When Vauxhall Built Sports Cars

[@MrNegativecreep07]

I'm sure it won't be long before they bring back the Calibra...as a 4 door electric SUV with a slightly sloped roof

[@alessiobaruzzo1679]

No please please no

[@paulmurray7365]

One of the best looking cars of the 1990 the opel calibra

[@ausaleve6002]

That's probablly completely accurate unfortunately 🤣🤷‍♂Makes me think about that stupid chinese 3000kg Lotus SUV 🙄

[@theblackhand6485]

Like the Capri 👻

[@T.E.S.S.]

@@theblackhand6485 yes that's the point

[@thatcheapguy525]

my dad was an experimental test driver for Vauxhall back in the '60s. he loved the job and the money that went with it. his career ended at the wheel of a 101 (Victor FC) whilst lapping the speed track flat out when the back axle broke its spring shackles dropping the body and throwing the propshaft nose on the ground. the car was badly totalled but luckily he got away with a broken wrist and some cuts and bruises but apparently that was the end of it.

[@Dylan_Mulvaney_OFFICIAL]

I used to work for Ford Australia, I was working at their proving ground. Driving test cars (mules) for 10 hours a day, and giving the cars hell, you soon get sick of the job. It knocks your body around like you wouldn't believe.

[@CRhodesDesign]

No mention of the Tigra?!

[@Iskelderon]

I remember when Vauxhall still "made" cars and not just badges.

[@michi-eke]

you are quite old chap

[@T.E.S.S.]

alright calm down grandad

[@pistonburner6448]

@@Iskelderon Made? I thought they were formed in some sort of intestines and pushed out.

[@darrens3]

@user-wq9wd6qg6t lols thats actually very accurate. Vauxhall have been rebadged Opels since time in memoriam.

[@whynotagain3639]

The Calibra Turbo 4x4 was definitely a sports car, i had one for years. Stock out the factory it did 0-60 mph in 5.8 seconds with 200hp all standard. They had a Coswotth head and that C20LET block is still legendary on the drag strip.

[@popuptoaster]

They did like to lunch their 4x4 system though, Ford definitely had the edge with the rwd biased all wheel drive set up they used. I wouldn't call the Calibra a sports car, just being fast doesn't qualify it, some of the worlds favourite sports cars have been pretty slow.

[@whynotagain3639]

True the transfer boxes pretty much failed as soon as one wheel spun out of sync. I say sports car because when I got my transfer box rebuilt it was modified to be full time 4x4, it stuck the road like it was on rails. I done loads to it, it was as fast and fun to drive as my current daily drive which is a 2016 BMW M235i, which is definitely a sports car.

[@JohnSmith-ef8nr]

​@whynotagain3639 Never had a problem with the TX box on mine, it was because most owners didn't know that had to change all 4 tyres at the same time. Mine had a switch for 2wd or 4wd. The 4x4 did add alot of extra weight over a 2wd one. I had a mk4 astra gsi turbo after and it felt faster because it was lighter.

[@whynotagain3639]

My transfer box was already fuct when I bought it, so had no choice but to get it rebuilt. I had a Focus ST five pot after, which was much slower and handled like shit compared to the Calibra, I was really disappointed with it. However I'd heavily modified the Calibra, including a 3 inch stainless downpipe with a 3 inch stainless AFM pipe the other side of the turbo connected to a huge mushroom filter, full system 3 inch powerflow stainless exhaust, uprated clutch and flywheel, phase 3 remap with a big Courtenay turbo, race staggered oil seal. I can't remember everything else, anyway it was at 280hp last rolling road test, so stupid fast. It really was as fast and fun to drive as my current daily drive 2016 BMW M235i.

[@JohnSmith-ef8nr]

@whynotagain3639 Mine was a mint late model, all standard with AC, I sold it cheap when fuel prices were high to someone who just wanted the engine for a Nova, regretted it ever since. Sold the mk4 astra GSI turbo because rust was a becoming problem. I miss those fun cars.

[@johanwejedaldesign]

When I was working as a 3D-modeler at GM Europe /Opel Design in Rüsselsheim, I was greeted by a big picture of the wonderful Vauxhall SRV every day when I got to work, as it was placed in a prominent position of the wall of the lobby. I love that car.

[@Arltratlo]

how many got build and sold??

[@ianlowden6168]

I saw that car in real life in a car museum over 40 years ago. Never forgot it. An absolutely stunning vehicle. For me up there with the best concept designs ever.

[@pufaxx]

Before my mum and dad (r.i.p.) were married, they tried to impress each other. Both spent lots of money. My mum: Nice dresses, nice hair ... and my dad bought a yellow Opel GT. Obviously, it worked out. Fun fact: There were photos made. One with both of them in front of the car. One with both of them in front of the car after a countryside tour. Car didn't look yellow any more, because there were so many dead flies* on it ... Both photos are still next to another in the family album. And we still smile about them. *There used to be lots of rapeseed fields in northern Germany. And we all know what color rapeseed flies like. Buying a yellow car wasn't the best idea to have. But my dad and my mum marrying - that was a good idea =)

[@corneliupopescu400]

20+ years ago I used to "race" Vauxhall VX220s and Opel Speedsters on Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. They were the entry-level cars, but so fun to drive!

[@sharpfalcon6196]

I agree on that.

[@peterkirby1753]

GM Holden were also playing with exotic car design with their Holden Hurricane concept.

[@Low760]

And as you'd know, the new 253 v8.

[@Arltratlo]

how many Holdens are getting sold in Europe??

[@toni4729]

Thank you for the information. I'm one of the oldies that always thought Vauxhall was always owned by GM. Now I find in my old age I'm learning things still. 1925. Wow.

[@grumpyhale821]

I was thinking it was something like the 70s

[@malcolmwhite6588]

Well you must be old if you refer back to remembering 1925😂

[@toni4729]

@@malcolmwhite6588 No, not quite that old.

[@BOABModels]

The Vauxhall SRV concept is at the British Motor museum where I work - people are always shocked to see it's a Vauxhall. I was at the Earls Court motor show when the VX220 was new - a great looking car, in my opinion.

[@Arltratlo]

how many they sold??

[@BOABModels]

​@@Arltratlothe SRV? None, it was a concept car

[@Arltratlo]

@@BOABModels so like most UK build cars, nobody got one for real use!!

[@althejazzman]

I spent a long time looking at that when I visited your museum with the 924 Owners Club a couple of years ago. My daily driver is a Vauxhall Combo Van from the 90s

[@BOABModels]

​@@althejazzmanNice! Many of the cars in this video are from the Vauxhall heritage collection which is now housed mainly at BMM as well. You may have seen those too.

[@MarkCraig-x1z]

The Mustang II that you used as a mussel car was anything but mussel. It was a warmed over pinto with a different body.

[@sharpfalcon6196]

The Opel Speedster/Vauxhall VX220 is one of my favourite cars. Loved driving it in MSR: Metropolis Street Racer. I wish more games had it.

[@EggBastion]

Kudos Gained!

[@person.w9780]

It's been in Gran Turismo, Forza and NFS.

[@sharpfalcon6196]

@@person.w9780 Already aware of those.

[@darrens3]

MSR is ace.

[@RachaelSA]

I remember the Firenza, it was such a cute little car, and we had the Firenza Can Am in South Africa, with the 5.0L V8 engine. We also had an Opel Kadett SUPERBOSS that was pretty much a sports car, my mom had one and I literally drove the wheels off it in one day. The side wall on the front passenger side disintegrated when I was driving "briskly" on the highway, so I put the spare on, and on the way home a chunk of tread ripped off the front driver side, and I had no spares and it was 2am, so I had to drive home slowly with it slapping in the wheel well for the last 10km's.

[@mvh1724]

I noticed that you mention the brand name Bitter. Erich Bitter passed away in 2023, but his story and the story about his cars is 10 times more interesting than the story about Vauxhall sportscars.😊

[@malthuswasright]

Go make a video about him then!

[@BarklyMitford]

Leo Pruneau went on to be the lead designer for General Motors Holdens in Australia were he assisted in the final design of Torana GTR-X. Incidentally Holdens also made a show car in the late 1960’s that was similar in concept to the XDR called the Hurricane.

[@Low760]

And the Torana LH looks like the Vauxhall mid size at the time.

[@richardulrich6089]

Some of these cars are similar to the Holden concept car, the Torana GTR-X. This was a great looking car, both inside and out, and as far as I know, was seriously considered for production. But alas, that never eventuated. Real pity.

[@Low760]

The moulds are currently for sale as well as the second body shell

[@toineleuverink9905]

Hahaha...I just loooved the flashback.🤣 Well done! Just as the documentary itself. Thank you so much! 🙏🏼

[@christophersmith1155]

The Holden-Vauxhall-Opel VXR-8 are still enjoyed here in the USA as Pontiac G-8 and Chevy SS. In the two door version it is the Pontiac GTO and Camaro SS. We were lucky.

[@GMteam.]

i had a VXR8 bathurst for 10 years. great car. made loads of noise and liked lots of petrol.

[@charliemansonUK]

Back in the late 70s, early 80s as an avid car brochure collector i visited every showroom in Carlisle every month and got to know all the salesmen I had my first drive out in a ford 2000, and when i mentioned this in the Vauxhall show room the salesman said would you like to see the Lima...thanks to that young salesman (i was early teens) ive always appreciated just what the Lima was. It was a pure drivers machine he tried his best to scare me, but i was just impressed.

[@lordmuntague]

Thank you Big Car, this is the video I've been waiting years for someone to make. I've always been a fan of Leo Pruneau and Wayne Cherry, both design legends, and its great to hear their story told in relation to Vauxhall. Oh, what could have been!

[@mattewj1268]

I can't believe there was not even a dishonorable mention of the Tigra.

[@commodorenut]

I was waiting for it to come up too. Holden even rebadged it to sell in Australia, so it went further than many that were mentioned here.

[@stevenmoran4060]

The Tigra was a great looking car, ok, not a sports car but, Ford did it for years either their cars. Sports cars these days have no use at all. There is nowhere to go faster than 70 mph as most of Britains roads are covered by varying types of speed camera. The most efficient being the average speed camera that can monitor enormous distances.

[@fishbonestephen]

I drive an Opel Astra j GTC 1.4 with 140hp...I've owned it since new for 10 years. I love it!. Can't find another coupe to replace it with.❤❤❤

[@T.E.S.S.]

it's a great looking car tbf

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

Not to forget that Vauxhall also made the Churchill tank…

[@adrianmonk4440]

I grew up in Detroit. THOSE BIG SILICON VALLEY TECH EGOS OF THE 80s HAD MANY ROOTS FROM THE AUTO EXECs of the 50s & 60s.

[@moobatticus]

Superb video, thanks, always appreciate the detail and research you’ve done in producing these!

[@AWMJoeyjoejoe]

My brother had a Calibra for a while. I don't remember him driving it much though. It was always broken. 😂

[@Iskelderon]

^^ Old Opel cars, either broken altogether or it was a gamble whether it will rust away under your ass before you reach your destination A brace for the engine compartment was also a necessity if you wanted to drive even remotely beyond commuter handling..

[@darrens3]

Everyone I know nkew someone with a Calibra in hte 2000s just after they stopped making it, and everyone that knew anyone with one is was a friends old brother and it was always a broken one that was revered but sat on the drive and never fixed. Another one of those was the special rally variant of the Citroen BX 4x4 which was often left to rot on driveways. Same across the entire UK I reckon because if I had a quid for every one I saw and every one I heard someone had in the same situation I'd have a decent sum.

[@RandallSlick]

Genuinely fascinating. I was unaware of almost all of that. Thanks.

[@feedingravens]

I had an Opel Vectra in the 90s. I was fast on the autobahn 140-180 kph, faster than most, but you had ZERO prestige. Anyone tugging along with 80 behind a truck would change to your lane to "overtake" 50 meters in front of you coming with 160. "That is just an Opel, that is not fast". I was always happy being overtaken by a Porsche or BMW and set myself behind him. It was amazing how people gave way to those.

[@TheGuit1]

I didn’t know vauxhall made such nice cars ! Really Nice lines!

[@stefanmathys3272]

Excellent review as always!

[@YT_Chroma]

I bought a 1972 Firenza in Canada marketed through Pontiac/Buick dealers. They didn't have a good reputation but it was my first new car and I loved it.

[@heiner71]

My dad drove a baby blue 1970 Opel Rally Kadett Coupe for a while. This thing was wild (at the time) but had a lot of issues, even though he bought it brand new.

[@warrenny]

I love that design of the car in the thumbnail. Great video as usual sir!

[@Yandex-y1p]

That super angular car reminds me of the pink panther car, the cartoon cat .

[@commodorenut]

The Holden Hurricane was quite similar in design too, and I also see similarities to other Vauxhall concepts with the Holden GTR-X. Not surprising since Leo Pruneau also did time down under with Holden, and was responsible for many iconic Holdens that were designed on a shoestring budget, and adapted from GM’s global range - the viva becoming the Torana, the T car, V car and J cars all looked nicer as Aussie versions, and as facelifts deviated further from the original design, they got even better. Leo and the people he mentored and developed after him, who also fostered future talent, such as Tom Matano, Phil Zmood, Richard Ferlazzo etc did amazing work, culminating in Mike Simcoe (lead on the reborn Monaro project) taking on the design gig in GM USA.

[@darrens3]

Same era

[@rocklover7437]

I owned a few Opel GT 1900,s (baby corvette) and they are a very pretty cars even now .

[@heiner71]

Did you have the "GT Arm"?

[@kian6639]

you should make a video about the iranian peykan!

[@jamesnewman4351]

Opel (Lotus) Omega 370bhp❤

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

Opel goes broemmmm😂

[@Arltratlo]

Jeder Popel kriegt ein Opel... Every booger gets an Opel

[@gerarduspoppel2831]

@@Arltratlo My German is not good enough to get that Joke. Sorry.

[@visionmodernclassics3062]

@@Arltratloging der nicht so: Jeder Popel fährt ein Opel

[@louisbeerreviews8964]

Vauxhall

[@Rom3_29]

Always excellent Big Car episode for car nerds. You can still find cheap somewhat repairable, not too rusty Opel GTs in West coast of USA. VX 220 is 25 years old. It can be imported here.

[@smileyspeedster]

Not yet. First deliveries were in 2001.

[@garyfrancis6193]

You mention the Panther and that reminded me that in the 70’s I saw a small sports care called a Puma built on a Volkswagen chassis in Brazil.

[@justaguy9224]

When Vauxhalls were not just rebadged Opels

[@AntonHoward-mx9sb]

I always loved the SR-V. The dark green on the XVR looks the same as the imperial green on Lotus Carltons.

[@SockyNoob]

The 1964 GT looked amazing, way ahead of its time. Honestly most of these concept cars look amazing. Just imagine if the SRV made it to production. A four door beast of a machine.

[@mustsilm]

I actually prefer the Vauxhall design to Lotus own.

[@thatcheapguy525]

I completely agree with you on odd days and disagree on evens. an endless debate in my head when its allowed to fester

[@scroggins100]

Vig fan of the Vauxhall sporty models. Also Opel, loved the early Manta. Thanks for these vids.. You know your stuff.

[@rob5944]

With respect this should of been entitled When Vauxhall Made Concept Cars because that's really all it amounted to.

[@ianlowden6168]

Come on Rob, chill and enjoy. This is a really great video.

[@rob5944]

@@ianlowden6168 lol, it's OK. But all that investment and time taken seems just wasted. Still nevermind.

[@davidhinkson8856]

I certainly learned a lot from this video! One wonders just how well these sports cars would have fared if Vauxhall did bring them into production, and would the small roadster have proven popular in the US like the MGs and Triumphs? They did come up with some clever concepts but some of the more outlandish features would definitely have been sacrificed in the production cars.

[@garrylawless3550]

Amazing video, and some amazing cars! If only they'd produced those sports cars in the 1960's! Thanks for uploading.👍🏻

[@christinecrawford]

I absolutely love the Vauxhall / Opel / Buick Cascada convertible from the mid 2010's!! I'm in the US so I've only seen the Buick version in person but from what I can see online, they were all the same car, just with different nameplates. I would love to have one!

[@Tom-Lahaye]

The 2+2 GT based on the Piper is a seriously beautiful model. From 1960 onward Vauxhall cars started to look more and more to similar Opel products, and over time actual parts would be shared between the 2 brands more and more. The Chevette was clearly based on the Opel Kadett C but had an extensively altered front, whit the Cavalier the difference had shrunk to the absence of the holes in the front end moulding which were present on the Opel Ascona. Fun fact was that a few of these models were also sold as LHS in Europe next to the very similar Opel products.

[@drstevenrey]

I had a Vauxhall Guildsman in pink from Matchbox as a kid, later, past 18 and with a license I saw a Vauxhall showroom and you can imagine the disappointment that ensued.

[@Michel-r6m]

As a kid I had a Panther Six in a book, six wheels and a crt tv!

[@nadeemchaudhry6585]

Another brilliant video!!

[@WonderfulAnn-i9w]

Fascinating dive into Vauxhall's overlooked sports car history, a hidden gem for car enthusiasts! 🚗✨

[@KekeElBecko]

Brilliant! I've been waiting for someone to make this video, and I've learned more about the 60s and 70s concepts from this. It's such a crying shame that none of them made production. Wayne Cherry is a talented man, and he went on to be GM VP of design. The Prince Henry story is fascinating in itself being "The World's First Sportscar". Although not technically sportscars, the HP Firenza and Cavalier Coupe/Manta B are dream cars of mine.

[@m.i.andersen8167]

Thank you for the video! In my opinion the Opel GT design was the only really successful (euro GM) 2 seat sports car design. It look great even today.

[@pashakdescilly7517]

The Vauxhall Equus took some inspiration from the Jensen Healey + GT. They were built on the Viva HC / Magnum platform.

[@Robert_Horton]

There's a lot of 'wow' in this video. Nice work!

[@nowind37]

Opel GT was people called "Baby Corvette"

[@ResidentNetizen]

That 1960's concept had a shape that reminds me of the Bill Thomas Cheetah.

[@Low760]

Leo went to Australia and made the holden torana lh look like the equivalent Vauxhall model. Holden did two concept cars too, the hurricane and gtr-x.

[@555jaybo]

TBF I think the VX looks better now than the Elise does

[@nr5494]

The only Vauxhalls I’ve ever seen as desirable were the FD Ventora, the FE VX4/90, and the Bedford CF. Of the later models, I preferred the Opel versions.

[@MadBiker-vj5qj]

Now that is 4:39 that just looks so gorgeous with the two humps for the seat backs. If someone made a bodykit modelled on it, I'm sure they'd get some buyers. Maybe for a wrecked Viva to build it on?

[@janstrau8476]

Smartly chosen and superbly carried out topic.

[@Baldy1980]

This video just made my 2006 Vectra SRi 1.8VVT 138bhp seem a little bit cooler. Thanks!

[@STONE-wh2en]

I saw in the 2+2 GT a silhouette of the Lancia Stratos 9 years before its launch.

[@Danger_mouse]

As an Australian motor mechanic, listening to you say Vauxhall (and by extension Opel) made boring but 'reliable' cars... That certainly isn't the case for the models we got over here. The Barina (Corsa) Astra, Vectra and Zafira are some of the nastiest cars I've worked on in my time. Great for workshop profits due to the high consumption of parts and service required (things like cam belts due every 60,000km and struggling to get more than 60k out of the brakes). Almost all Japanese and Korean brands run rings around them for life, not surprising that they struggled financially.

[@Arltratlo]

i assume, they all got build in the UK, so its the normal British quality!

[@RB-tz8kj]

Malta here. I got a 1995 Vauxhall Corsa B diesel. 30 years old. Apart usual consumables and service, I only changed the radiator.

[@SonofthePhantom]

The Corsa came from Spain and the Astra/Zafira/Vectra from Belgium. ​@@Arltratlo

[@PLANETIA01]

I have absolutely NO IDEA why this beautiful car was never produced was ahead of its time and should have been produced. DM.

[@MrSmith1984]

Vauxhall might not have much to shout about when it comes to Sports Cars, however its clear that they have compensated for that with Sports Saloons.

[@TheBlaert]

Vauxhall did some decent limited editions, prototypes and design studies over the years. The likes of the Firenza HP, Silver Aero, Chevette Black Magic, Silver Bullet. All very interesting cars

[@OLDS98]

Thank you for the video. This was interesting to learn. Thank you for mention many aspects I hoped to see like the GM United States cars( Pontiac and Saturn) and GM Australia(Holden). Thank you for sharing the full story as well.

[@Team-fabulous]

I had Astras, Caviler, Mantas and an old Viva.. Loved them all..

[@Low760]

24:07 you're talking about the Monaro, then the ve hsv which wasn't that nice, then the vf supercharged hsv, with more than 440hp.

[@adamlee3772]

Good video again.

[@wickiezulu]

TBH a production Viva roadster like the Piper would have been pretty long-lived up to the Equus, especially one with a Viva/Kadett OHV engine given a Ford Kent/Xflow/Twin-Cam style evolution from 1.2-1.3-litres to 1.6-litres as well as the 1.8-2.3-litre Slant-Four. Worth mentioning too the Jensen-Healey was originally designed around Vauxhall-sourced parts including the 2.3-litre Slant-Four before it infamously received the 2.0 Lotus engine. It would have probably helped had the Viva HA received IRS as intended and the Kadett B later Ascona A/Manta A never diverged from the Viva HB later Viva HC/Firenza. That could have avoided a lot of problems surrounding North American sales of the UK-built Viva HB & HC as well as led to the Opel GT and Vauxhall GT being merged.

[@Verklunkenzwiebel]

Opel GT was too expensive but lots of people would like it. But it also ushered in the Opel Manta that was from the same pedigree. The Manta was a real step forward in terms of styling and build quality . At the time the Mazda 323 got a facelift, and the Manta was one of the few that provided an answer

[@christophecamus3295]

A lot of interesting information ❤❤❤

[@felixcat9318]

A fascinating episode, thank you.

[@malthuswasright]

Nice cameo by Shaw Taylor a 14'43" - keep 'em peeled!

[@derekdickins7256]

Harry Ferguson was a Vauxhall agent in Ulster in 1909. He did start racing Vauxhalls, but crashed the day before a big race. He then became the first man in Northern Ireland to build and fly his own aeroplane.

[@trwsandford]

I'd love to have an Opel GT. Has to be the 1.9L. I'd go through the engine and make sure it was the higher compression specification. Other than just renew everything, the only other "modification" would be to give it the optional sway bars and the available limited slip differential. Perhaps a big brake kit, of course that might mean aftermarket rims... and people can get carried away with that sort of thing.

[@eustahijelifetips]

Some people say its a baby corvete, i say its a baby toyota gt2000, its the same kind of car built for exactly the same reason from two different manufacturer on two different parts of the globe, stunning

[@dann756]

Best car i ever owned was a frog eye 2003 vectra C 2003 53 plate 2.2 DTI when i was 19 a few years back.

[@goose4150]

Incredible how Vauxhall used to produce some seriously sick concepts. Even more than that the fact that the VX Lightning, that eventually became the Opel GT/Saturn Sky/Pontiac Solstice, was not sold as a Vauxhall

[@epicseadragon1692]

Thanks for the video! I was certainly guilty of misjudging the VX220/Opel Speedster (which is how we knew it in France) unfavorably wrt the Lotus Elise... Mea culpa, that car is much more exciting that I had given it credit for back then #youngandstupidthen #olderandwisernow :)

[@artpereira]

The XVR looks like a Hot Wheels Twin Mill!!!!

[@harpo7226]

I traded an Audi Quattro in for a 16v calibra in 1994. I put 30000 on the car in the first year of ownership. I did all my own servicing and the only thing that broke was the clutch arm that came out of the gearbox. I drove it home without a clutch by switching it off and starting with it in first gear then rev matching. A few welds later and the car was good. Just before I sold it after five years of ownership the exhaust started to leak. Great car with many good memories.

[@usaverageguy]

Please consider a video about the Opal GT. I owned a '69 Opal GT and miss it even now.

[@ianlowden6168]

You owned it but can't spell it! Opel, not Opal. Anyhow just playing. I'm sure you did.

[@usaverageguy]

@@ianlowden6168 Yea. It was 50 years ago.

[@JimmyShields-z2h]

Awesome vid, like piper roaster, interesting with Leo as finish design with Vauxhall he came back to Holden design, not sure but at time with coupe designs of Vauxhall you see similarities with Holden GTR n Hurricane concepts. I didn't mind VR220 looks just shame it didn't come to Australia, God only why coupe fail in Germany in 70s then made same repeat years later, not smart move by GM. I will give credit for Vauxhall Calibra as was nice coupe set Astra n Vectra in reasonable sales with nice luxury European cars although long term reliability wasn't good experience, plastic engine parts!

[@eustahijelifetips]

I have never seen so much good car designs in a youtube video, holy s ... Vauxhall should have built atleast some of these concepts, its unreal how good they look and how some could be placed in the current Millenium and still look new and breathtaking, automotive briliance ruined by reality...

[@stefanu7215]

Danke!

[@BigCar2]

Danke Stefan.

[@christophersmith1155]

the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky are highly prized here in the USA . We now only see then at car shows or a sunny weekend on the road.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Vauxhall in its early, pre-GM days was renowned for making sports cars - some compared them with Bentley. Fast forward to the 1970s and early 80s, Vauxhall’s design department, headed by the immensely talented Wayne Cherry, produced some fine car designs - the Equus is a particular favourite of mine. The Vauxhall Sportshatch, and the ‘drop snoot’ Firenza were also superb designs - and arguably much better cars than Ford’s RS2000.

[@loskop100]

My first car in 1968 was a DX Vauxhall, six pots, four on the floor and wipers that didn't stop going up hill, I would buy one now ifn I could find one.

[@brianbooth4435]

I was a member of the Vauxhall Craftsmans Guild back in the 1960's. It was age limited to teens I think. The idea was for these youngsters to create models of what was their concept car. If you were interested in making a model you could send away to get a set of 4 wheels to put on your model. The winner got 500 quid I think. We also got a newsletter periodically. Thinking I would build a model I got the wheels, bought some balsa wood blocks, and set about making my model. However it turned out like Homer's car from The Simpson's, built in his brothers car factory, "The Homer", which bankrupted the factory. I didn't submit my model, and after seeing the submissions from the winners over the years, which looked like they were 3D printed by today's standards, I knew why. After my age reached a certain point I stopped getting the newsletters, and the guild was eventually shut down. Even though I never submitted a model, I did enjoy getting the newsletters and seeing the photos of the concepts that were submitted.

[@michaelnewby160]

Me too. I had all the magazines until a few years ago.

[@niklaswejedal463]

The SVR! 😍

[@EuropaSman]

Rumour has it amongst the Lotus fraternity that the 2.2 litre NA engine of the VX220 was developed by Lotus Engineering for GM. The VX220, orignially codenamed Skipton, is nicknamed the Lego brick on the Lotus related forums, and in NA form is seen as being more "Lotus" than any other small platform car from the Elise family. Another interesting fact is that the VX220 chassis is slightly longer than the Elise and has lower door sills. This same chassis was used for the Proton Sepang project, which became the Lotus Europa S, powered by the GM 2 litre turbo engine (Z20LER to ve exact as opposed to the Z20LET of the VX220 Turbo).

[@grumpyhale821]

We had a Vauxhall Victor, and a Vauxhall Victor 101 Deluxe (beautiful car,) and a Viva.

[@waynecrofts7954]

Somehow seems that GM decided to ignore Vauxhall in the 70s, like the rantings of some sort of crazy cousin. Should look into Vauxhall 1970s supermini ideas that came to nothing as well, and Wayne's obsession with "sportshatch" lots and lots of sportshatch

[@Low760]

They ignored Holden too. GM were so focused in the states on ruining those ones.