Dealer Team Vauxhall, usually known as DTV, was a motorsport organisation.
in the absence of official sponsorship of motorsport by
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
and
Vauxhall Motors 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
Bill(s) may refer to:
Common meanings
* Banknote, paper cash (especially in the United States)
* Bill (law), a proposed law put before a legislature
* Invoice, commercial document issued by a seller to a buyer
* Bill, a bird or animal's beak
Plac ...
, 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 Cars developed and used for racing and rallying include
Viva
Viva may refer to:
Companies and organisations
* Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator
* Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia
* Viva Air Dominicana
* VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company
* ...
,
Firenza,
Magnum,
Victor, and
Chevette.
Drivers included
Gerry Marshall
Gerald Dallas Royston Marshall (16 November 1941 – 21 April 2005) was a British saloon car racing driver. He was commonly referred to by the nickname ''Big Gerry''. According to a 2002 edition of Motor Sport Magazine poll, he was one of the b ...
,
Will Sparrow
Will may refer to:
Common meanings
* Will and testament, instructions for the disposition of one's property after death
* Will (philosophy), or willpower
* Will (sociology)
* Will, volition (psychology)
* Will, a modal verb - see Shall and will
...
, Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams,
Jimmy McRae,
Pentti Airikkala 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