Jump to content


Photo

The special saloon Vauxhalls


  • Please log in to reply
34 replies to this topic

#1 petestenning

petestenning
  • Member

  • 746 posts
  • Joined: April 07

Posted 17 November 2012 - 17:16

Many Vauxhalls have been used in special saloons here are a few that i remember

Viva HA

Alan Wright
Han Akersloot

Viva/ GT

Gerry Marshall
Eddie Heasell
John Pope
Brian Davidson
A guy who's name i cant recall sponsored by Prestige Ltd , he lost a wheel at the hairpin at Snetterton on one occasion.

Firenza/Magnum

Gerry Marshall again
Tony Davies
Chris Simm or Simms
Tony Whibley
Bill Dryden

Before these were the VX4/90' S

John Sutton

I know we can go on with super saloons but lets draw the line before them.

Do you know of any others and what do you know of these drivers/cars

I am sure that there was a second Firenza north of the border, ?




Advertisement

#2 alansart

alansart
  • Member

  • 4,419 posts
  • Joined: March 07

Posted 17 November 2012 - 17:31

Viva:

Bernie Harris (5 litre)
Mike Newman (2300cc)
Graeme Walker (2200cc)

Firenza/Magnum:

Mike Newman (2300cc)
Phil Clark (2300cc)
George Constantine (2300cc)
Graeme Walker (2300cc)
Paul Haywood-Halfpenny (Baby Bertha)
John Pope (5340 Magnum)
Graham Wallwork (2066cc Turbo Magnum)





#3 sterling49

sterling49
  • Member

  • 10,917 posts
  • Joined: September 06

Posted 17 November 2012 - 18:06

Chris Coburn HB Viva

I remember a HA Viva in the '60s that was fitted with a Ford lump too, not sure of the driver, or if already named...........

Edited by sterling49, 17 November 2012 - 18:07.


#4 paulsenna1

paulsenna1
  • Member

  • 264 posts
  • Joined: July 04

Posted 17 November 2012 - 20:08

Dave Millington also had a Firenza/Magnum.

#5 Sharman

Sharman
  • Member

  • 5,284 posts
  • Joined: September 05

Posted 18 November 2012 - 09:10

Many Vauxhalls have been used in special saloons here are a few that i remember

Viva HA

Alan Wright
Han Akersloot

Viva/ GT

Gerry Marshall
Eddie Heasell
John Pope
Brian Davidson
A guy who's name i cant recall sponsored by Prestige Ltd , he lost a wheel at the hairpin at Snetterton on one occasion.

Firenza/Magnum

Gerry Marshall again
Tony Davies
Chris Simm or Simms
Tony Whibley
Bill Dryden

Before these were the VX4/90' S

John Sutton

I know we can go on with super saloons but lets draw the line before them.

Do you know of any others and what do you know of these drivers/cars

I am sure that there was a second Firenza north of the border, ?


Warwick Banks in the Mangoletsi VX4/90

Edited by Sharman, 18 November 2012 - 22:09.


#6 malcolm6

malcolm6
  • New Member

  • 19 posts
  • Joined: December 06

Posted 18 November 2012 - 18:34

Viva HC (Lotus 904 2.3) Des Donnelly / Phillip DeFreitas/Gabriel Konig (present owner) - car in Ireland - full working order

#7 alansart

alansart
  • Member

  • 4,419 posts
  • Joined: March 07

Posted 18 November 2012 - 19:38

Phillip DeFreitas


Is that the ex Cricketer?


#8 malcolm6

malcolm6
  • New Member

  • 19 posts
  • Joined: December 06

Posted 18 November 2012 - 20:07

Is that the ex Cricketer?

No

#9 Tim Murray

Tim Murray
  • Moderator

  • 24,581 posts
  • Joined: May 02

Posted 18 November 2012 - 20:18

http://www.beaulieu.ie/car_museum.html

#10 petestenning

petestenning
  • Member

  • 746 posts
  • Joined: April 07

Posted 18 November 2012 - 20:44

Oh yes Des Donelly thats one i sure did miss out, Phil Clarke i should have got . Bernie Harris i have not seen myself so that why i did not know of that one.

How did i miss Dave Millington i must have seen him a lot in the 70 's .

#11 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,036 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 18 November 2012 - 21:52

Come to Australia for the serious ones. In period the Bob Jane LC Torana,[ aka Viva], the Bryan Thompson LC Torana and a lot of others.
Come to think of it most of the production Torana 6 road cars were probably faster than most of the cars mentioned above. Especially ofcourse the XU1s which had between 185 and 202 hp standard and weighed under 1100 kilos.
Really they were a dreadfull car, all the controls did not line up, steering wheel goes one way, the pedals another and the seat belt fell off your shoulder all the time.
But they made a good racecar as they had small frontal area and were light. And some basic engineering fixed a lot of the standard chassis flex.
I know, I raced one as a Sports Sedan [Special Saloon] for over 20 years which evolved into a very quick car with a 6 litre Chev.

#12 Phil Rainford

Phil Rainford
  • Member

  • 5,302 posts
  • Joined: March 07

Posted 18 November 2012 - 21:56

Back out on track 2012 :)


Posted Image



PAR

#13 kartman24

kartman24
  • Member

  • 99 posts
  • Joined: May 10

Posted 18 November 2012 - 23:01

Who was the guy that ran the Transpeed Firenza, was that Tony Davies?..........Martin

#14 Ray Bell

Ray Bell
  • Member

  • 79,955 posts
  • Joined: December 99

Posted 18 November 2012 - 23:03

Let's not forget the HB Viva that Graham Ryan ran...

It started out with a Holden six, I think that got supercharged, but then he got serious and put a bog standard Valiant Charger 6 into it and made it really fly.

#15 petestenning

petestenning
  • Member

  • 746 posts
  • Joined: April 07

Posted 19 November 2012 - 05:48

Transpeed Firenza was indeed Tony Davies on my original list.

#16 Gregor Marshall

Gregor Marshall
  • Member

  • 1,323 posts
  • Joined: September 06

Posted 19 November 2012 - 11:22

A few other drivers of special saloons for you:-

Viva
Brian Atthews
Denis Bissell

Firenza
Piggy Thompson
Gerry Johnstone
Stan Burge
Mervyn Dornford

Was Jeff Allams Viva a Special Saloon too?

#17 Mallory Dan

Mallory Dan
  • Member

  • 3,118 posts
  • Joined: September 03

Posted 19 November 2012 - 12:06

Alan Hershner...?

#18 Mallory Dan

Mallory Dan
  • Member

  • 3,118 posts
  • Joined: September 03

Posted 19 November 2012 - 12:41

A few other drivers of special saloons for you:-

Viva
Brian Atthews
Denis Bissell

Firenza
Piggy Thompson
Gerry Johnstone
Stan Burge
Mervyn Dornford

Was Jeff Allams Viva a Special Saloon too?


Yes Gregor, his team mate was John Elliott. Bill Coull is another one I recall from Scotland I think.

#19 IanMH

IanMH
  • Member

  • 186 posts
  • Joined: April 07

Posted 20 November 2012 - 16:25

there was a race for just Vauxhalls at Oulton on 7th July 1973...

no one has mentioned Jackie Patterson (Firenza) from N.I. yet....he and Des Donnelly (Viva) raced at Ingliston quite a few times around 72/73...

Posted Image


already mentioned...other regulars in Scotland were Bill Dryden (Firenzas), Gerry Marshall ( Firenza), Graeme Walker (Viva/Firenza) and Bill Coull (Viva)...

a couple from Croft around '75

Mike Newman Firenza
Graham Wallwork Magnum
just noticed...Alan's already mentioned those two!...

Cheers Ian :wave:

Edited by IanMH, 20 November 2012 - 16:34.


Advertisement

#20 ExFlagMan

ExFlagMan
  • Member

  • 5,725 posts
  • Joined: January 10

Posted 21 November 2012 - 07:59

there was a race for just Vauxhalls at Oulton on 7th July 1973...
Cheers Ian :wave:

I think I remember that one, most of the class A cars seemed to have been taken straight out of the showroom if the handling -or should I say lack of handling - into Old Hall is anything to go by. From my viewpoint at the straight-on point on the outside bank it was in turn hilarious and fightening - I don't think let go of the fire extinguisher the whole race :eek:

Edited by ExFlagMan, 21 November 2012 - 08:00.


#21 johnthebridge

johnthebridge
  • Member

  • 72 posts
  • Joined: December 10

Posted 25 October 2013 - 08:54

I see John Pope's Vauxhall Magnum Aston Martin-engine special saloon is currently on e-bay. £30 grand. Sorry, I can't do links but it's in the Classic Car section and maybe someone will oblige with a link? This thing was somewhat ferocious in it's day.



#22 Alan Cox

Alan Cox
  • Member

  • 8,397 posts
  • Joined: March 03

Posted 25 October 2013 - 09:58

I see John Pope's Vauxhall Magnum Aston Martin-engine special saloon is currently on e-bay. £30 grand. Sorry, I can't do links but it's in the Classic Car section

Sorry John, it has now ended

http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2557



#23 Alfie

Alfie
  • Member

  • 106 posts
  • Joined: October 09

Posted 25 October 2013 - 16:21

Bedford's Alan Brodie - V8 Viva?



#24 EDWARD FITZGERALD

EDWARD FITZGERALD
  • Member

  • 706 posts
  • Joined: March 04

Posted 25 October 2013 - 20:03

J

Jackie Patterson , northern Ireland , ran in local events and I think ingliston

#25 elansprint72

elansprint72
  • Member

  • 4,026 posts
  • Joined: September 08

Posted 08 November 2013 - 15:44

Here's a man happy in his work! Supersaloons at Lodge, Oulton Park 1975 ; this one has not been published before. :smoking:

 

 

10743323276_d601bf5683_b.jpg

 

Thanks to PAR for telling Mr Arron Jnr. that there may still be hidden gold out there!


Edited by elansprint72, 08 November 2013 - 21:47.


#26 alansart

alansart
  • Member

  • 4,419 posts
  • Joined: March 07

Posted 08 November 2013 - 15:57

I'm not sure of it's origins but Andy Gardner has been racing this Firenza for a while.

 

5888060972_5e5fd8bd3f_z.jpg

 

5888115190_50cf1a674f_z.jpg



#27 BRG

BRG
  • Member

  • 25,883 posts
  • Joined: September 99

Posted 08 November 2013 - 17:42

I'm not sure of it's origins but Andy Gardner has been racing this Firenza for a while.

 

5888115190_50cf1a674f_z.jpg

UltraVAUX...I see what he did there....

 

What's under the bonnet?



#28 alansart

alansart
  • Member

  • 4,419 posts
  • Joined: March 07

Posted 08 November 2013 - 17:56

UltraVAUX...I see what he did there....

 

What's under the bonnet?

 

A 4L AJ16 Jaguar engine.



#29 D-Type

D-Type
  • Member

  • 9,698 posts
  • Joined: February 03

Posted 08 November 2013 - 22:46

A 4L AJ16 Jaguar engine.

 

Isn't that treason?  Surely only Vauxhall, Chevrolet, Holden and other GM engines are the only kosher ones!



#30 elansprint72

elansprint72
  • Member

  • 4,026 posts
  • Joined: September 08

Posted 09 November 2013 - 00:18

So, it's a fairly recent bitsa?



#31 Magoo

Magoo
  • Member

  • 3,694 posts
  • Joined: October 10

Posted 10 November 2013 - 00:57

Thank you for the very interesting thread. 



#32 Gregor Marshall

Gregor Marshall
  • Member

  • 1,323 posts
  • Joined: September 06

Posted 11 November 2013 - 14:48

Andy's Firenza has been about for a while - I sold him the bonnet 5 years ago when he added the Droop snoot front. He is a Jag specialist in Northampton and races the Firenza in the JEC powered by Jag class. Great bit of engineering if you get to see the car, all Jag running gear, but I don't think I'd have gone down the Jag engine route myself.

#33 Midgetace

Midgetace
  • New Member

  • 1 posts
  • Joined: December 14

Posted 29 December 2014 - 12:02

Great thread, been looking for info on Andys Firenza on and off for a while. Had a great tussle with it on the 2011 BMH 4 Hr caught on incar cam.

 

 

 

12:59min to 19:30min. Think the uncharacteristically hot day was getting the better of the engine judging by the smoke 



#34 Lee Nicolle

Lee Nicolle
  • Member

  • 11,036 posts
  • Joined: July 08

Posted 30 December 2014 - 00:58

Great thread, been looking for info on Andys Firenza on and off for a while. Had a great tussle with it on the 2011 BMH 4 Hr caught on incar cam.

 

 

 

12:59min to 19:30min. Think the uncharacteristically hot day was getting the better of the engine judging by the smoke 

Just the external lubrication spraying on the hot bits,,, it is a Jag. Not as bad as many, you can still see through your windscreen!



#35 Peter0Scandlyn

Peter0Scandlyn
  • Member

  • 727 posts
  • Joined: September 14

Posted 30 December 2014 - 04:05

Wonderful stuff, that vid, thank you.

Found myself getting frustrated, frequently......