classic car forum header
Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
Register     Posting Photographs     Privacy     F/book OCC Facebook     OCC on Patreon

Hot hatches of the late 1970s
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat
Author Message
Ellis



Joined: 07 Mar 2011
Posts: 1386
Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 12:23 am    Post subject: Hot hatches of the late 1970s Reply with quote

[]

[/]

[]

[/]

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
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
smiffy220



Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 329
Location: Southminster, Essex

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
petermeachem



Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Posts: 358
Location: Chichester Sussex

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 7:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MikeEdwards



Joined: 25 May 2011
Posts: 2701
Location: South Cheshire

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 11:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Classic & Vintage Cars, Lorries, Vans, Motorcycles etc - General Chat All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
OCC Merch link
Forum T&C


php BB powered © php BB Grp.