The Repco-Holden motor proved a popular and successful engine during the 1970s not just in Australia, but it was used by General Motors’ British Vauxhall division.
Gerry Marshall was Vauxhall’s star racing ‘Old Nail’, a Firenza driven to the 1972 and 1973 Forward Trust Special Saloon Car Championship in addition to the 1974 Simoniz Saloon Car Championship.
When it was time to replace ‘Old Nail’ due to its lack of grunt compared to its rivals, the Dealer Team Vauxhall squad decided to use the Ventora as plans were underway to introduce a V8 version.
Using the FE shell to build its first purpose built Super Saloon, it was powered by an Australian sourced 476 bhp Repco-Holden V8 through a Borg Warner T10 gearbox delivered by a 3.5:1 Salisbury Powrlok diff.
Suspension was double wishbone at the front and a De Dion axle at the rear, while brakes were provided by AP Racing.
Christened ‘Big Bertha’ by Marshall, it was first displayed on the Vauxhall stand at the Earls Court Motor Show.
Unfortunately, Big Bertha’s career was short contesting six races and winning three before it met its demise at Silverstone where it met the armco on the Club Straight due to shedding brake pads.
Damage wasn’t enough to constitute it being written off, but the fuel crisis played a part as Vauxhall dropped the V8 and the rise of the Firenza led to the creation of ‘Baby Bertha’.
Featuring the same Repco-Holden V8 and the suspension set-up from Big Bertha, the new beast continued Vauxhall’s success in Super Saloons, an equivalent to the Australian Sports Sedan Championship.