Registration No: Y69 RHL
Chassis No: W0L0EAR971N001055
MOT: October 2023

• Under 14,000 warranted miles from new
• One owner from new and offered directly from said ownership
• Serviced every year with all but one completed by Vauxhall main agents
• Offered with a history file including the full book pack
• Undoubtedly a modern classic!

Project code-named ‘Skipton’, the VX220 was a somewhat controversial decision within GM but was backed with a simple design brief: ‘Produce an exhilarating performance vehicle with totally uncompromised handling’. The overall budget for design and development was extremely limited and the first major challenge was how, and where, to build it. Neither Vauxhall in Britain nor Opel in Europe had the ability in any of their plants to build such a specialist car that was being proposed. In the UK, already proven Lotus had a problem. Nothing unusual, their Elise Series 1 would be unfit for sale after 2000 because of new impending safety legislation. Financially, Lotus could not re-engineer the Elise on its own and was actively looking for a partner to share the costs.

The Skipton project was the perfect match for both Lotus and Vauxhall-Opel and Lotus successfully submitted a tender to undertake the co-development, prototype construction, and series production of 7000 cars over 3 years at their Hethel factory. Based on a Series 2 Elise chassis and powered by a 145bhp Ecotec 2.2 Litre engine, the VX220 launched at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show, with production starting in March 2001. The VX220 Turbo was launched for production the following year with a quoted 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 151mph. Fast becoming a very rare find and an ideal "track car" with a kerb weight of just 930kg, the VX220 is still highly regarded and sought after to this day.

Manufactured new in 2001, ‘Y69 RHL’ was supplied by Hartwell Vauxhall of Sheffield to its first and only keeper on the 21^st of June 2001. Finished in Star Silver paintwork with complementary Black leather interior upholstery and a Black soft-top, the VX220 has been retained by the first owner (the vendor) from new and is offered directly from his ownership. Coveted throughout its life, the Vauxhall has always been garaged and has seen sparing use, covering less than 14,000 miles from new and is highly original boasting all of its factory paintwork. Passionate about the Vauxhall, the car has been serviced annually, with twenty-one services documented across the original stamped service book, and servicing having all (bar one) been completed by Vauxhall main agents in Sheffield.

Starting readily and running and driving well during our recent photography session, the VX220 has benefitted from a new set of tyres in 2022. The accompanying history file contains the original book pack with handbook, guides, and the aforementioned service book presented in the Vauxhall wallet, a collection of invoices, nineteen MOT certificates including an MOT certificate until October 2023, a current V5C document showing no former keepers, and has two sets of keys. Only coming to sale due to ordering a new and more practical sports car, this low mileage, one-owner VX220 has much to recommend it, and would be a fantastic addition to any collection.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452