Vauxhall FE as a daily driver
Discussion
I have just bought a Vauxhall Victor FE 2300S which I intend to use as a daily driver.
I picked the car up yesterday and drove it 180 miles home keeping to the A roads.
After 50 miles the temp gauge packed up (needs a new sender unit) and ½ an hour after it went dark one of the main beams stopped working (needs a new sealed beam unit) and apart from that it needs a new bulb behind the speedo, the car drove really well and the steering and suspension felt great.
I am hoping to give this car regular use and see what everyday classic ownership is like and I will update this post with the results.
I picked the car up yesterday and drove it 180 miles home keeping to the A roads.
After 50 miles the temp gauge packed up (needs a new sender unit) and ½ an hour after it went dark one of the main beams stopped working (needs a new sealed beam unit) and apart from that it needs a new bulb behind the speedo, the car drove really well and the steering and suspension felt great.
I am hoping to give this car regular use and see what everyday classic ownership is like and I will update this post with the results.
I look forward to that; it will make for an interesting topic. I like the styling of them. I imagine it won't be entirely event free (it wouldn't have been in the 'Seventies!!) but decently maintained as I'm sure it will be, together with regular use means it could well be genuinely reliable. Check the rust proofing doesn't need redoing though!!
A mate of mine has an FE that he uses for towing a caravan, though I'm not sure it's quite his daily driver. Will be interesting to see what comes up. I used the Firenza as a daily when I first got it, but would struggle now if I'm honest. I guess it's just down to getting used to it.
dpp said:
I have just bought a Vauxhall Victor FE 2300S which I intend to use as a daily driver.
Wow.....can't be many of them left.....!And if you intend using it as a daily driver, it won't be long before your's will disappear in a cloud of ferrous oxide dust
IIRC, the FE series has the distinction of being the last 'true' Vauxhall design before full design integration with Opel came into being.
My late father always liked Vauxhall's over Fords, and over the years owned an early 50's Velox, a Victor FB estate & a Viva HC estate. When the Viva was sold in the late 70's he looked at getting a Victor FE estate, but ended up with a Triumph 2000 estate instead.
So far I have pulled the dash forward and replaced the bulb and fitted 2 new Lucas front light units upgrading to H4 lamps for better lighting and easy bulb changes.
The comprehensive tools required for all this work was a phillips head screwdriver, so now not only will I see where im going at night but I will also know how fast as well
Not too worried about rust at the moment as this car has only do 3500 miles and has been kept like new by it previous 2 owners but rust prevention will be sorted before next winter and I will keep it off the roads if they salt them over the next few weeks.
The big question is have I got the b***ocks to sell my comfy reliable loaded with extras Audi A6 and run this as my main car, I have got use of other vehicles and hope to have my Interceptor on the road in a few months but the plan is the Victor will be my everyday car. Although any long distance driving will probably be in the wifes modern.
The comprehensive tools required for all this work was a phillips head screwdriver, so now not only will I see where im going at night but I will also know how fast as well
Not too worried about rust at the moment as this car has only do 3500 miles and has been kept like new by it previous 2 owners but rust prevention will be sorted before next winter and I will keep it off the roads if they salt them over the next few weeks.
The big question is have I got the b***ocks to sell my comfy reliable loaded with extras Audi A6 and run this as my main car, I have got use of other vehicles and hope to have my Interceptor on the road in a few months but the plan is the Victor will be my everyday car. Although any long distance driving will probably be in the wifes modern.
Ah - the Vauxhall FE Series; my specialist subject! I have owned at least one since I was 17 and that was a few years ago now. I haven't used one as a daily driver for twenty-odd years though.
As implied already, pump the thing full of your favourite ant-corrosion fluid and ensure the underside is as rust-free as you can get it and well protected.
I would also opt for decent springs and dampers; even though I do not drive my '73 Victor hard or often, I have uprated these components and prefer it to the standard, softer set-up.
A manual car would not be pleasant in stop-start traffic, thanks to the height of the clutch pedal and long travel.
A lot of the mechanical components and service items are reasonably easy to come by, with the exception of suspension bushes. Panels and trim are becoming scarce.
The FE is roomy and comfortable, and easy to see out of. The 2300 is easily capable of keeping up with traffic flow and fine on the motorway.
Never rev it to extinguish the oil-light on start-up; the oil pump is high up in the engine and a delay in the light going out accompanied by some tapping is normal. I have a manual choke, and tend to crank the engine over for a bit to get some oil around before pulling out the choke and letting it fire.
You say that you have a "Victor FE 2300S"; if it is the 2300S, that model was a limited edition model in either Light Blue Metallic or Bright Green Metallic, and was never called a "Victor". I presume it is not the 3k-mile car that was on the market recently if you are using it daily?
I also have it in my head that the sealed-beam lights were not used beyond 1973, so a 2300S wouldn't have had them, but stand to be corrected.
Hope the above is some interest; feel free to PM me if you'd prefer not to bore other PHers silly with FE talk!
As implied already, pump the thing full of your favourite ant-corrosion fluid and ensure the underside is as rust-free as you can get it and well protected.
I would also opt for decent springs and dampers; even though I do not drive my '73 Victor hard or often, I have uprated these components and prefer it to the standard, softer set-up.
A manual car would not be pleasant in stop-start traffic, thanks to the height of the clutch pedal and long travel.
A lot of the mechanical components and service items are reasonably easy to come by, with the exception of suspension bushes. Panels and trim are becoming scarce.
The FE is roomy and comfortable, and easy to see out of. The 2300 is easily capable of keeping up with traffic flow and fine on the motorway.
Never rev it to extinguish the oil-light on start-up; the oil pump is high up in the engine and a delay in the light going out accompanied by some tapping is normal. I have a manual choke, and tend to crank the engine over for a bit to get some oil around before pulling out the choke and letting it fire.
You say that you have a "Victor FE 2300S"; if it is the 2300S, that model was a limited edition model in either Light Blue Metallic or Bright Green Metallic, and was never called a "Victor". I presume it is not the 3k-mile car that was on the market recently if you are using it daily?
I also have it in my head that the sealed-beam lights were not used beyond 1973, so a 2300S wouldn't have had them, but stand to be corrected.
Hope the above is some interest; feel free to PM me if you'd prefer not to bore other PHers silly with FE talk!
If it's the same car, it had some glowing reports in the press when it went on sale a couple of weeks ago. Are you at all worried about wiping off all it's value in a year - which is what using it every day will do?
Personally I think it's a great idea to buy a good-as-new classic and run it as a main car, but the accepted wisdom seems to be that this is sacrilege - it should be preserved as the lowest mileage FE left in the world. OP, what's your thinking on the subject?
Personally I think it's a great idea to buy a good-as-new classic and run it as a main car, but the accepted wisdom seems to be that this is sacrilege - it should be preserved as the lowest mileage FE left in the world. OP, what's your thinking on the subject?
There are plenty of classic cars in museums I think it's much better to see them on the road and by the time I put a few miles on it I will iron out any problems that long term storage have created.
I will look after it whilst it is being used and as for its future value my modern depreciated by 3K a year so I don't have any worries there.
I didn't see the reports you are talking about so would be interested to be pointed in their direction.
I will look after it whilst it is being used and as for its future value my modern depreciated by 3K a year so I don't have any worries there.
I didn't see the reports you are talking about so would be interested to be pointed in their direction.
OP - I followed the auction for your car with interest, and I am actually writing an article about it for the VX4/90 Drivers Club magazine. I am very pleased that the car has gone to someone who is enthusiastic about it rather than doing the rounds of the trade like so many other nice cars do.
Like Sid's Dad I would have reservations about using this particular car as a daily. The premium for the miniscule mileage will of course diminish the more miles go on it but that is your call of course. I can't help thinking that you will have to lavish a lot of care on the car to keep it anywhere close to the sort of condition it appears to be in. The nylon cloth was not the best, wears rapidly and does not take kindly to sunlight, and the rich blue of those carpets is a rarity; that colour often turned a grubby brown.
That said, at least you are intending to get some use and hopefully enjoyment from it, which is more than a lot of classic owners do, and I include myself in that.
By all means get in touch when you have time if you think I can help with any info.
niagra - The Ventora 3.3 Estate replaced the Victor 3300SL Estate for 1974 model year, and is extremely rare now; that Blue Fire car may be the only one left!
The 3.3 six-pot is a lazy low-revving lump. A good one will be reasonably refined but thirsty and with no performance advantage over the 2300. The estate is a good looking car and not common in any FE variant, though not the most practical with that sloping roofline, high floor and intrusive wheelarches. Decent rear springs a must if load-carrying! See above for comments about the interior trim.
The Sunspot Yellow Victor is mine, the black car (originally a Light Blue Metallic 2300S!) is my brother's.
Like Sid's Dad I would have reservations about using this particular car as a daily. The premium for the miniscule mileage will of course diminish the more miles go on it but that is your call of course. I can't help thinking that you will have to lavish a lot of care on the car to keep it anywhere close to the sort of condition it appears to be in. The nylon cloth was not the best, wears rapidly and does not take kindly to sunlight, and the rich blue of those carpets is a rarity; that colour often turned a grubby brown.
That said, at least you are intending to get some use and hopefully enjoyment from it, which is more than a lot of classic owners do, and I include myself in that.
By all means get in touch when you have time if you think I can help with any info.
niagra - The Ventora 3.3 Estate replaced the Victor 3300SL Estate for 1974 model year, and is extremely rare now; that Blue Fire car may be the only one left!
The 3.3 six-pot is a lazy low-revving lump. A good one will be reasonably refined but thirsty and with no performance advantage over the 2300. The estate is a good looking car and not common in any FE variant, though not the most practical with that sloping roofline, high floor and intrusive wheelarches. Decent rear springs a must if load-carrying! See above for comments about the interior trim.
The Sunspot Yellow Victor is mine, the black car (originally a Light Blue Metallic 2300S!) is my brother's.
davepoth said:
I just had a thought - on some old cars I've run, putting halogen bulbs in the headlights is a bit of a no-no because of the amount of current they draw - is that a problem on an FE?
Put some relays in to solve the problem ... or if you want originality, go back to the original candles!Heres some photos taken on my phone just as it was going dark, I hope to get some better shots soon.
The lights should be okay as the main beams pull 4.5A each so with sidelights, rear lights and main beam the total load was under 12A, I will check this when I get a wiring diagram but the wires are plenty big enough.
The lights should be okay as the main beams pull 4.5A each so with sidelights, rear lights and main beam the total load was under 12A, I will check this when I get a wiring diagram but the wires are plenty big enough.
Well ive done it now as I have just sold my modern car with all the comforts and toys built in, I do have use of a van if im stuck but this is now my main vehicle.
It was down to 3 degrees this morning and the car started and ran perfectly on the run into work and I now know the car has absolutely no leaks from underneath (oil & water) and is perfectly dry inside with no condensation building up and im even getting used to the gearbox as I usually drive an auto but this manual requires a bit more getting used to than most.
It was down to 3 degrees this morning and the car started and ran perfectly on the run into work and I now know the car has absolutely no leaks from underneath (oil & water) and is perfectly dry inside with no condensation building up and im even getting used to the gearbox as I usually drive an auto but this manual requires a bit more getting used to than most.
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