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FOR VAUXHALL FD SERIES, VIVA & FIRENZA

NXE 104K – My 1971 Firenza 2300SL Coupe

November 2003

This car was bought from a guy not far from my home. He used to own 1 of the original 204 droopsnoot Firenzas until very unfortunately losing the car in an accident. All the mechanics then went into this car about ten years ago.

The cars current specification is as follows:

Engine:

Inline, inclined 4 cylinder 2279c (This engine possibly re-bored above this)
Big valve head
Belt driven single overhead camshaft with performance cam
Twin 48 dellorto Carburettors

Four branch manifold

Oil cooler

Fuel Pump

Transmission:
ZF type box with dog-leg first gear
3.70:1 final drive ratio, "052" rear axle

Brakes:

Dual circuit, servo assisted
10.1" discs (front),  9" drums (rear)

6J x 13 Avon safety wheels with
185/70 HR 13 tyres

Original body colour Tasman Orange with black vinyl roof.

The bodywork appears to be very solid throughout apart from the bottom of both doors and around the rear wheel arches. The car will need re-painting and I’m not too sure about keeping the nose-cone at this stage. The current specification appears to be similar to that of the “SS” and the engine has extremely high compression. For now I will control my efforts in just getting the car road legal as I can’t wait to drive this beast even with it’s current “MAD MAX” looks.

Eventually I will be looking to prepare the Firenza as a road legal race car for track days and hill climbing events. Watch this space!