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[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Its a Vauxhall. 

My Chevette HS was £6100 at the end of 78 / early 79, which was a lot of money then.
The build quality was absolutely atrocious. The gear lever came of in my hand at 5000 miles, and the drivers seat had fallen apart by 15000 miles, despite me weighing about 7 stone dripping wet at that time.
Engine lost oil pressure just before 30,000 miles and when I stripped it to rebuild it I found the block was a crap casting which had metal filler in several blow hole areas, including the machined face where the oil pump attached.
Even the old Victorian foundry I worked in at the time only used that stuff for filling castings in non important cosmetic areas.
Still loved the car though and had more fun in it than any other car Ive owned.
Sometimes when it was moving. Sometimes when it wasnt. 

The seventies was the decade that both fashion and build quality forgot.

Everything was badly made in the seventies be it a house, a toaster, and everything made by BL.

Having said that you car would be worth a lot of money today. Five figures?

I had hair down to my waist and wore big flared Levis in the 70,s. Taste personified. 
I reckon it would be worth around £40k now. Its still around but in a new body shell with HSR kit fitted afaik.
I sold it in 83 for £2300. 
Theres is an ex works, ex Tony Pond example for sale for for nearly £90k.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/336094502526?_skw=vauxhall+chevette+hsr&itmmeta=01K2MYXYE8K7FKWZJFRVVYPGZ6&hash=item4e40cb1e7e:g:grYAAOSwJV1hqkkK&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1d8bdea7A6afgclc2gntCuFschFjNrhlMra9YF9CxmVIXE8BeLXljqDqWfOKC1bsUi0uvIow4OEM3IvTf0p6wFGwXZvXb2ue%2B25uQcSwQR6XtjZDm7PULJcrCkfc7zEu24H37KwvwWx1AyKflUROaRoZWVNUIR0dmFN%2B7mi%2FZp4DqMSe8Bp0vOFgPOrjB3kACnf1Wn8hDLWeGiF%2BMKgSa%2FEctei6s7hCA5Oz0uGc58mlCLxL7zWfka8f1tA5shEs3NBWtPPqFFHgxLBSubkqZRzDnFQgFdjBnapOLLYPTwkZg%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5zn956VZg

[LC0112G]

I do wonder, when 350bhp.is hot hatch territory today if some cars are a case of 'dont meet your heroes'.

I understand a massive chunk of value is tied up in nostalgia and image but I do wonder if it would be 'worth it'. I struggle with quite a lot of classic car pricing today. When a Ford Sierra (and not even the really quick ones) will set you back more than an Aston, I feel like I've missed something somewhere.

I think what made the LC special is, even today, it's not short on power, and there were no real compromises, its a big, comfy semi-exec saloon. You can hold a conversation in one at 140 (so I've heard, obviously) easier than many cars doing 40 without having to raise you voice. And its 35 years old. Thats how ahead of it's time it was.

At the time, the Granada was a crock with that old 2.8, though shortly followed by the better 2.9, Rover was doing the 800 Vitesse, and that was about it for European big execs.


Obviously, from a technology and gadget perspective, if thats your thing, its badly dated - mobile phones weren't really a thing for most people, let alone smartphone control of the car.  Looks wise from the exterior it looks like, well, a 1990s Vauxhall.


I wouldn't own one now, because I would not be able to keep it in the condition it needs to be kept in, and few remaining need to be kept tip top for the future.


A true icon.

......or torque.

419 lb ft of twist is impressive even in 2025.

This ^^^^^

People seem obsessed with BHP these days, but on most cars max BHP is usually about 4500-5000 RPM, and that's not a region you can drive comfortably in. Torque is a better measure of the driveability and acceleration available, and a nice flat torque curve from tickover to red line is much preferable to a peaky torque curve which is typical on highly tuned "max BHP" engines.

The LC is a big heavy old bus, but if your clutch will take it can supposedly do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. That was excellent in 1990, but is perhaps less amazing today. However, IIRC 60-120 was also something like 6 seconds, and that's were the torque of the big old bus still excels. It doesn't really run out of grunt till north of 160.

I've never checked if it is actually true, but there was a tale that the LC produced more torque at tickover (or 1500 RPM?) than the 3.0L 24V engine in the GSi Carlton did at full chat. Might be bolleux though.

[LC0112G]

Well - 58 cars made it out of the 60 promised, including cars from Ireland, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland and Germany.

Talks given by half a dozen of the bigwigs responsible for the design and manufacture back in the early 90's, and 3 laps of the Hethel test track - during which one of the 58 expired in a cloud of oily smoke.

They also ran a concourse judged by the design team. I didn't win anything - even the hi-miler award went to Bruce Strachan (203K) vs my 189K. Should have fixed the odometer cog earlier. For a change Dave Franczak's car only came second.

I've just got home, so now the customary 2 week wait for a love letter from some bunch of kill-joy rozzers.

[Raeturbo]

I do wonder, when 350bhp.is hot hatch territory today if some cars are a case of 'dont meet your heroes'.

I understand a massive chunk of value is tied up in nostalgia and image but I do wonder if it would be 'worth it'. I struggle with quite a lot of classic car pricing today. When a Ford Sierra (and not even the really quick ones) will set you back more than an Aston, I feel like I've missed something somewhere.

I think what made the LC special is, even today, it's not short on power, and there were no real compromises, its a big, comfy semi-exec saloon. You can hold a conversation in one at 140 (so I've heard, obviously) easier than many cars doing 40 without having to raise you voice. And its 35 years old. Thats how ahead of it's time it was.

At the time, the Granada was a crock with that old 2.8, though shortly followed by the better 2.9, Rover was doing the 800 Vitesse, and that was about it for European big execs.


Obviously, from a technology and gadget perspective, if thats your thing, its badly dated - mobile phones weren't really a thing for most people, let alone smartphone control of the car.  Looks wise from the exterior it looks like, well, a 1990s Vauxhall.


I wouldn't own one now, because I would not be able to keep it in the condition it needs to be kept in, and few remaining need to be kept tip top for the future.


A true icon.

......or torque.

419 lb ft of twist is impressive even in 2025.

This ^^^^^

People seem obsessed with BHP these days, but on most cars max BHP is usually about 4500-5000 RPM, and that's not a region you can drive comfortably in. Torque is a better measure of the driveability and acceleration available, and a nice flat torque curve from tickover to red line is much preferable to a peaky torque curve which is typical on highly tuned "max BHP" engines.

The LC is a big heavy old bus, but if your clutch will take it can supposedly do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. That was excellent in 1990, but is perhaps less amazing today. However, IIRC 60-120 was also something like 6 seconds, and that's were the torque of the big old bus still excels. It doesn't really run out of grunt till north of 160.

I've never checked if it is actually true, but there was a tale that the LC produced more torque at tickover (or 1500 RPM?) than the 3.0L 24V engine in the GSi Carlton did at full chat. Might be bolleux though.

                Hi Malcolm, I love the LC and they are indeed quick but the 6second time you quoted is 60mph to 100mph. If it was 60 to 120 it would be a ridiculously fast machine 👍👍

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I do wonder, when 350bhp.is hot hatch territory today if some cars are a case of 'dont meet your heroes'.

I understand a massive chunk of value is tied up in nostalgia and image but I do wonder if it would be 'worth it'. I struggle with quite a lot of classic car pricing today. When a Ford Sierra (and not even the really quick ones) will set you back more than an Aston, I feel like I've missed something somewhere.

I think what made the LC special is, even today, it's not short on power, and there were no real compromises, its a big, comfy semi-exec saloon. You can hold a conversation in one at 140 (so I've heard, obviously) easier than many cars doing 40 without having to raise you voice. And its 35 years old. Thats how ahead of it's time it was.

At the time, the Granada was a crock with that old 2.8, though shortly followed by the better 2.9, Rover was doing the 800 Vitesse, and that was about it for European big execs.


Obviously, from a technology and gadget perspective, if thats your thing, its badly dated - mobile phones weren't really a thing for most people, let alone smartphone control of the car.  Looks wise from the exterior it looks like, well, a 1990s Vauxhall.


I wouldn't own one now, because I would not be able to keep it in the condition it needs to be kept in, and few remaining need to be kept tip top for the future.


A true icon.

......or torque.

419 lb ft of twist is impressive even in 2025.

This ^^^^^

People seem obsessed with BHP these days, but on most cars max BHP is usually about 4500-5000 RPM, and that's not a region you can drive comfortably in. Torque is a better measure of the driveability and acceleration available, and a nice flat torque curve from tickover to red line is much preferable to a peaky torque curve which is typical on highly tuned "max BHP" engines.

The LC is a big heavy old bus, but if your clutch will take it can supposedly do 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. That was excellent in 1990, but is perhaps less amazing today. However, IIRC 60-120 was also something like 6 seconds, and that's were the torque of the big old bus still excels. It doesn't really run out of grunt till north of 160.

I've never checked if it is actually true, but there was a tale that the LC produced more torque at tickover (or 1500 RPM?) than the 3.0L 24V engine in the GSi Carlton did at full chat. Might be bolleux though.

                Hi Malcolm, I love the LC and they are indeed quick but the 6second time you quoted is 60mph to 100mph. If it was 60 to 120 it would be a ridiculously fast machine 👍👍

Yep. I have the original Autocar road test from 1990.

60 in 5.1
100 in 11.1
120 in 15.5

So 6 seconds to go from 60-100mph and 10.4 to go from 60-120.

Still properly quick.

[Raeturbo]

Indeed as I suggested earlier 👍

[Raeturbo]

And some decent slightly bigger more efficient billet wheels in a bored out housing on the feeble t25s  (similar to t28) and it’s a proper weapon with a remap👍. I’d love one😎

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

 Following a remap my XFR made around 600BHP.

That managed 60 in 4.2 and 100 in 8.7secs according to Racelogic.

Once it was hooked up (rear drive only) it was a proper missile.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

How many " driver aids" come into play with the 600bhp though ?
My ideal car for the imaginary empty B roads I would like to drive along would weigh around 700kgs and have around 300bhp, with rear wheel drive, LSD,  and no electronics to interfere with things.

[STEMO]

How many " driver aids" come into play with the 600bhp though ?
My ideal car for the imaginary empty B roads I would like to drive along would weigh around 700kgs and have around 300bhp, with rear wheel drive, LSD,  and no electronics to interfere with things.

Apart from your pacemaker and your brain implant? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

How many " driver aids" come into play with the 600bhp though ?
My ideal car for the imaginary empty B roads I would like to drive along would weigh around 700kgs and have around 300bhp, with rear wheel drive, LSD,  and no electronics to interfere with things.

You've just described a 300BHP 'Emma Peel' Lotus Elan.....and even the Elan sprint only had 126BHP.

No, what you need is 230BHP pushing around 180KG.....although you'll need to lose a couple of wheels.

Of course at your age life expectancy will probably be less than an hour.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Cant allow my mind to wander towards bikes. 

[Viral_Jim]

How many " driver aids" come into play with the 600bhp though ?
My ideal car for the imaginary empty B roads I would like to drive along would weigh around 700kgs and have around 300bhp, with rear wheel drive, LSD,  and no electronics to interfere with things.

That would indeed be a fearsome thing. Ariel atom perhaps.if I have my way the kit car will be over 300bhp but a portly 1100kg  . Not sure the chassis can be made suitable however