Back in B​​​​​lack

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…

- Dan Furr

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.