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!!
The FB VX4/90 from the early 1960's was an excellent car. Performance was on a par with the then very popular Sunbeam Rapier and the 'works' prepared rally ones were competitive. In fact a 'works' VX4/90 won the National Rally of the Vales in 1962 (I think it was '62).
Later the Magnum 2300 was a great car on both track and rally stage. Jimmy McRae, George Hill and Will Sparrow all had good rally results with this car.
The problems started when the Opel and Vauxhall car ranges were merged, but the Senator was a good manager-level company car.
From a market standpoint, the Viva/Magnum/Firenza range was always in the shadow of the fantastic Escort range which had Ford's marketing department behind it.
Later the Magnum 2300 was a great car on both track and rally stage. Jimmy McRae, George Hill and Will Sparrow all had good rally results with this car.
The problems started when the Opel and Vauxhall car ranges were merged, but the Senator was a good manager-level company car.
From a market standpoint, the Viva/Magnum/Firenza range was always in the shadow of the fantastic Escort range which had Ford's marketing department behind it.
Dave Brand said:
Unfortunately neither could match the Cortina GT. . . then along came the Lotus Cortina!
That is absolutely correct.In fact I rallied with a guy who had used first a Rapier, then a VX4/90 until the Cortina GT came along and he was one of the first to use one. What a difference in total performance.
The Cortina GT absolutely wiped out the Rapier, VX4/90 and most other cars in UK rallying, with the exception of the Mini Coopers. Then the Lotus-Cortina started to be used for rallying once the GT suspension version was introduced and that was even more stunning. To drive a Lotus-Cortina in around 1965 was a real revelation. It was not just the power, it was the absolute driveabilty which they offered. A well-prepared Lotus Cortina had around 155 to 160 bhp and homologated gearing to suit all types of motor-sport.
Gerry M. in the Vauxhalls was just outstanding. Of course, one must remember that whilst his competitors were fuelled with 5-star petrol, Gerry was fuelled by best bitter!
Lots of love for the Vauxhalls here .I spent loads of time with some of the test guys from Millbrook back in the 70s and 80s and with the factory car club . I was often ballast in cars getting road mileage for testing or being prepared for press release or road tests .
Had loads of various models over the years from 101 Victors to Omegas and Vectras inc Viva GTs most of the Cavalier models .
Had loads of various models over the years from 101 Victors to Omegas and Vectras inc Viva GTs most of the Cavalier models .
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