Shed of the week

VAUXHALL CAVALIER SPORTS HATCH

As 1970s as Old Spice. But this probably smells beter...

Say the words 'Vauxhall' and 'Sports Hatch' in the same sentence these days and you'll probably think of the thoroughly forgettable three-door version of the Astra (You know, the one that tries really hard to pretend it's a coupe when it really isn't). Say the same two words to a moustachioed, over-lapelled gentleman of the 1970s, however, and he would probably nod, smile and point you in the direction of his rakish looking, velour-upholstered fastback coupe. Which would be, in all probability, some shade of brown.

What you will see is a Vauxhall Cavalier Sports Hatch. And if this looks to you exactly like an Opel Manta, that's because it is just that, save for a spot of badging. But while the Opel Manta B soldiered on until 1988, Vauxhall was done with the Sports Hatch by 1981, when the Cavalier went all modern and front-wheel drive. Mechanically identical to the Cavalier saloon (and thus also both the Opel Ascona and Manta), the Sports Hatch was fitted with either a 75bhp 1.6 (in GL form) or a 100bhp, 113lb ft 2.0-litre unit (for the bells-and-whistles GLS model). And that was good for 110mph.

This particular car is the fancy-pants GLS, but with a three-speed auto gearbox we're not sure it would set said fancy pants on fire in terms of performance. The interior would definitely impress, though, with its symphony-of-gold crushed velour upholstery.
Not sure about the 'Rostyle' wheels, mind - they look like nasty plastic Halfords jobs to me.