| | My 73' Vauxhall Firenza- Well this is an ongoing project of mine, which started back in 1989 and one day it might well be finished.
Originally the car started life back in 1973. With 4 cylinder 2.3L engine, twin Stronberg carbs and four-speed gearbox she was never a slouch, then the modifications begun. The previous owner(s) added an Old Nail Replica body-kit, automatic gearbox and Porsche Guards red paintwork dressed with some 8x13" Alleycat wheels.
Then I came along and acquired her in November 1989, the first thing I done is changed the gearbox to a four-speed overdrive manual unit. I drove her like this for a couple of years when the engine started showing it's age, so it was time for a new engine. As I had a twin-cam head from a HS Chevette I decided to rebuild the engine to HS spec.
I commissioned Gerry Johnstone to do the rebuild along with some extra modifications as he was known to be the man for his knowledge & experience with modified Vauxhalls of the seventies. (well that's what I thought anyway) Read the 'Gerry Johnstone Experience' about this disaster especially if you are a DSG member. Anyway, she ended up without an engine & gearbox for a couple of years before it was possible to start again.
- It was decided to go the 'Streetmachine' route as I always knew there was something missing from the car, she needed something to complement her looks. With the ideas in my head I have approached John 'Doc' Claydon (41' Wicked Willys fame) as I knew him from my previous project and he had the experience and knowledge to carry out such a task.
After we talked about my ideas and he had taken some measurements, I have commissioned him to do the surgery on her. The first task was to find a suitable donor car which as it happens John knew of a 76 Chevrolet Camaro a guy was selling due to to much body rot, later a deal was struck & the Camaro was delivered to John's premises for donation of it's vital organs.
After months of intense open heart surgery the first stage of my dream was complete, she now had a 5.7 litre V8 engine and an Art Carr performance automatic transmission. The ten bolt locker axle was not fitted this time as it meant new wheels and more expense.
At last she was alive and I have taken the plunge into the world of Hot Rods, Custom Cars & Street Machines.
- One late Saturday night I parked her up off the road in front of our house and a little while later I heard an almighty crush. To my horror I was faced with a Ford Orion inbeded into our front garden fence and into the back of my car, it turns out that the guy lost control over a nearby bend than crushing into our garden fence and finally hitting my car. Next day I rang John to come out and access the damage caused, unfortunately he was on holiday so I rang John Sultana whom I knew through John Claydon as before the accident I had asked him to give me a quote on a re-spray.
He taken the car away to be accessed by him and the insurance man. The next day he rang to let me know the good and the bad news, the bad news was that the insurance man written the car off as it would of been un-economical for them to repair and the good news was that John can do the repairs if I wanted to go ahead. Again it was decided to go ahead with the repairs and while we were there do some improvements to the look of the car. Meanwhile I collected the insurance money and taken up jet another loan to pay for the repairs. In about five months I had a new Firenza in which time I had regularly visited John and even took a holiday leave from my work so that I could do some grafting on it myself too.
After we brought the car home, my friend Lee and I started on the re-wiring and interior, after which we got her ready for the MOT. She was finally on the road again in the Spring of 97 and I enjoy every minute of driving her.
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