2004 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo - 800 Miles

The noughties gave us some true future classics, although not all were appreciated equally at the time. Take the Vauxhall 220, which made its debut in 2000. The two-seat roadster may have a following today, but it failed to ignite the wider buying public’s enthusiasm during the early years of the new millennium - despite its eye-catching looks and a genesis that involved the expertise of one of the finest sports car makers in existence. Under the skin, the VX220 shared much with the contemporary Lotus Elise as the product of a partnership between Lotus and Vauxhall; it was built at Hethel and shared many crucial parts with the Elise S2, including the stiff, aluminium chassis tub. It also benefited from Lotus’s know-how with glass-fibre bodywork and suspension tuning.

Being a mainstream car maker - and to put a bit of distance between the VX220 and the Elise - Vauxhall opted to temper its new roadster by giving it a longer wheelbase and a wider rear track than the Elise, plus a driver’s airbag and ABS. It chose 17" wheels over the Elise’s 16s, too, although it stopped short of adding air-con and electric windows.

Rather than the Elise’s K-series powerplant, a strong, 145bhp 2.2-litre Ecotec petrol engine was shoehorned in, which was enough to propel the 870kg VX220 to 62mph in 5.6 seconds. In 2003, the option of a 2-litre turbo petrol unit from the Astra GSi became available, resulting in blistering performance, as a 0-62mph time of 4.7 seconds attests, despite being heavier than the previous model, at 930kg; the new VX220T also sported cosmetic changes, such as large side air intakes and a spoiler.

The car presented here is a 2004 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo and is, we believe, the lowest mileage example of its type in existence - just 800 miles covered in total from new. Quite remarkable. This striking sportscar was used for a very brief period when new by its more senior custodian, who not long after, sadly passed away, meaning the car was returned to its garage in 2008. As can happen, life continued by and the VX220 became somewhat overlooked. It was eventually rescued from hibernation by a Lotus enthusiast, who undertook a full recommissioning process of it which included draining and renewing all fluids, a new cambelt, water pump and battery - it responded as well as you’d expect an 800-mile example to, as fresh as it was in 2004.

This completely standard, basically as new VX220 is truly a time-warp example; the paintwork is still bright and the leather elements of the interior remain supple, the whole car is in quite superb condition (testimony to its excellent storage location, being both dark and dry). Underneath, everything is almost as new too, with most of the original wishbone coating still in situ - the car has obviously never seen any rain/salt during its 800 miles.

The value for these focussed diminutive sportscars perhaps bottomed-out a few years ago and is now very much on the climb. An active forum supports owners, whilst specialists have begun to remanufacture unobtainable parts, all clear signs that the VX220 has reached modern-classic status. This must be one of – or even the - lowest mileage VX220s available anywhere, carrying a certain kudos for both the collector and enthusiast alike.