Droop Snoot Vauxhalls of the Seventies are pretty special beasts and the example you see here – the Vauxhall Sportshatch, is the most fascinating of all. With only 197 examples built in total, it’s also one of the rarest.

The Sportshatch was an estate fitted with the famous Droop Snoot front end of the HP Firenza. The 1973 HPF was intended to be a new sporting flagship for Vauxhall, with anticipated sales of around 2000 a year. But the launch of the new HPF coincided with a worldwide oil crisis and resulting fuel shortage. Overnight, large engined sports cars were no longer in vogue and in the end just over 200 in total were built and sold.

Vauxhall had initially intended to introduce another model to the HPF range. The prototype HPF Sportshatch was put on show at Earls Court in 1974 but with slow sales of the HPF Coupe the new model was soon considered not to be a viable option.

By late 1975, the HPF had been removed from the model list. Vauxhall were now left with some spare parts and nose cones, so the question arose, what can we do with them ?. The unlikely but intriguing answer was to resurrect the Sportshatch.

The revised model - perhaps the last true Vauxhall, (being the last production model fully designed "in house"at Luton) was loosely based on the Magnum estate. While we take high-performance estates for granted these days, this was a pretty revolutionary idea back in the early 70's. In fact the Sportshatch concept was almost certainly the precursor for the Hot Hatch phenomenon that took the late 70's by storm.

The Sportshatch received the single-carb version of Vauxhall’s 2279cc slant/four engine, but it was still good for around 110bhp and over 100mph. With double wish bone front suspension, anti roll bars and coil springs all round, the Sportshatch could certainly handle the corners well.

Each Sportshatch was finished in Extra Dark Wine paintwork with contrasting red stripes / decals and interior trim in the McClaughlan Tartan later used on the the Chevette HS/R and VX2300. HPF Avon Safety Wheels and a rear spoiler finished off the sporty appearance.

The end result was dramatic, eye-catching and rather handsome. It might have been based around an estate, but thanks to its rakish lines and fastback-like styling it had a genuinely sporty look.

In the summer of 1976, the Sportshatch was released to specific Official Vauxhall Dealers as company cars / fleet vehicles and not for sale (although some found their way onto the forecourt). No brochures were ever produced and the model was never advertised. Vauxhall never put a price on the vehicle and it never featured on their 1976 model range. A remarkable story in it's own right - Vauxhalls only production model never sold to the general public.

Its rarity alone never mind it's stylish good looks and fascinating history make it a highly collectable and desirable classic and remains one of Vauxhall's most creative products of that era.

The vehicle is owned by Billy Maxwell since 2016 receiving a full mechanical and engine rebuild during that time.

 It is completely standard ( numbers matching) apart from an overdrive gearbox to make it more economic on long journeys.

The first trip to the VBOA rally at Billling 2016 returned 39 mph on a 900 miles round trip at an average speed of 59mph.

It is such a rare and unique car that I intend for it to remain standard.

The car is used as a second car during the summer months ( March to October)

It attends many classic car shows throughout Northern Ireland with the 'Ulster Vauxhall Opel Classic Community" (facebook group) and always attracts interest.

The Sportshatch is Vauxhalls lowest production model, it was never sold direct to the public, no brochures, no price lists no advertising.

Vauxhall released the mk1 Cavalier Sportshatch later in 1976 the original Sportshatch had "Magnum"added in certain quarters (insurance and parts catalogues) to differentate the two.

There are less than 15 cars roadworthy known to the club (DSG) still making it one of the rarest Vauxhalls you will see today

Droop Snoop Group - Facebook for anyone interested