Firenza - Vauxhall / Chevrolet love?
Discussion
Sadly, there's a lot of Vauxhall hatred on here. I appreciate that the product's not been brilliant over the last few years (albeit better than claimed) but a lot of that is down to GM mismanagement and their evil cost centres. How different it could have been had they given their British arm the real support they needed.
My father's first new car was a Viva in 1971. An 1159cc deluxe, 2 door saloon in Indigo blue. I clearly remember the visit to Bentley Brothers on Savile Street in Sheffield on August the 1st. I was barely ten years of age when we met Dad at the showroom to collect the car and I loved it. He'd been a motorcycle mechanic for as far back as I could remember and a series of bikes (and sidecars - there was less shame about such things in those days) and one car (a Mk2 Ford Zephyr - we finished up pushing through the auction when the damn thing wouldn't start) kindled my genetically predetermined love of all things mechanical. A couple more new Vauxhalls - a Viva estate in 1976, and an 1800L four door saloon in 1977, were the last of them. He bought a bloody 1750 Austin Maxi in 1979 (I could have cried) and then several secondhand BL abominations including an automatic Metro (Mum couldn't drive manuals) and an Allegro followed. A 2 litre Cavalier GL with blue velour seats was a highlight although the fuel consumption proved unacceptable and was his last Luton product. Ok, probably Belgian product.
In 1976 I bought my first car. £5 a week for baling cardboard at our local Fine Fare (remember them?) eventually bought a two door, 1967, Viva HB SL90 in gold. It was a lovely thing and Dad helped paint it into Tekaloid's finest black cellulose. God I loved that car. Me and my mate Carl from school 'rally prepared' it. Ok, we put a pair of Cibie Super Oscars on the front, an Escort magnesium sump guard, a pair of Uniband knobblies on the back and a poti plug (Google road rallying) and off we went. It only lasted one rally but we loved it.
Fast forward forty years and I'm still using a Vauxhall product on rallies and demonstrations.
It's pretty popular but I wondered what PH folk think about it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QyN6Cb5uQE
My father's first new car was a Viva in 1971. An 1159cc deluxe, 2 door saloon in Indigo blue. I clearly remember the visit to Bentley Brothers on Savile Street in Sheffield on August the 1st. I was barely ten years of age when we met Dad at the showroom to collect the car and I loved it. He'd been a motorcycle mechanic for as far back as I could remember and a series of bikes (and sidecars - there was less shame about such things in those days) and one car (a Mk2 Ford Zephyr - we finished up pushing through the auction when the damn thing wouldn't start) kindled my genetically predetermined love of all things mechanical. A couple more new Vauxhalls - a Viva estate in 1976, and an 1800L four door saloon in 1977, were the last of them. He bought a bloody 1750 Austin Maxi in 1979 (I could have cried) and then several secondhand BL abominations including an automatic Metro (Mum couldn't drive manuals) and an Allegro followed. A 2 litre Cavalier GL with blue velour seats was a highlight although the fuel consumption proved unacceptable and was his last Luton product. Ok, probably Belgian product.
In 1976 I bought my first car. £5 a week for baling cardboard at our local Fine Fare (remember them?) eventually bought a two door, 1967, Viva HB SL90 in gold. It was a lovely thing and Dad helped paint it into Tekaloid's finest black cellulose. God I loved that car. Me and my mate Carl from school 'rally prepared' it. Ok, we put a pair of Cibie Super Oscars on the front, an Escort magnesium sump guard, a pair of Uniband knobblies on the back and a poti plug (Google road rallying) and off we went. It only lasted one rally but we loved it.
Fast forward forty years and I'm still using a Vauxhall product on rallies and demonstrations.
It's pretty popular but I wondered what PH folk think about it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QyN6Cb5uQE
I agree Dinoboy. I've been told that they were sold out in the early 80's by Wayne Cherry (someone seen as a Vauxhall hero but maybe not) when they gave Opel car responsibility and Vauxhall responsibility for trucks and vans. The Omega was a good car but probably the last decent one.
As for BertBert - I'm afraid I'm guilty as charged, mate!!
As for BertBert - I'm afraid I'm guilty as charged, mate!!
Gassing Station | UK Club Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff