when you realise that the parts package included in the price features enough bits to open your own historic Vauxhall competition parts emporium - or perhaps build a replica of the famous DTV 'Old Nail' Firenza as driven by the legendary (and for once that term is entirely fitting) Mr Marshall.

If you're anywhere near Castle Combe this weekend it might be worth your while dropping in to witness the HPF at full-chat. Just take a very big van with you to carry all the parts if you want to buy it...

Buy this...	...and you can pretend it's this

 

 

 

[thewheelman]

A good find, a little overrated & little pricey in my opinion. If i was interested in a classic for that kind of money, i'd want somthing a little more special than a Vauxhall. For less money you could have had this ex show car, road & race spec Lotus Elan for £12,500....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3119802.htm

[dave stew]

Very old school! I recall the early days of Jimmy McRae's GM rallying career in a Magnum (before the Ascona and Manta 400s).

[pSyCoSiS]

That is a very cool car.

In some angles, it reminds me of the MK2 Escort? Or it might just be me!

Lovely, rare machine.

[M3John]

[Riggers]

thewheelman said:

A good find, a little overrated & little pricey in my opinion. If i was interested in a classic for that kind of money, i'd want somthing a little more special than a Vauxhall. For less money you could have had this ex show car, road & race spec Lotus Elan for £12,500....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3119802.htm

It's all subjective, though, isn't it? Personally, the Firenza fires my imagination more than that Lotus, lovely though it is...

[J4CKO]

pSyCoSiS said:

That is a very cool car.

In some angles, it reminds me of the MK2 Escort? Or it might just be me!

Lovely, rare machine.

I suppose with that front it will do, there was also the Magnum 2300, my uncle had one for years and it was a pretty quick car, bright orange with wide wheels it really looked the part, engine was about 130 bhp, very torquey and great for smoky getaways, the Firenza was the same shell but tended to have smaller engines, damn good looking car, certainly with the standard twin headlamps it was better looking than the Dropp Snoot if not as rare, saying that there are probably more Droop Snoots as they will have been preserved.

[Gary C]

Not my thing at the time, but have to admit it looks good in a retro cool way now.

[GTRene]

pSyCoSiS said:

That is a very cool car.

In some angles, it reminds me of the MK2 Escort? Or it might just be me!

Lovely, rare machine.

my first thoughts too a mk2 RS2000

[G0ldfysh]

First car was a viva would love a go in this see what the extra oomph feels like. Though wonder how like meeting your hero it would be

[thewheelman]

Riggers said:

thewheelman said:

A good find, a little overrated & little pricey in my opinion. If i was interested in a classic for that kind of money, i'd want somthing a little more special than a Vauxhall. For less money you could have had this ex show car, road & race spec Lotus Elan for £12,500....

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3119802.htm

It's all subjective, though, isn't it? Personally, the Firenza fires my imagination more than that Lotus, lovely though it is...

Yes, each to their own i guess. Just found another rare beast, this '74 RS 3.1 for the exact same money.

I think some people let sentiment block reality, the Firenza was a flop for several reasons back in its day.

[J4CKO]

thewheelman said:

Yes, each to their own i guess. Just found another rare beast, this '74 RS 3.1 for the exact same money.

I think some people let sentiment block reality, the Firenza was a flop for several reasons back in its day.

Yeah, but thats been messed with,

Why was the Firenza a flop, the Viva sold well and was a decent enough car of its time, this is just a "Saturday Night Viva"....

[neilbauer]

There was a mint one at the BMW SS, my mate had one some years ago when I was 17 and that was in poor condition all those years ago, so to see a mint one is very pleasing

[thewheelman]

J4CKO said:

thewheelman said:

Yes, each to their own i guess. Just found another rare beast, this '74 RS 3.1 for the exact same money.

I think some people let sentiment block reality, the Firenza was a flop for several reasons back in its day.

Yeah, but thats been messed with,

Why was the Firenza a flop, the Viva sold well and was a decent enough car of its time, this is just a "Saturday Night Viva"....

At the time there was an oil crisis on, which obviously is no fault of Vauxhall, which obviously put off many potential buyers. Vauxhall did plan to mass produce the car had the oil crisis not happened. That with the fact rivals Ford were more known for their "sporty" models than Vauxhall at the time. If you're interested in the facts, read this http://apptree.net/firenza.htm written by a guy that clearly knows Firenzas, well worth a look.

[rutthenut]

Standard Firenza never did it for me, but one that's been worked on appeals more.

But this one appeals *lots* more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J56qI03nbmw&fea...

[Essex Exile]

I loved these as a kid, they always looked that bit meaner and cooler than an RS2000. The purple estate version looked downright sinister, like darth vaders car, to a 7 year old

[y2blade]

very cool

[Tyngwndwn]

I had a viva 2300GT 1971 as my first car.
Just wondered if it was the same engine?

[DazBock]

Nice car but for £13,000 no thanks, I would be perusing the classifieds for a proper Lotus Europa for that.

[anything fast]

still prefer a droop snoot RS2000 all day long (esp with a cossie transplant )

[thewheelman]

mikele pirelli said:

There is some validity in that. Ford had the kudos of rallying in it's
favour so obviously a lot of people were impressed by that. And that
sold legions of Escorts.The Firenza was raced in touring car type
circuit racing ( as was the Capri ).

But there was a lot more sporty Fords around on the street than
Vauxhalls ... but the ones that were around were usually pretty
useful. I can remember being left for dead in my 2000 Pinto Ford, by the
first 2300 HS Chevette I came across.
Those were the days !

Edited by mikele pirelli on Wednesday 14th September 13:21

Most of my friends, & myself passed our driving tests in the early 90's, so the most popular....and cheap at the time cars were old Fords & Vauxhalls. We never had the top models, but that didn't stop the fun times. They were all a good laugh to drive, but the Vauxhall guys never bought Fords & vice versa. I do miss cars of that generation, great cars to learn real driving skills in.