Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1386 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:23 am Post subject: Hot hatches of the late 1970s |
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Which was the first hot hatch?
The Mark 1 Volkswagen Golf Gti of 1976?
In all likelihood, yes, thereby promoting a long line of sporting hatches which remain with us today. Some are called GTi, some GTE, XR* or VXR but the titles all mean the same thing. The most curious one was the Citroen Visa Gti.
Whatever.
In the late 1970s there were two home (ie British) built hot, very hot hatches : The Lotus Sunbeam and the Vauxhall Chevette HS.
I never drove or owned either, more's the pity, but the son of our next door neighbour bought a new, black Talbot Sunbeam Ti in late 1980 - like the one in the first photo but that is the earlier Chrysler Sunbeam Ti - the badging and styling were different. I think his was registered YCC 744W.
It was quick, rorty and noisy, I recall!
There were two Vauxhall Chevette HS in the local area, both silver of course and I used to watch them dicing with each other on occasions and I had little chance of catching them even in my Dolomite Sprint. One was written off in an accident but the other, owned by an agricultural contractor was around until about 1984.
There was only one original Lotus Sunbeam in the area, ie before the rebadging to Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, and that one was really cherished by it's owner. It was always immaculate and driven gently by a, to me (then!) middle aged man who also owned a Chrysler 180 and later a Talbot Tagora (remember those?).
I have only ever seen one Chevette HSR and that still today belongs to it's one owner on the Isle of Anglesey. It shares it's garage with a Lotus Carlton, owned from new by the same person.
These two cars seem be overlooked or forgotten about these days which is a pity. The talk is about sporting Fords, Peugeot 205 GTis but both of the above did well in racing and rallying events in their day.
Have any of you any experiences or opinions of either? _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
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smiffy220

Joined: 22 Nov 2010 Posts: 329 Location: Southminster, Essex
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Interestingly, this topic came up on another forum I frequent only last week. A chap was looking for one or the other, but couldn't make up his mind. The general opinion was to go for the Lotus Sunbeam, mostly due to availability of parts rather than it necessarily being the better car.
I used to rally Talbot Sunbeams. Both of the Ti variety, so never driven a Lotus version. The Sunbeams were great little cars, I only sold my last one in 2009. They were quick and handled well, and on most of my events, I was easily catching the 2.0 Escorts in my 1.6 ex-works Avenger engined Sunbeam.
Both very rare now, but I did see a Chevette HS turn up at a local show last year, so there are still some about. Was nice to see it there and a lot of people were talking about it. _________________ Born to rally, forced to work!
1980 Opel Manta 2.0 SR Berlinetta
1934 Morris Cowley Four (my late fathers) |
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petermeachem
Joined: 23 Sep 2013 Posts: 358 Location: Chichester Sussex
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:57 am Post subject: |
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I was chatting once (years back) to a guy who had a Quattro. He had previously owned a Lotus Sunbeam and was going to sell the quattro and get another Sunbeam. He said the quattro was just too good. Even if he was stuck in traffic he could sit and watch the Sunbeam trim falling off. |
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MikeEdwards
Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Cheshire
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:00 am Post subject: |
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I do know a chap in North Wales with a HS Chevette, though I don't know how long he's had it. He does come over to some of the north west shows from time to time, and we have a HSR in the Manchester area too. HSRs are very thin on the ground, but then there were hardly any to start with.
I have driven neither Chevette or Sunbeam so cannot say which is better, if there even is a definitive answer to a question like that. |
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