RE: PH Carpool: Vauxhall Nova GSI

[anything fast]

Porkie said:

Awesome.

Chav image has long gone if you ask me.

Any Novas left now will be in the hands of genuine enthusiasts.

I know its orginal etc... but I'd have to stick a Redtop in there.

Great looking car. Enjoy

he's right, he's right you know he's right... sorry cant remember which movie that's a quote from, but I am sure you get my point!

[Turbo B]

Always loved the looks of the Gsi, particularly in black with standard alloys. Almost bought a j plate back in the 90's but the metallic violet (or lavender!) colour put me off. The handling felt a little blunt too - ended up with an R5 GTT instead which was a total hooligan in comparison. Not convinced either of them were particularly well built but this example looks fantastic - great to know there are still a few left, don't like the non-standard alloys but not sure where you could source some originals to replace them today!?

[K50 DEL]

Zajda said:

I know it was named GTE originally and GSI after the facelift in your market, but I always considered it as one model, as there's not that much difference really. Mine is genuine E16SE GSI. The added lights wasnt't really foglights but high-beam lights. Bought the car already with them and because there were nasty holes behind (italian tuning at it's best), they stayed. Got new bumper now, but this car went all wrong in terms of corrosion and sadly I don't have the skills to sort it out. Restoration to the original condition is one of the future plans though. But no 3-spokes definately, as they are great esthetical mistake to my eyes and only suits to Saab How you recognized CZ plates from that few pixels is beyond me. If it wasn't guess from the profile

Edited by Zajda on Tuesday 19th February 13:02

Truthfully, I never even looked at your profile, I just double clicked the thumbnail so the pic opened normal size, easy to see the CZ from there!
Nice motor by the way.

[SteRB5138]

As has been mentioned a very rare sight on the road nowadays, I cant remember the last time I saw one, I suppose rust and the amount that fell into the wrong hands is the reason why.
I think they look quite retro cool like a mini Intergrale
I never owned one but a few of my mates has 1.2's & SR's in the 90's.

[P I Staker]

Gribs said:

P I Staker said:

HelterSkelter said:

Who remembers the old 'Hazard switch trick' on the facelift Nova's?...

Tell me more...

Pulling it off and turning it upside down turns on the electrics, allowing it to be bump started. As a youth I and other friends had great fun moving another couple of mates facelift models about. My own was a F reg Diamond so didn't suffer the problem.

My workshop foreman has a facelift Nova...

[Adz The Rat]

Gribs said:

Pulling it off and turning it upside down turns on the electrics, allowing it to be bump started. As a youth I and other friends had great fun moving another couple of mates facelift models about. My own was a F reg Diamond so didn't suffer the problem.

My SRI has a phase 2 and that trick didn't work in it.

[Mouse1903]

Always been a Nova fan. I remember back in 2000 as a 14 year old a local guy gave us a ride in his Grey GSI. Was really nice with blue piping and subtle mods to it. Much nicer than any Corsa

[Zajda]

K50 DEL said:

Truthfully, I never even looked at your profile, I just double clicked the thumbnail so the pic opened normal size, easy to see the CZ from there!
Nice motor by the way.

Thanks. I must selfisly declare that i have best suited wheels to this model
Yeah, guessed that you looked on normal sized picture, but I can't read it anyway even if I know what's written there, so good eye than.


This is just best press picture of it - top driver: big straggly hair, moustache, perfectly in harmony with design

Edited by Zajda on Thursday 21st February 10:41

[Burt124]

MonkeyMatt said:

Thats like saying labrador st is much nicer that beagle st!

Ok. Let us not forget we are talking about cars of their time. As I said, my recollection, and experience of driving the car when it was current, was that is was a good machine.

It seems to have been well regarded by the motoring journalists of the time too.

I would think if you drove one now ( a good one ) it would be quite entertaining.

[Spingo]

Ahhhh... happy memories :-)

Didn't own a GTE/GSI as insurance was just too steep back in the early 90s, however I did own 2 1.3SRs.

The second one had a Blydenstein B+ pack head followed by a set of Nova Sport twin 40s and Janspeed exhaust - old Bill Blydenstein certainly knew his stuff as the car just flew after he worked his magic on it - RIP Bill. Didn't half suffer from carb icing in the winter though - a nightmare on my drive back to Laarbruch in Germany in heavy snow!!!

Sold it to a mate in 97 and within a year it was stolen from outside his house in 'Brizzol' and used in a ram-raid :-(

[benjiegsi]

A bit late in the year but the car is finally going for an mot!

[benjiegsi]

Finally few pics with the original wheels on.