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VBOA National Rally at Billing Aquadrome – July 2016

7/29/2016

On 17th July, I made my way to Billing Aquadrome for the Vauxhall, Bedford, Opel Association National Rally.

Regular readers will have read about this event before (previous reviews available – see below). For any newbie visitors, by way of background, I have attended the rally every single year since 1996 - it’s like an addiction – and I just got my latest fix.

I arrived at around 10:30am, the sunshine was glorious and so were many of the motors on show. As in previous years, I wandered around happily, taking loads of photos (a selection of my shots are shared below for your enjoyment) and enjoying the show-ring narration so ably delivered by Ian Coomber, the chairman of the VBOA and ex sales and marketing director of Vauxhall. Every year this man’s encyclopaedic knowledge and obvious passion impresses me no end.

There were some superb motors on show, a few of which I will draw your attention to because they were rather different/unusual, a credit to their owners and I’d love to have/drive any/all of them.

First up - a Chevrolet Can Am Firenza. In all the years of rally attendance, this was the first time I’d seen this car. And it was lovely, no doubt very valuable and I was really envious of the owner.

The bodyshell was standard Firenza (albeit bespoilered); the headlights, HC Viva oblongs; the engine, a nicely detailed V8; the paintjob - Liquorice Allsort; the number plate, spot-on; the car overall – just marvellous.

I’d rather have this car than own a Ferrari!

Click on any photo enlarge

Next up - a 1961 PA Cresta with a very modern twist.

This Cresta had been modified to have the interior and running gear of a Holden Monaro. That’s a GM LS1 5.7 litre V8 (developing 380 bhp), with a six speed manual gearbox, limited slip diff, air conditioning, air bags, cruise control, traction control, disk brakes all round, ABS, electric windows and all topped off with some wonderful cherry red paint.

That’s the looks of a sixties’ classic with the performance of a modern super saloon. What a car, what an incredible amount of effort and what a beauty! It may have upset some purists but I thought it was awesome. I got chatting to the owner who explained that the car was only fit for the scrap yard when he acquired it. The rescue was nothing short of miraculous.

I have no idea what it was worth but I’d have been tempted to get a significant loan from “baseball bats r us” on the spot if the chap was prepared to sell it.

Click on any photo enlarge

Finally a Buick Opel Coupe Deluxe by Isuzu.

This rather understated little yellow car is at odds with the muscle motors above, but I had never seen one before and it intrigued me. Buick is a GM brand as is Opel, the coupe has a similar look to an Opel Kadett but then the badging reveals the description Opel by Isuzu. GM has known links with Isuzu too but that’s three brands on the same car – how confusing. I can only assume that it was being sold in markets where one or two of the three brands was unknown.

Regardless of its tripartite roots, the car was a delightful looking thing, even the interior appealed. Though this was the least brash of the three vehicles featured, I’d be very pleased if this was mine. And being sensible, there’s a reasonable chance I might actually be able to afford to buy and run it.

Click on any photo enlarge

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VBOA National Rally at Billing Aquadrome – July 2016

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Adrian Baldwin

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