I haz gotz rare shite!.

[ifc63]

They are so unbelievably hideous they could only ever have built in the 1970s. They are fantastic. How many of these actually survive?

 

Wikipedia says :-

 

"

Sportshatch variant of the Magnum - only 197 were built.A special variant of the Magnum estate, known as the Sportshatch, was produced in limited numbers (197) in 1976. This model used the "droopsnoot" nose cone, which had been designed by Wayne Cherry, Vauxhall's Chief Design Engineer to be used in the HP Firenza Droop Snoot model. In Trevor Alder's book "Vauxhall - The Post War Years" mention is made of a HP Firenza Sport Hatch prototype which was a one-off and was painted in silver starfire, with a six light version of the droop snoot nose and also sharing the Viva/Magnum estate body shell. This car (registration plate GNK 31N) has survived and is known to be in the hands of Vauxhall enthusiasts.

The HP Firenza project was proposed to produce over 2,000 cars a year, but production of this model ceased after just 204 examples were built. Some nose cones were left over at end of production and these were used in the limited run of "Sports Hatch" models as described above.

 

The Sports Hatch limited edition did not share the uprated 2279cc slant four engine with the HP Firenza Droop Snoot model, but instead was fitted with the standard tune single carb 2279cc slant four engine and running gear of the Magnum. Also included in the standard specification was the famous "seven dial dash", Avon Safety Wheels and a distinctive paint finish in a then brand new Vauxhall "Extra Dark Wine" (only available otherwise on the brand new for 1976 VX 2300 GLS model) which was complemented with bright red striping and highlights. This model was always rare with 197 vehicles being completed and is now highly collectable. Vauxhall marketed this car as a "hatchback", since it was coming under increasing pressure from new European models such as the Golf that were hatchbacks. However, the Sportshatch shared its bodyshell with the Viva Estate (which was only ever produced in a two door plus tailgate configuration).

 

"

 

 

So reasonably rare then to start with but is there a known figure for survivors ??

[retrogeezer]

where did that come from?? Sure I have seen it at shows down south in the past..

[ifc63]

Without wanting to hijack the thread, all this talk of droopsnoot Vauxhalls sent me over to YouTube for a Gerry Marshall fix.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIUryTV5DII&feature=relmfu

[Cavcraft]

I think there was a magazine feature on the silver droopsnoot you mentioned, IFC. Can't for the life of me remember which one sadly, but Google threw up this...

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/londonitalian/4405347435/

 

PHWOARR!

[stuboy]

yeah you is the man of the year

[49barndoor]

Cool car always fancied one back in the day but it never happened, More pics??

[vivapower]

hopefully this link will work.

http://youtu.be/X-siQIuauLA

 

[RichardMoss]

Very, very jealous here

[M'coli]

Wow, that's awesome.

[meggersdog]

Fantastic car, sounds sweet too.

Mate of mine has a Magnum estate stashed away.It came with a nose cone (not fitted) and looking at yours I'm tempted to see if he will sell his.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

hopefully this link will work.

http://youtu.be/X-siQIuauLA

 

That was trippy!

[dollywobbler]

hopefully this link will work.

http://youtu.be/X-siQIuauLA

 

That was trippy!

 

Yup. I think it made my eyes melt!