Tony Davies - Vauxhall Firenza Test - Snetterton Mar 2019

At last!! Only 12 years of waiting - but finally the 45 year old Transpeed Firenza is out of restoration, and feeling just like her old self (if not better!).
Big thanks to Neville Powell (NHP Motorsport), Richard and the crew at Westbourne Motorsport, John at Emerald3d.com (ECU), and Anderson Racing Engines.
What fun! It was also great to meet with old friends & competitors. Especially good to see Dale Minton and his son Dan with their iconic (and v. quick) Ford Escort. Felt like old times!!

[@lexrobspierre1129]

An entire grid of 2022 F1 cars isn’t half as cool as that Vauxhall.

[@Firenzaman]

Thank you! I agree 👍

[@Nuts4fsr]

Awesome vehicle. The lines, and its noise. 😎

[@gilleyb1900]

That is a beast.

[@liamclarke5761]

Who agrees this is a future fast and furious car

[@Firenzaman]

Will be out at Brands Hatch 31st July 2021 - Hopefully fast! Lol!

[@davesmith7010]

good luck for the new season Tony , welcome back !

[@richardlove4287]

Lovely car mate. I wish I’d kept mine now….20/20 hindsight is a wonderful thing.

[@MadMonk_]

Sadly Ford got the Capri out just before Vauxhall released the Firenza otherwise ….. I loved the droop snoop Firenza - an icon of a teenager growing up in Luton in the 70’s. Suppose the fact that most of my family worked at Vauxhall didn’t hurt lol

[@MadMonk_]

@@davidsadler7047 no sorry…. Davies, Threlkeld and Gook were the 3 families I was related to. I used to play Rugby for the works club late 70’s

[@MrKarty01]

Absolutely gorgeous car.

[@Firenzaman]

Thank you!

[@russcattell955i]

Goes & sounds awesome, just gotta fix the mirror !

[@eurotom288]

I used to love these cars, gorgeous looking, drive safe,

[@johnpaice8481]

Hi tony really great car can we have some more technical in site into the car and the build of the car , it looks amazing by the way 😊

[@Firenzaman]

Thanks for your comment. This car was built in 1974 at Bill Blydenstein's Shepreth works. I bought the car in 1977 just after it had won the Castle Coombe championship. At this time, the car was surprisingly standard, running a single-cam 2.3l Vauxhall Magnum engine with TJ fuel injection, standard brakes (yes - drum brakes at rear!), gearbox, suspension and axle. The body did have light GRP wings, doors, bonnet and boot lids. By 1985 I had developed the car to its current spec: Rose-jointed front wishbones, 5 - link Panhard rear suspension, Gartrac Grp4 Atlas rear axle, high ratio steering rack, vented disc brakes all round (4-pot ally calipers at front),Grp4 pedal box with adjustable brake bias, fully adjustable coil-over dampers. All 4 hubs were modified to a "centre lock" wheel mounting that permits quick wheel change with just 1 nut per wheel - this was done to improve our 1986 British Thundersaloon performance where longer distance races increased the chances of a mid-race wheel change. Wheels are Revolution 3pc rims, 16" dia, 10" wide front / 12" rear. The original engine was bored out to 2.5l and WBB Racing fitted their 16v Twin Cam cylinder head, and Phoenix billet steel crank and dry-sump oil system. ZF 5-Speed box with Direct Top gear. ... and that's pretty much how it is to this day! Huge fun to drive.

[@russcattell955i]

@@Firenzaman R.I.P. Bill Blydenstein. A lovely man, charged me for parts for my HSR and gave advise from his experience for free.

[@tonydavies4817]

@@russcattell955i Yes, Bill was a true gent - and highly talented.

[@paulboyle6857]

I used to compete in hillclimbs & sprints with your dad Jack in early 70,s (as Alex Boyle)& I recall the Firenza appearing in the 80,s TV series Driving Ambition with the late actor Nicky Henson(uncle of Adam Henson of Countryfile) playing a character called Alan Hersey(?)I have,nt competed since the early 80,s & my Cooper S was totalled in a Mini Miglia race at Mallory Pk in 1974! Chrs AB.

[@Firenzaman]

It's a small world! Yes, Dad did enjoy his sprints & hills. Jack passed away in 2001 - but amazingly, his Mini Cooper S is still in the family and I had the pleasure to race it this year at Snetterton! My brothers Mike & John also used to race their own Mini in the 70's, and these days they are regularly competing in Dad's old car! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYnMhGyXbZp-lck

[@CARLOS62B]

Beautiful

[@DelSanchezIII]

Looks and sounds brilliant - just how it should be. Will you be out once this lockdown has ended?

[@Firenzaman]

Thanks! Yes I do hope so - but could be 2021 at this rate!

[@DelSanchezIII]

@@Firenzaman Which class do you compete in - I'll look out for you coming to Oulton Park

[@Firenzaman]

@@DelSanchezIII I hope to race with the Classic Saloon & Sports Car Club (CSCC) - Special Saloon class...

[@supacorse]

Similar to my old nail replica 30 years ago

[@richardlove4287]

Ghetrag gearbox?

[@Firenzaman]

No, it's got a ZF box