Vauxhall Chevette HS and HSR

Manufacturer	Vauxhall Motors
Production	1976 to 1980
Assembly	United Kingdom
Class	Sports car
Body style	3-door hatchback
Engine	4-cylinder 2279cc.
Transmission	5-speed manual
Length	157.2in. (3993mm).
Width	62.2in. (1580mm).
Height	53.6in. (1362mm).
Wheelbase	94.2in (2395mm)

The Vauxhall Chevette HS and HSR was a three-door 4 seat hatchback introduced as Vauxhall's first homologation special, equipped with a larger in-line four-cylinder engine than that of the regular series.

History

In 1976, Vauxhall now part of GM (General Motors) decided to enter the popular international rallying. The rally developed version built in conjunction with Blydenstein Racing with a works version of the Vauxhall Chevette in order to compete in international rallying as with other manufactures 400 production vehicles needed to be made available for public sale to meet the be homologated Group 4 regulations. The Rally Chevette 2300HS is a name to be reckoned with in international events. And the Chevette 2300HS, although sharing many features of its rally counterpart, has all the refined road manners essential for a thoroughly practical car required for everyday use.

Chevette HS. 1976-79 (produced: 400).

In January 1978 the Chevette HS three-door hatchback was introduced Vauxhall's first pure 'homologation special', intended as an Escort-beater and often succeeding.

Road cars had special 16-valve twin-cam cylinder heads 2,279-cc. slant-four engine, The 4-cylinder 2279cc (139.2 cu. in) engine is built in a special assembly area. It features twin overhead cams and 16-valve aluminium head.It produces and is capable to develop up to 240bhp, and the flat torque curve is an indication of the engine's easy pulling power throughout the speed range.

Vauxhall designed and Getrag five-speed close-ratio gearboxes, though early rally cars used lotus heads and ZF 'boxes, with synchro on all gears, comfortably handles all the available torque. The heavy-duty clutch, being mechanically actuated by cable, gives a positive response but still light in operation.These rally cars used the Lotus 16-valve head Fitted with two Stromberg carburettors the engine developed 135 bhp. The Standard-16-vaIve, twin-camshaft 2279 cc engine with twin 175 CD carburettors

PERFORMANCE

• max speed: 115 mph, 185 km/h
• power weight ratio: 14.5 lb/hp (19.7 lb/kW). 6.6 kg/hp (8.9 kg/kW).
• max power (DIN): 135 hp (99.3 kW) at 5,500 rpm
• 59.2 hp/l (43.6

Exceptional braking efficiency is a feature shared by every Chevette. On the Chevette 2300HS, Vauxhall specify extra width 9.6 in diameter discs at the front and wide 9.0 in diameter self-adjusting drums at the rear. There are dual circuits and the entire system is servo-assisted.

Balanced handling the high performance Chevette 2300HS features  rally-tuned suspension, independent front suspension with coil springs, long and short wishbones, and at the rear, a live axle with coil springs. Add to this set up anti-roll bars front and rear, plus heavy duty shock absorbers all round, and the result is exceptionally taut handling and outstanding road adhesion.

Steering is rack and pinion with only 3-5 turns lock to lock and a tight 30.2 ft turning circle. The small, 13-5 in diameter padded steering wheel with leather rim,combines with an energy-absorbing steering column.

Structure basically as bread-and-butter Chevette hatchbacks, but drive line all special, meticulous attention to aerodynamics to exploit the performance potential resulted in the ducted air dam and rear spoiler on a shape that was already highly efficient. Result is exceptional straight line stability and a low drag coefficient. with wide-rim alloy wheels plus full glass-reinforced plastic front air dam, and rear spoilers and uprated brakes and suspension. 135bhp and 120mph flat-out for 1978 was appealing, but the HS was not refined enough to attract larger sales

Inside additional instrumentation and black and tartan interior sports trim. All factory HS's were painted Silver Starfire metallic. with red decals.The interior styling treatment also reflects a highly individual approach and a driving set up that ensures everything is to hand, including the push-button radio fitted as standard equipment. Keen drivers will also appreciate the pedal spacing and height, which allow for comfortable and precise heel-and-toe operation.

Reclining front seats with head restraints Inertia reel front seat belts Contoured, cloth-trim seating Leather-rim sports steering wheel with Ignition steering column lock. Fitted carpeting Fold-down rear seat Carpeted load deck Extensive sound insulation Deep front parcel shelf Front armrests Matt-black door release levers and window winders. Twin sun visors Cloth-trim door panels with carpeted kick-pads Front and rear ashtrays Coat hook Rear view mirror.Fresh air heater with 2-speed blower fan Adjustable face level fresh air vents.Through-flow ventilation Opening rear quarter vents Heated rear window.
Instrument binnacle with speedometer, tachometer, clock, warning lights for alternator, oil pressure, main beam and direction indicators, 2-speed wipers with flick-wipe Electric screenwash handbrake-on and brake fluid loss.Single stalk control for headlamp dip/flash, horn, turn indicators.Centre console with integral oil pressure, water temperature and fuel gauges plus battery condition meter Push-button radio.

Metallic silver is the standard finish with Acrylic lacquer for the 2300HS, complemented by bright red side window frame mouldings, waist level 'strobe stripes' and large Vauxhall rear decal rectangular headlamps with halogen bulbs integral steel-reinforced front bumper . Other distinguishing features include tinted glass, twin door mirrors and 6j alloy road wheels with 205 /60HR radials.Full underbody seal and body protection process.

Chevette HSR. 1979-80 (produced: 50).

To maintain competitiveness even in the eighties an evolution was prepared, the Chevette HSR. The HS has great rally success with wins for drivers such as Jimmy McRae and Tony Pond the HSR was the 'evolution' of the HS, purely for rallying use most of the 50 built actually being converted unsold HSS or uprated and modifying customers vehicles. In any case this was still successful for several more years. Basically, as HS, but with more extrovert styling which included flared wheel arches and side skirts, plus twin-plate clutch, revised back axle location, wider-rim wheels and 150bhp Rougher, rortier, less civilised even than that of the HS, but Vauxhall didn't care they had an even better rally car from 1980 to 1983, better than Escort RS or Sunbeam-Lotus in most conditions The Chevette HSR project was dropped in favour of the Manta 400 for more Europe sales as Opel.