Another popular car from the 1970s joins Oxford’s 1:43 scale automobiles
series. The newly tooled Vauxhall Firenza 2-door coupé is based on the
car which Vauxhall introduced in 1971 as a development of the Viva –
already in Oxford’s 1:43 scale series of cars. A year later, Vauxhall
made some changes to the car, including the introduction of the top of
the range 2300 Sport SL model, which they unveiled at the Geneva Motor
Show and which featured a 2279 cc engine and the highest level of trim.
The 2300 Sport L was the only version of the Firenza to feature the
seven dial dashboard with speedometer, clock, rev counter, fuel, oil
pressure and water temperature gauges and battery charge indicator. The
engine was an inclined 4-cylinder with single overhead camshaft and twin
Stromberg carburettors. The oversquare straight four engine was
renowned for its big torque curve, making the car very flexible and easy
to drive. The interior was fitted with bucket seats front and back to
carry four people. The centre console with heater controls and warning
lights was quite distinctive and considered luxurious for its time. The
Firenza was manufactured until 1975 at the company’s Ellesmere Port
facility in Cheshire, when it was succeeded by the Opel Manta.
Our
model, registered GRD 41, appears in bright blue with black chassis,
wheels and grille and a wealth of silver and chrome trim. A sporty pale
blue stripe runs the length of the sides and the Vauxhall Firenza Sport
SL marque and Vauxhall badge are intricately printed on the front/rear
of the body. The interior is moulded in black with grey carpet and
silver finished door handles and gearstick column.
Oxford have also
incorporated a second tooling variation to the dashboard and steering
wheel to allow for the introduction of the Firenza 1800 SL a little
later on, which is something else to look forward to.