RE: SOTW: Opel Senator
Discussion
My Dad had three from new in the 80's in succession, the first one at least being an Opel, all 3litre CD's with the digital dash! As for reliability they were a lot better than the 635CSI he bought afterwards, that had a new gearbox and two ECU's, all within 18 months from new! Incredibly that car D88TWC was taxed 'til early this year! It had 60kmiles in 1988! Anyone know of it's whereabouts or how I can trace it?
Anyone mention the Monza!!
http://www.4starclassics.com/Opel-Monza-GSE-For-Sa...
Anyone mention the Monza!!
http://www.4starclassics.com/Opel-Monza-GSE-For-Sa...
CDP said:
I always liked these (though preferred the MK2). That's such a cool '80s colour too, rather than all these monochromatic German cars of today.
Ironically GM dropped the Opel name in the 80's because they thought the German badge was hurting sales. Then again the problem with Vauxhall was more Vectra related than the British badge; I don't think an Opel sticker would have made much difference.
From what I've read, it was 1984 when Senators started becoming Vauxhalls so this will be one of the last Opel version. You are also right on the other point; if the product is rubbish, the public won't buy it regardless of the badge...Ironically GM dropped the Opel name in the 80's because they thought the German badge was hurting sales. Then again the problem with Vauxhall was more Vectra related than the British badge; I don't think an Opel sticker would have made much difference.
Once in the local scrappy I saw two immaculate looking MK1s. I popped their bonnets and found on both the suspension turrets had parted company with the inner wings. My MK2 Cavalier suspension had attempted several similar bids for freedom but I had a cheap MIG welder...
Fords and Vauxhalls tended to go structurally while BL Princesses and SD1s seemed to just get cosmetically tatty.
Fords and Vauxhalls tended to go structurally while BL Princesses and SD1s seemed to just get cosmetically tatty.
That's not a bad SOTW, but not for £1k!
I do have fond memories of old Vauxhall barges - the old man had a 1984 Vauxhall Carlton 1.8 GL, and then replaced it later with the newer shape 1989 1.8 GL.
Nothing special at all today, but back then, they had a bit of luxury about them, and were bigger, smoother and felt more plush than alot of other cars on the road.
RWD also helped!
a good leftfield choice, but my money wouldn't go on it (perhaps on a Carlton GSi 3000 or a Senator 3.0i 24v)
I do have fond memories of old Vauxhall barges - the old man had a 1984 Vauxhall Carlton 1.8 GL, and then replaced it later with the newer shape 1989 1.8 GL.
Nothing special at all today, but back then, they had a bit of luxury about them, and were bigger, smoother and felt more plush than alot of other cars on the road.
RWD also helped!
a good leftfield choice, but my money wouldn't go on it (perhaps on a Carlton GSi 3000 or a Senator 3.0i 24v)
10/10 For me,rare,comfy,loads of velour,loads of t and t and Burgundy, if this was a Granada it would be three times the price so whats not to love!!!
Only shame with this one is that they didnt go the Red velour and dash route as spotted in some mk1 Cavaliers amongst others.
On the Vauxhall Royale bit Im sure Vauxhall did a mk1 Senator as well as a Royale saloon and coupe though I suspect they are the same car?
Only shame with this one is that they didnt go the Red velour and dash route as spotted in some mk1 Cavaliers amongst others.
On the Vauxhall Royale bit Im sure Vauxhall did a mk1 Senator as well as a Royale saloon and coupe though I suspect they are the same car?
They're attractive cars with good build quality and were very well regarded in their day. I like them, but prefer the pre-face lifted shape and 3 litre engine.
The original late 'seventies Senator looked like this:
I'm sure it did have a safety cell and crumple zones, but clearly its crashworthiness will be laughable when compared to a modern car of any description. That said, almost no cars made then are safe. I have a UK Government vehicle accident injury statistics publication from the early 1990s. About the only cars you wouldn't be seen dead in are the Mercedes W126 and W124 and the Jaguar XJ6. IIRC, of the rest, Saab got an honourable mention too, though it was significantly less crashworthy. Pretty much everything else was a varying degree of dreadful.
Leather was rare in cars back then. The only cars seen with leather seats in any numbers were Roll-Royce/Bentley, Jaguars and Volvo, for whom a leather interior was quite a selling point at the money. Mercs almost always had cloth unless it was a 500SE or an SEC – even velour was £600 extra on most S class models. Likewise, the only BMWs I ever saw with leather were 735s and Six series cars - both mightily expensive.
I'd rather have a Mk2 Granada 2.8 Ghia, but I like the Senator and consider it a good Shed of the week!
The original late 'seventies Senator looked like this:
I'm sure it did have a safety cell and crumple zones, but clearly its crashworthiness will be laughable when compared to a modern car of any description. That said, almost no cars made then are safe. I have a UK Government vehicle accident injury statistics publication from the early 1990s. About the only cars you wouldn't be seen dead in are the Mercedes W126 and W124 and the Jaguar XJ6. IIRC, of the rest, Saab got an honourable mention too, though it was significantly less crashworthy. Pretty much everything else was a varying degree of dreadful.
Leather was rare in cars back then. The only cars seen with leather seats in any numbers were Roll-Royce/Bentley, Jaguars and Volvo, for whom a leather interior was quite a selling point at the money. Mercs almost always had cloth unless it was a 500SE or an SEC – even velour was £600 extra on most S class models. Likewise, the only BMWs I ever saw with leather were 735s and Six series cars - both mightily expensive.
I'd rather have a Mk2 Granada 2.8 Ghia, but I like the Senator and consider it a good Shed of the week!
I'm coming around to the idea of running a retro '80s car. No complications, simple pleasures.
Not sure this would be on the list though. More likely to go for the obvious Granada or Renault 11.
A female friend runs an achingly trendy fashion business and wants a "Japanese 80s car or an early gold A class" as her runaround - each to their own!
Not sure this would be on the list though. More likely to go for the obvious Granada or Renault 11.
A female friend runs an achingly trendy fashion business and wants a "Japanese 80s car or an early gold A class" as her runaround - each to their own!
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