NO.7 - VAUXHALL FIRENZA

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Probably the best know of all Lone Star’s toy vehicles is the No.7 Vauxhall Firenza. Lone Star’s model was produced as a promotional item for Vauxhall and launched on the same day as the full-size car; 26th May 1971. The collaboration between Vauxhall and Lone Star resulted in a neat model which captures the look of the real car very well. Part of the deal gave Lone Star exclusive rights to produce the Firenza and it was the only available model until Oxford Diecast launched a 1/43 scale model in 2017. These factors help explain why the Lone Star Firenza is such a collectable model today, usually attracting a 3-figure price tag.

Models were initially sold in blister packs with a large backing card featuring a drawing of the car and included a miniature version of the fold -out sales leaflet. The Firenza was produced in a wide range of colours some of which mirrored the shades used by Vauxhall. A gold-plated version exists and is believed to have been issued to Vauxhall dealerships. Another promotional version was for ‘Budget Rent a Car’. This is usually finish in white with a ‘Budget Rent a Car’ sticker on the roof.

General Motors also sold the Firenza in Canada where it was marketed as simply ‘Firenza’. Lone Star issued their toy version here too but with the casting modified to remove ‘Vauxhall’ from the base and rear of the model. The interior was also modified to become left hand drive. These Canadian versions were sold in red and white boxes featuring the ‘Firenza’ script. As normal for Lone Star there must have been some supply issues or left-over components as variations of models with ‘Vauxhall’ blanked out on either the body or base plate (but not usually both) appeared on the UK market.

The model was discontinued along with the rest of the Flyers range in 1975 and unfortunately it did not reappear in the low-cost ‘Impy Super Models’ range.