Following a colourful motorsport career and three decades laid up in storage, Garry Morgan’s 255bhp Chevette HSR has been given a new lease of life…
![Back in B​​​​​lack](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5222/200173/58b41d431fa67/Back-inBlack.jpg)
The 1970s spawned awesome rally cars. RS-badged Mk2 Ford Escorts, Fiat 131 Abarths and specially decorated Lancia Stratos HFs rank high among the best of the decade’s dirtmunching machines. Seeing the exploits of these formidable four wheelers effortlessly raise the profile of their respective manufacturers encouraged former Vauxhall chairman, Bob Price, to order the development of a rally version of the Chevette. It was a shrewd move, and one that gave Dealer Team Vauxhall (DTV) boss, Bill Blydenstein, permission to develop what would become known as the Chevette HS.
Making use of the powerful 2.3-litre Slant Four engine, the HS was a great success in Group 4 rallying. The car’s silver paintwork, distinctive red body stripes and model-specific aero package made it instantly recognisable to rally stage spectators and motorsport fans worldwide. More importantly, the HS challenged the Mk2 Escort’s dominance on the rally scene, securing driver and manufacturer championships that upset Blue Oval bosses to the point that they objected to Vauxhall’s presence at the highly anticipated 1978 Rally of Portugal.
“Rival teams complained that the competition Chevette made use of a Lotus top end,” explains Griffin obsessive, Garry Morgan. “The long and short of the story is that Vauxhall was slow to develop its own Slant Four HS cylinder head, resulting in works rally Chevettes kitted-out with Lotus parts,” he sighs. Under pressure, the FIA deemed that Luton big-wigs had broken homologation rules by not building enough roadgoing HSs (the programme was massively behind schedule), and that qualifying road cars had been produced without the Lotus performance parts that were being picked apart in Portugal. Consequently, all three of the Blydenstein-built belters in attendance were disqualified before they got an opportunity to turn a wheel, much to the delight of the fellas over at Ford.
Denne historien er fra February - March 2017-utgaven av Performance Vauxhall.
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Denne historien er fra February - March 2017-utgaven av Performance Vauxhall.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Three Of A Kind](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f08d18e0adc/crp_Three-Of-A-Kind.jpg)
Three Of A Kind
Whether you’re a fan of track-friendly fast-road cars or dedicated circuit racers, this trio of Astra VXRs has you covered…
![Generation Game](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f096d5589cb/crp_Generation-Game.jpg)
Generation Game
With a nitrous-injected 430bhp to play with, this Vectra VXR is taking the fight to its four-wheel drive successor...
![It Was Fantastic, Nail-biting Entertainment for Our Followers, but the Consequences of Error Were Severe](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/207866/58ac2ab80a527/crp_It-Was-Fantastic-Nail-biting-Entertainment-for-Our-Followers-but-the-Consequences-of-Error-Were-Severe.jpg)
It Was Fantastic, Nail-biting Entertainment for Our Followers, but the Consequences of Error Were Severe
In the Second Part of Our Big Interview With England’s Number One Rally Driver, Chris Ingram, We Look Back at His Amazing First Year as an Adam R2 Pilot for Opel Motorsport…
![Back in B​​​​​lack](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/200173/58b41d431fa67/crp_Back-inBlack.jpg)
Back in Black
Following a colourful motorsport career and three decades laid up in storage, Garry Morgan’s 255bhp Chevette HSR has been given a new lease of life…
![Power Maxed Racing and Vauxhall for BTCC](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/200173/58b422f55d82e/crp_Power-Maxed-Racing-and-Vauxhall-for-BTCC.jpg)
Power Maxed Racing and Vauxhall for BTCC
In incredibly exciting news, Automotive Brands – the owner of Power Maxed Racing – has announced a commercial partnership with Vauxhall Motors that will see twin Mk7 Astras star in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship from 2017 onwards, almost three decades after John Cleland won his first BTCC title as a works driver piloting a Mk2 Astra GTE.
![Split Personality](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f07c4d1f767/crp_Split-Personality.jpg)
Split Personality
Ryan Davies’ 424bhp Mk2 Astra GTE is half show car, half race car, and it’s heading for the tens…
![Minty Fresh](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f08e760d252/crp_Minty-Fresh.jpg)
Minty Fresh
Complete with Cliff Motorsport body styling, Steva Armstrong’s cool Calibra Turbo is one of the cleanest Vauxhalls on the show and shine scene…
![True North](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f0933f35571/crp_True-North.jpg)
True North
Once again, MW Performance invited ow ners of Vauxhall V8s to come together for a day of fun in Chester...
![Tour Of Duty](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f098ea54bfb/crp_Tour-Of-Duty.jpg)
Tour Of Duty
Those of you who read our last BTCC report will recall how the Power Maxed Racing team were looking forward to Snetterton after their summer ‘break’…
![Winging It](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5222/244047/59f09aa2576ed/crp_Winging-It.jpg)
Winging It
JULIAN ZAFIRA 1.9 CDTi