I just recently was made aware of this 1 year only Model, do any of our Canadian members have any additional infor? I would love to find one in decent shape to confuse the Pontiac Show Judges!!!!! Hee Hee Hee1!!!!!!
You mean this little thing? Never seen one..... Back end: So I guess this was an imported Vauxhall? Any other body styles available?
I had a customer once who had a Vauxhall Wombat, it was hideous and half his stuff we had to order from out of the country. A little back story for you guys I worked in a little import only parts store for 18 1/2 years, the owner was very fond of buying old and way too large inventories from all over the country...my job was finding somewhere to put it all and get some kind of part number on it.
Firenzas had an awful reputation for quality. Not many were sold in Canada. They were one of the first cars that got the term 'lemon' applied to them.
The Firenza was around for more than one year. It was made by Vauxhall in England, and was also sold in Europe as the Opel Firenza.
From what I understand it was sold thru Chevy dealers thru 71, and Pontiac only in 1972. Starting in 73 They Started rebadging Vega's as Astre's so Pontiac and Chevy no longer marketed the type. As for any 70's English car I would expect the reliability of a 100,000 mile used Yugo!!!!! I could always put a Turbo Ecoteck from a Solstice in it if parts become an issue. I like the little wagon, but I dought I will ever find one.
Vauxhalls, as far as I know, were always sold at Pontiac dealers in Canada. I know my Mom's 58 Velox was bought at the local Pontiac dealer. Mind you, the poor mechanics had NO idea how to work on the captive imports, and that really didn't help. Add the rust problems that were endemic, and Vauxhalls were not really what you would call a good deal.
In South Africa, They installed 302's in Firenzas, and sold them. Many were used as race cars. http://www.streetlegaltv.com/news/chevrolet-firenza-can-am-south-africas-muscle-car/
In the small city in southern Alberta where we lived there were quite a few Firenza's when they were new. The local Pontiac dealer did a great job of selling them and they were around for years so I supposed that meant they were also serviced well. The weather there is just like the US midwest plains, hot in the summers, cold in the winters, and those little cars survived for many years. I seem to recall they were popular with the younger 2 person families and as a second car. I don't know anyone who actually owned one, but I remember seeing them for many years. I am not sure of this but I thought they also have a 2 door wagon ??????????
