Vauxhall Firenza

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Vauxhall Firenza
Overview
Manufacturer	Vauxhall (General Motors)
Also called	Chevrolet Firenza (South Africa) Chevrolet 1300/1900 (South Africa) Chevrolet Hatch (South Africa)
Production	1970[1] - 1975
Assembly	Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England Port Elizabeth, South Africa[2]
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupé
Related	Vauxhall Viva
Powertrain
Engine	1971: 1159 cc ohv I4 1598 cc ohc I4 1975 cc ohc I4 1972–1975: 1256 cc ohv I4 1798 cc ohc I4 2279 cc ohc I4
Transmission	4-speed manual all-synchromesh,[1] 5-speed ZF manual all-synchromesh on HP Firenza
Chronology
Successor	Opel Manta

The Firenza is a model of car offered by Vauxhall from May 1971 until 1975. It was a development of the Viva, but had a distinctive coupé body style (fastback) and only two doors. In South Africa, it was sold as the Chevrolet Firenza until it was replaced by the Chevrolet 1300/1900 during 1975. Its name is derived from Firenze, the name of the Italian city known in English as Florence.

The initial Firenza was available in a base model 1159 cc overhead valve and two models with overhead camshaft, in 1598 cc and 1975 cc variants. The latter was the same engine as used in the earlier Viva GT. Some six months after launch, in December 1971,^[1] performance was boosted when the engine capacities were enlarged to 1256 cc, 1798 cc and 2279 cc respectively. All models had a front-mounted four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels. The SL model in each engine size carried the highest level of trim.

Suspension was by double wishbone and coil springs at the front, and a live rear axle with trailing arms and coils at the rear. The suspension and steering of the Firenza was adapted for use in the Jensen-Healey sports car.

The model changes in early 1972 included the introduction of a top-of-the-line 2300 Sport SL model (introduced at the Geneva Motor Show), using the 2279 cc engine. The 2300 Sport SL was the only version to feature the seven dial dash (speedometer, clock, rev counter, fuel, oil pressure, water temp, & battery charge). The engine was an inclined four-cylinder with single overhead camshaft and twin Stromberg carburettors, producing 122 bhp (91 kW). The oversquare straight four engine was renowned for its big torque curve, making the car very flexible and easy to drive. The interior was equipped with bucket seats, front and back, to carry four persons. The centre console with heater controls and warning lights was quite distinctive and luxurious for the time.

The 2300 Sport SL was raced by the Dealer Team Vauxhall, following their successes with the Viva GT. In Castrol colours, these cars enjoyed many successes.