RE: Spotted: 1974 Vauxhall Firenza HPF
Discussion
gaz9185 said:
Would like a standard one for the road but this one whilst no doubt being quick sounds on the expensive side. What would one do with it other than run it on the road for plod car baiting or as speed camera speed fodder. Problem with Vivas - had two at once - was inner wing rust at an early date and repair wasn't easy. Seem to recall gearbox bearing troubles also.
ellisd82 said:
Question: Still want that Mk2 Escort, then?
Answer: Yes.
Decent car thought it is, its no Escort. I would rather have the Lotus Elan that thewheelman posted a pic of, especially at the price.
Your right, its no escort, thats why it gets my vote, much better left field choice than yet another fast escort.Answer: Yes.
Decent car thought it is, its no Escort. I would rather have the Lotus Elan that thewheelman posted a pic of, especially at the price.
threespires said:
The day the Firenza was announced, we had a Silver one on display.
A man stopped to see it, he was driving a Ferrari Daytona.
"I want that car ready for my wife to pick up on Friday"
"OK" we said.
"I don't want a Staffordshire registration because they end in BF and I'm not a Bloody Fool"
"No problem, we'll register in Birmingham"
So we applied to Oozells St tax office in Brum and asked for a low number.
The number they issued :-
YOB 8J
Great story. A man stopped to see it, he was driving a Ferrari Daytona.
"I want that car ready for my wife to pick up on Friday"
"OK" we said.
"I don't want a Staffordshire registration because they end in BF and I'm not a Bloody Fool"
"No problem, we'll register in Birmingham"
So we applied to Oozells St tax office in Brum and asked for a low number.
The number they issued :-
YOB 8J
I'm guessing he might have preferred it ending in BF after that!
ellisd82 said:
Question: Still want that Mk2 Escort, then?
Answer: Yes.
Decent car thought it is, its no Escort. I would rather have the Lotus Elan that thewheelman posted a pic of, especially at the price.
It destroyed an Escort but didn't compete with it, it was a competitor for the Capri. Part of the reason they introduced the Chevette was because the Viva was bigger than the Escort but smaller than the Cortina which expanded with the Mk III.Answer: Yes.
Decent car thought it is, its no Escort. I would rather have the Lotus Elan that thewheelman posted a pic of, especially at the price.
The Escort was primitive with leaf spring rear suspension where the Vauxhall had trailing arms and coils. The Vauxhall handled better and had 131bhp allowing it to hit 60 in 8 seconds and hit 120 in 1973. Even in a relatively recent showdown btween RS2000, Dolly Sprint and Vauxhall HP, it came out on top. The Dolly had 127hp from its 16v 2.0 but was still a fraction slower. Ford arrived late with a 110hp RS2000 that tried to copy the snout of the Vauxhall but using a Cortina engine, it was much slower at around 9 seconds to 60 and 110mph top end.
1978 saw the 135hp 16v Chevette HS arrive although this was partly a development of the earlier rally-bred 1976 Kadett GTE and used its suspension.
However, 1974 also brought another stunning GM/Broadspeed creation - the Opel Manta Turbo, another car I drooled over as a teenager:
I think some are failing to realise the quantity and quality of the spare parts that are being sold with this Firenza. i fail to see the point comparing it against cars for sale for similar amounts of money but without as many (or any at all) parts to go with it, or against a car which was below it (as said it competed against the capri)
That said, as much as i like a vauxhall and as different as it may be i'm not sure i would want to spend that sort of money on it. Good find though and the owner clearly has a lot of passion for it.
That said, as much as i like a vauxhall and as different as it may be i'm not sure i would want to spend that sort of money on it. Good find though and the owner clearly has a lot of passion for it.
Very cool car and much better than the rs2000 of the time I reckon as the Ford was just an escort with a 2 litre engine and a nose job. The Vauxhall was a coupe viva with a 2.3 litre engine and a nose job. I had a Magnum coupe 2.3 and a Magnum saloon 2.3 and loved them both though the coupe more and wish I still had it. Love that LS version ealier in post too 
and like to see it finished and in the flesh. 
martin-reyland said:
dave stew said:
Rover V8?
V8 yes but not an old Rover donkey...
Almost 30 years ago, I nearly bought a 'snoot. Went to have a look at 2 of them, as I was always keen on them since seeing them new parked outside the big Mamos Vauxhall dealership down the road from me (along with a clutch of the later estates that used up the noses).
Decided to buy a RS2000 instead though, and much later when I then had the Sunbeam-Lotus had much contact with a bunch of the DSG whilst manning club stands at various classic cars shows.
I've actually still got an original genuine 'snoot sales brochure that I aquired at the time I was looking at buying one.
Love it, but then I do have soft spot for fast 70s Vauxhalls as my first car was a lowly 1256 Shoveit. I particuarly like the grab-handle above the glove box for the passenger to hold on for for dear-life.
When I lived in Southend in the late 90's there was one parked up on a driveway on the A127 just as you enter the town but I don't think I've ever seen one on the road. RS2000s however....
When I lived in Southend in the late 90's there was one parked up on a driveway on the A127 just as you enter the town but I don't think I've ever seen one on the road. RS2000s however....
6 times cheaper and looks vaguely similar - fun to drive too:
http://www.carmole.com/1771189/Vauxhall-chevette-f...
http://www.carmole.com/1771189/Vauxhall-chevette-f...
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