The best hot hatches of the 1970s

This was when the hot hatch was born, but it turns out you are wrong, the Volkswagen Golf GTI was actually not the first proper hot hatch. Before that legend could arrive on the scene we had already had attempts from Renault and Simca.

So what is the real story of the hot hatch in the 1970s? Here examine that historic decade's lineup of great cars to explore the roots of one of the best and most important kinds of car around.
#gwfirst #hothatch #1970s

[GoodwoodRR]

What a list! Could. you pick a favourite?

[soterman]

Can't believe the Simca 1100 gets that kind of publicity in 2020! Absolutely amazed, it was our family car back in the day!

[bowlock]

Love you guys, like a sunday dinner with a cup of tea after, just wholesome stuff. Thankyou, Matt.

[coldwarmotors]

Great video! I'm partial to the R5, but any of these would be a treat!

[baron_lawder]

I'm daily driving a 2L Lancia beta coupé. It's a wonderful car, and quite reliable for an old car ! I love it

[marinjeam]

Beautiful footage, always loved the Simca ti and others too of course 👍

[bennyhannover]

The information that the Golf GTi test bed had double carburettored engines is new for me and I am born in Wolfsburg in the late sixties. I heard and read the for the Audi 80 GTE was tested a new 1600 cc injection engine and the capacity of the production was planned 35.000 to 40.000 engine units per year but the predecessor 80 GT sold only 10.000 to 15.000. So some engineers at Volkswagen thought what would it be to have a Golf with that engine. It was also shown to chief of sales Werner P. Schmidt and he was impressed by the capacities of the car and saw potential for young customers. The engine was also later presented in the Scirocco GLI in late 1977 and the Passat GLI in 1978 but all these version together did never match the figures of the Golf GTI it was presented late1975 and sold to prominent German customers like Helmut Schmidt, the normal production ran up on summer 1976, the preorder time was at that point more than 9 months delivery time.

[MorfieldCentral]

If you can include the lancia estate, then you should include the bmw 2000tii and 2002tii tourings from the early 70s... which would then make them the first ‘hot hatch’ in your lineup, before the simca.

[anthonypetty]

I had a 1977 Alfasud ti 1.3 in Arancia Capua just like at 0:0.34, although I never had it fly like that. Great little car.

[liamschannel]

The lancia beta hpe is a nice funky looking car

[bennyhannover]

How about the A112 Abarth from Autobianchi or is 70 hp from 6.700 rpm and 1000 cc to few for a hot hatch ? ? ?

[PiDsPagePrototypes]

Comment BEFORE pressing play - betting you missed the First "Hot Hatch" - everybody starts with the Second.
Edit: pausing during Simca, .... WRONG. The FIRST Hot Hatch is older then the Simca, has more power and bigger engine then the Simca, and is Very Very Much what the Simca's Design was copied from. It's the Renault 16, in TS specification, with 91hp, and a real world tested top speed close to 120mph. In the right hands, the R16TS is quicker then the Golf GTi, and the R16TX is faster again.
The TS Spec motor is what Lotus should have used in the Europa.
Yes, people do normally start with the Golf, and the Simca is unknown outside of Europe.

[johnchurch]

The Fiat/ Lancia twin cam only had an alloy head, the block was cast iron.

[gameboyterrorysta]

And I still say that BMW 1602/2002 touring is the first hot hatch.

[pereldh]

My pick would prob be the Fiat 128 Rally or 128 3P (if we’re talking strictly ”hatch”)

[bennyhannover]

All the cars that you present have "alloy wheels" but the Golf GTI did not have alloy wheels nor the Alpine R5 ! these were simple silver coated steel wheels.

[andrewgreen]

Why mention the mini with transverse engine and front drive when the r5 (in gordini guise) and alfa sud were longitudinal and the chevette hs (lotus had nothing to do with the vauxhall head) and sunbeam were longitudinal and rear drive. Why don't you get someone who has a modicum of knowledge about cars to check your scripts.

[lazerblu]

Surely the BMW 2002 Tii Touring was the first?

[CathodeRayNipplez]

I argue that a 'proper' hot hach is a two door.

[pauldamian]

What about cars available in the USA... Then, I think it IS the VW GTI...