Dealer Team Vauxhall, usually known as DTV, was a motorsport organisation.
in the absence of official sponsorship of motorsport by
General Motors and
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors LimitedCompany No. 00135767. Incorporated 12 May 1914, name changed from Vauxhall Motors Limited to General Motors UK Limited on 16 April 2008, reverted to Vauxhall Motors Limited on 18 September 2017. () is a British car compa ...
specifically, a group of London-based Vauxhall dealers decided to start an organisation to financially support racing and rallying. It was known as ''DTV'' and set up in January 1971.
The programs were principally run by
Bill Blydenstein, an engine tuner and racing driver, and Chris Coburn for rallying. In 1976 Blydenstein became responsible for both racing and rallying, with the focus changing to rallying from 1978.
Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( ) is a district in South West London, part of the London Borough of Lambeth, England. Vauxhall was part of Surrey until 1889 when the County of London was created. Named after a medieval manor, "Fox Hall", it became well known for ...
Cars developed and used for racing and rallying include
Viva,
Firenza,
Magnum,
Victor, and
Chevette.
Drivers included
Gerry Marshall,
Will Sparrow, Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams,
Jimmy McRae
Jimmy McRae (born 28 October 1943) is a British former rally driver. He was highly successful in the British Rally Championship, winning the title a record five times in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1988 which as of 2020 still stands. In the E ...
,
Pentti Airikkala
Pentti Airikkala (4 September 1945 – 30 September 2009) was one of the "Flying Finns" who dominated world rallying in the past four decades. and others. Rally co-drivers included Rodney Spokes, Nigel Raeburn and Don Barrow.
The 1981 franchise merger of Vauxhall and Opel also brought Dealer Team Vauxhall DTV and the Opel Dealer Team (DOT), under one marketing umbrella, resulting in a new organisation, General Motors DealerSport.
External links
The Vauxhall Viva Owner's Club(Owner's Club catering for all Viva models)
DroopSnoot Group(Owners' Club catering for Vauxhall's 'droopsnoot' model cars, including the Firenza, Magnum and Chevette HS/R)
GMCOG(General Motors Classic Owners Group)
VBOA(Vauxhall, Bedford and Opel Association)
Viva Outlaws(Owners Club catering for modified and racing Vivas, owners of the Viva GT Register)
Viva Drivers Club(Owners Club catering for all Viva models, for owners who wish to drive their Vivas)
VX4/90 Drivers Club(Owners Club catering for FD, FE and VX series Victors, Ventoras and VX4/90's)
{{Vauxhall Motors
Firenza