Chevette HS & HSR

[pinto48s]

here is a pic of a HSR on the track

seen one like this racing at brands. had a bdg in it!!! good lad for using a proper engine

[macjam]

the rumours is widely thought that the HSR numbers for homologation were achieved by rebuilding unsold HS models as factory rebuilds, and modifying customers vehicles.

Also with the homologation there was something to do with driving them out one end of the building changing the ID and adding it to the other end of the que. As not enough cars had been built.

Were all the HSR models LWB? Or was that just a rally conversion?

I know where there is a replica HS LWB rally car being built, soon to appear on a single venue near here.

[KL]

400 HSs were required for Gp4 homologation but not a single production car had been built (allegedly...) when the first works car appeared on the 76 RAC. Allegedly the (then RAC)MSA fiddled the approval of the papers to help a British alternative to the Escort appear. In those days national governing bodies could approve homologation under FIA delegation.
Word at the time was that all HSRs (a futher 40 required under evolution regs) were conversions of existing HSs.

[macjam]

So Keith when did they homologate the LWB conversion? Were any of the HS's LWB? Or was it never legitimately homologated?

[steve p]

From some records it appears less than 300 twin cam heads were ordered so I would suggest like Ford, Vauxhall were a little off with their maths!
I am selling my Group 4 HS at the moment.
Steve

[KL]

So Keith when did they homologate the LWB conversion? Were any of the HS's LWB? Or was it never legitimately homologated?

LWB was, as I understand it, part of the Gp4 homologated HSR spec from day one, along with Getrag box and (say it very quietly) Atlas axle. 40-off "evolution" of the 400 HSs.
That came back to haunt them when the old Appendix J disappeared and they had to run in GpB. Whilst the Escort "RS" and the Sunbeam Lotus carried their full "works" spec into 200-off GpB because they were 400-off Gp4 cars, the HSR couldn't be a GpB car because it was a only a 40-off car. They had to revert to the ZF box and Salisbury (Jaguar 4HA type) axle they had in the Gp4 HS. By some sort of compromise, they were allowed to keep the HSR bodywork and long rear links. Thats why the last Chevette HSRs used by Brookes were not as quick as the 1981 HSRs used by Pond (who used to have a new Getrag box thrown at it at every opportunity during every rally it seemed).

[rsash]

Used to have one, brilliant car, better than an Escort.

Can I say that?

Ash

[bortaf]

When i was into vivas (i had a sportshatch ) the accepted number was 6 HSRs built from new 40 odd converted HSs but i have no way of backing that up just what was the accepted number (8-9 yers back) but i see on the droopsnoop forum the numbers have been amended, when i had one the number of sportshatches was 94 now it's 200 odd

[KL]

better than an Escort

I got the chance to put that to Pentti Airikkala on another forum early this year. I asked him if the relative lack of Chevette success was down to it always being an under-funded effort or that great big lump of iron up front killing turn-in compared to an alloy blocked Escort or Sunbeam Lotus.
Answer (paraphrased) was the HS was never going to work as well with that axle/diff but the HSR was coming good (with the Ford-proven Atlas) when he left.
Probably "horses for courses". In homologated (2.3) form it had less power but more torque than an Escort, just as the Sunbeam Lotus did, and probably very slightly poorer handling, on the loose in particular. Seems as if it had gained adequate traction with those long links - traction being the weak point of the Sunbeam Lotus compared to an Escort or HSR?

[Aaron P.]

i know of one sitting in a yard on a trailer, complete car, but needing complete restoration...a very well know rally driver (i think) over here owns it....it looks very nice...ive seen a few up north at a few shows...very rare car anywere

[SHAGGY]

Lamp Brackets

From some records it appears less than 300 twin cam heads were ordered so I would suggest like Ford, Vauxhall were a little off with their maths!
I am selling my Group 4 HS at the moment.
Steve

Hi Steve,is the photograph of the Chevette your own car?If it is where did you get the spotlamp brackets?I purchased a set from e bay but i don't think they are the right ones as the trim on my HS'S bumper seems to get in the road of fitting them,they also don't seem to bolt to anything on the front panel,not that i can see any way,cheers Dave

[steve p]

Hi mate,yes thats my car in the picture.
Mine are genuine Magard ones, as I have the group 4 front airdam there is no trim,you are right they bolt to nothing!
They actually bolt to the front panel the fitting instructions say to put a piece of flat metal behind them which is what I have done also inside the airdam (you could stand on them now and they wouldn't move)
They hold the 4 Cibie super oscars no problem

Steve
P.S. Car still for sale!!!!!

[jlf1970]

Just a slight deviation from the thread but dunno if anyone seen any tv today.
Probably old footage but on DAVE earlier (clarksons cars) Jezzer was giving it beans driving a "HSR" and a "Lotus Sunbeam" around an airfield - really awesome cars of their day

[lee bishop]

Just a slight deviation from the thread but dunno if anyone seen any tv today.
Probably old footage but on DAVE earlier (clarksons cars) Jezzer was giving it beans driving a "HSR" and a "Lotus Sunbeam" around an airfield - really awesome cars of their day

yeah i saw that too, i liked the line " the germans thought they'd invented the hot hatch, but the brits had done it some time earlier "

enter stage left a sideways HS on full chat, sounded awsome

[KL]

liked the line " the germans thought they'd invented the hot hatch, but the brits had done it some time earlier"

Except it's a blatant lie and an attempt to completely re-write history. Brit hatches were not even warm, more like stone cold, at the time the Golf GTi first appeared.

Incidently, there was some talk before the Chevette HS actually appeared that it would be based on the saloon Chevette. No idea whether that was ever seriously considered - and there was already a (turbo?) 1.6 Chevrolet Chevette hatch in the US when the HS came out here.