What Were You Doing in 1973? A Look Back at the Year Tony Le Voi Began

See the rare 1973 Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot at Tony Le Voi Lakeside. Discover our history, classic car restoration, and showroom display.​​

1973 was a year of big firsts.

The UK joined the European Economic Community, the first mobile phone call was made in New York, and Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon. Flared trousers, big hair and glam rock filled the charts - and in Grays, Essex, a new motoring business called Tony Le Voi opened its doors.

It was also the year our very own Vauxhall Firenza Droopsnoot was built.

This 1973 2.3 Twin Weber performance car, with just 58,000 miles, has recently been fully restored by our team. Through August and September, we’ve proudly showcased it at car festivals in Essex and Suffolk - celebrating both Vauxhall’s heritage and our own.

What makes this Firenza even more unique is its story.

In 1979, its then-owner (who worked at the Vauxhall Heritage Centre in Luton) gave it even more muscle with the legendary “Old Nail” body kit: flared wings, Wolfrace wheels and classic 70s sports seats. With a 0-60 time of 7 seconds and a top speed of 138 mph, the Firenza was a serious performance contender of its day. Vauxhall built just 207 examples before the 1973 fuel crisis halted production, and today, it’s believed only around 40 remain on the road - with even fewer Droopsnoots surviving.

Racing driver Gerry Marshall became synonymous with the Firenza, taking wins that cemented its reputation among enthusiasts.

This slice of Vauxhall history is now proudly displayed in our Lakeside showroom throughout October and November.

If you’ve never seen a Firenza in the flesh, now’s your chance.