Pictures of old or rare vehicles

[RWD3M]

This is the Firenza:

View attachment 537560

And this is the Sports Hatch:

View attachment 537561

I'm restoring another Sports Hatch at the moment, one of those "if it doesn't sell I'll break it" impulse purchases, and I am more than half-way through restoring my Audi coupe quattro, which was put on hold for the "quick" second Sports Hatch job almost six years ago.

I've often wondered about the front ends on these, do you think it was a response to Ford's Mk2 RS front?

 

[droopsnoot]

I've often wondered about the front ends on these, do you think it was a response to Ford's Mk2 RS front?

I've been asked that a few times. The HP Firenza was launched at the Motor Show in 1973, the Ford Escort RS2000 was still on the Mk1 shell at that time, so if anything it's the other way around - the Mk2 Escort didn't appear until January 1975. Vauxhall had been working on the front end for quite some time prior to launch of course. That doesn't stop classic car magazines from putting the two side-by-side, but one of the early road tests when it was just a new car was in "Car" magazine and it put the Firenza alongside the Triumph Dolomite Sprint, the BMW 2002 and the Mk1 Escort RS2000.

Of course, the fuel crisis around that time meant that everyone was looking into aerodynamics, though it is said that the chap who worked on the nosecone for Vauxhall went on to work under contract at Ford on the RS2000. Here in the UK Vauxhall seemed to be a bit ahead of Opel in that regard even when the model ranges were merged - our Chevette had a sloping nose, where the Opel Kadett had a traditional grille, the same for the Cavalier vs. the Ascona.

The Sports Hatch was a product of someone at Vauxhall seeing that there were 197 sets of nosecones, alloy wheels and bumpers and thinking of something to do with them. The plan for the "second generation" HP Firenza would have been using the Magnum estate shell, but with fuel injection and some other stuff. When that fell by the wayside, the Sports Hatch just used up the stock of parts and provided an eye-catching vehicle to spice up the range a bit. No brochure, never mentioned on a price list, it's just an "option pack" in the parts book. Fifty years since they escaped from Ellesmere Port this year.

 

[chrismac]

This is the Firenze:

View attachment 537560

And this is the Sports Hatch:

View attachment 537561

I'm restoring another Sports Hatch at the moment, one of those "if it doesn't sell I'll break it" impulse purchases, and I am more than half-way through restoring my Audi coupe quattro, which was put on hold for the "quick" second Sports Hatch job almost six years ago.

I have a friend who has 2 Firenza's in various states of road worthiness, one is road going, he finds it hard to source parts and people with similar interests to get help, a great looking car you have there.

Chris

 

[RWD3M]

I've been asked that a few times. The HP Firenza was launched at the Motor Show in 1973, the Ford Escort RS2000 was still on the Mk1 shell at that time, so if anything it's the other way around - the Mk2 Escort didn't appear until January 1975. Vauxhall had been working on the front end for quite some time prior to launch of course. That doesn't stop classic car magazines from putting the two side-by-side, but one of the early road tests when it was just a new car was in "Car" magazine and it put the Firenza alongside the Triumph Dolomite Sprint, the BMW 2002 and the Mk1 Escort RS2000.

Of course, the fuel crisis around that time meant that everyone was looking into aerodynamics, though it is said that the chap who worked on the nosecone for Vauxhall went on to work under contract at Ford on the RS2000. Here in the UK Vauxhall seemed to be a bit ahead of Opel in that regard even when the model ranges were merged - our Chevette had a sloping nose, where the Opel Kadett had a traditional grille, the same for the Cavalier vs. the Ascona.

The Sports Hatch was a product of someone at Vauxhall seeing that there were 197 sets of nosecones, alloy wheels and bumpers and thinking of something to do with them. The plan for the "second generation" HP Firenza would have been using the Magnum estate shell, but with fuel injection and some other stuff. When that fell by the wayside, the Sports Hatch just used up the stock of parts and provided an eye-catching vehicle to spice up the range a bit. No brochure, never mentioned on a price list, it's just an "option pack" in the parts book. Fifty years since they escaped from Ellesmere Port this year.

What an interesting read! Thanks for that.

I must say, I do like that sportshatch

 

[cardiffrob]

Yesterday I went for a Jolly in one of our Falcon 20 jets. G-FRAD. It turns out that this is the only one of the 14 that is younger than I am (Most of the fleet built in the 1960s). It was also parked outside my current office 40 years ago, at the same time as I started my first flying lesson less than 100 yards away.

Seriously old crate!

 

[nickk]

This is the Firenza:

View attachment 537560

And this is the Sports Hatch:

View attachment 537561

I'm restoring another Sports Hatch at the moment, one of those "if it doesn't sell I'll break it" impulse purchases, and I am more than half-way through restoring my Audi coupe quattro, which was put on hold for the "quick" second Sports Hatch job almost six years ago.

I have a b3 coupe,owned since 1998,fantastic build quality,would love an s2.

 

[droopsnoot]

I have a b3 coupe,owned since 1998,fantastic build quality,would love an s2.

Mine's the earlier shape, so before they galvanised anything, and unfortunately it shows - the sills were very poor when I removed the plastic covers. I looked at a load of ur-quattros when they were cheap but never took the plunge, and now the parts availability problems (and the price) put me off - I have enough cars that it's difficult to get parts for. I did have a look at a few of the later shape coupes, but ended up sticking with mine until the clutch went and I bought the TT. The coupe will live again, I hope.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Yesterday I went for a Jolly in one of our Falcon 20 jets. G-FRAD. It turns out that this is the only one of the 14 that is younger than I am (Most of the fleet built in the 1960s). It was also parked outside my current office 40 years ago, at the same time as I started my first flying lesson less than 100 yards away.

Seriously old crate!

Get any stick time?

 

[Mick Annick]

Mine's the earlier shape, so before they galvanised anything, and unfortunately it shows - the sills were very poor when I removed the plastic covers. I looked at a load of ur-quattros when they were cheap but never took the plunge, and now the parts availability problems (and the price) put me off - I have enough cars that it's difficult to get parts for. I did have a look at a few of the later shape coupes, but ended up sticking with mine until the clutch went and I bought the TT. The coupe will live again, I hope.

I got to drive the ‘85 motor show ur-Quattro, scared me silly!

 

[mike 109444]

Keep forgetting to post these "spotted on my travels" pics

 

[mike 109444]

Few more...

 

[mike 109444]

more..

 

[mike 109444]

A little more..

 

[mike 109444]

Not particulary old or rare but...

 

[Puglet1]

This is the Firenza:

View attachment 537560

And this is the Sports Hatch:

View attachment 537561

I'm restoring another Sports Hatch at the moment, one of those "if it doesn't sell I'll break it" impulse purchases, and I am more than half-way through restoring my Audi coupe quattro, which was put on hold for the "quick" second Sports Hatch job almost six years ago.

Both cars look really good. Thank you for sharing the photos with us.

 

[Farside]

Not particulary old or rare but...

His indicator's gone.
I'm sure he won't miss it.

 

[colnerov]

Few more...

I bet that caravan is a joy to reverse behind that box van. If you can see it in the mirrors, it's too late.