Australian motorsport legend Peter Brock raced numerous times overseas, but in one case he teamed with one of Britain’s great drivers.
Back in 1977, Brock teamed up with the great Gerry Marshall for the 24 Hours of Spa in a factory Vauxhall effort.
Built by the Dealer Team Vauxhall squad led by Bill Blydenstein, the Firenze Magnum enjoyed immediate success by scooping major prizes at Spa, then one of the world’s most prestigious touring car races.
Labelled ‘Spa Magnum’, the DTV built it to Group 1 regulations requiring the entry to feature limited modifications including using Vauxhall’s 2.3-litre Slant Four engine featuring twin Weber DCOE 48 carburettors, a mild camshaft to produce 172bhp through the rear wheels.
A Getrag five-speed gearbox completes the package, with Marshall leading a line of tough Vauxhall touring cars throughout the 1970s starting with ‘Old Nail’ Firenze at the start of the decade.
The package proved very competitive highlighted by Marshall and Brock taking second in the endurance classic, with the British legend chasing down second with just 30 minutes remaining.
Marshall and Brock also took the ‘Coup du Roi’ teams prize in addition to the ‘Index of Performance’ by outpacing higher capacity rivals after qualifying 28th.
The Firenze Magnum’s racing career continued until 1978 when it was rolled by a privateer team and stored in a barn until reappearing in the mid-2000s at auction.
It has now been fully restored and is a regular on the historic scene in Britain.
As a sidetone, Brock ran a three-car entry at Bathurst later in the year inviting Gerry Marshall to join where he partnered with South African Basil van Rooyen in a Holden Torana SL/R 5000, but the duo failed to finish.