1976 Vauxhall Magnum

Vauxhall Sportshatch (Estate), 1976

The Vauxhall Sportshatch was in production during 1976. Styled in house, it is a front-engine, rear wheel drive estate range seating four adults.

The Sportshatch came about because of a failure to complete the predicted total of Firenza HP models. There were therefore not only nose cones but alloy wheels left in stock. Vauxhall decided to make use of these to create a desirable performance hatchback, based around the bodyshell of the HC Magnum estate. Under the bonnet nothing changed - it was a standard Magnum 2300 estate, fitted inside with the seven dial dashboard that had been standardised for 2.3 Magnums the previous year. What was new, though, was the colour; Extra Dark Wine had been introduced that year for the range-topping Vauxhall VX2300GLS and was available on no other model; Vauxhall felt this would suit the new Sportshatch. Red highlights and stripes finished the outer look, and were echoed in the red tartan interior trim borrowed from the Chevette GL.

There was never a brochure, nor even an official list price for the Sportshatch - all 197 were sold via dealers who had sold the Firenza HP and were intended to be registered by dealers to generate some showroom traffic. Many dealers didn't know they existed, and it would be impossible for Vauxhall to offer a proper warranty given the lack of replacement nose cones should a car be damaged.

It's difficult to know what to consider as a competitor given that the Sportshatch was a very niche vehicle. The obvious choice would be a standard Magnum Estate, which was identical to the Sportshatch barring the colour, nosecone and trim. Cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTi would doubtless target a similar market but wouldn't come along for several years, likewise the Vauxhall Chevette HS brought the big engine to a limited run of small and sporty Vauxhalls once again. If you want a flash Vauxhall of the era consider a Firenza, or even the VX2300GLS with which the Sportshatch shares its paint colour. If you could afford to buy foreign, look at the Lancia Beta HPE - or if you could bring yourself to buy a Ford than the Capri would make an ideal alternative in 2.0S form