Vauxhall Nova 1.3 Sport Homologation Special

[Geordie boy]

Evening all, not sure if I am in the right area on the forum here but I thought some of you may be interested in a site I've put together with a bit of help from a couple of friends. We've set up www.novasportregister.com as part of our plans to get as many Nova Sports together for shows this year for to mark 30 years since the car was born. We managed 10 cars last year at our big event in July but hoping for 25-30 cars this year.



For those that don't know the Nova 1.3 Sport was a special Vauxhall produced to be able to go rallying with twin carbs and was very successfully driven by Colin McRae in 1988 to win the Scottish Rally Championship beating many more powerful cars. Only 502 cars were produced and we think around 50 are left today but due to the registration document not being for a "Nova Sport" it's not easy to get an exact figure.



On the site you should be able to find nearly everything about the car and I have been lucky enough to be able to speak to Russ Swift and have quite a bit more information to add in the coming weeks.

I'm hoping posting here I may be able to bring back some memories in case anyone on here had one, or knew anyone with one that we can add to our list.

Thanks in advance.

Edited by Geordie boy on Wednesday 25th March 23:41

[ChevronB19]

Love them (and generally don't like Nova's) - were they the ones that came with carbs in the boot?

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I came <this> close to buying one for my first car but it had had the 1.3 swapped out for a 1.4 block and insurance looked to be a problem. Bought a 1.3sr instead.

Always wanted one though...

[Geordie boy]

ChevronB19 said:

Love them (and generally don't like Nova's) - were they the ones that came with carbs in the boot?

Yeah, although we were lucky enough to find a "Box" a couple of years ago and it appears the box is to big to of ever been supplied in the boot so we think it followed later to the dealership

http://www.novasportregister.com/history/the-sport...

Thanks for the reply as well..... That's the usual comments they get... "Don't like Novas but don't mind the sport"

[ChevronB19]

Fascinating pics, thanks Geordie Boy!

[Geordie boy]

ChevronB19 said:

Fascinating pics, thanks Geordie Boy!

Thanks, hope you enjoy it

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Isn't there a built thread on the one with the TH wheels somewhere?

[Geordie boy]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

Isn't there a built thread on the one with the TH wheels somewhere?

There are several build threads on the net for various ones, there's a couple with TH wheels on. I'll find some links and put them up

[Baskey]

I have just put a post in the tv section of PH asking if anyone has a copy of the old topgear where vicki butler Henderson tunes up a nova sport and races clarkson in a rover sd1. I can't seem to find it on u tube?

Nova sports where awsome. I still remember my mate buying one in 1991 and leaving my other mate (in a nova 1.6 gsi) for dead

Must be worth a bomb now

[Gavin0478]

I have it on video lol.

[toon10]

Love it. My mates brother had one in St. Neots back in the day and there was another in the next street! Swapped his GTE for it. I hope you get some interest.

[dai1983]

Geordie boy said:

That's the usual comments they get... "Don't like Novas but don't mind the sport"

Like all the sporty versions exept when chavved up.

[pmanson]

Those pictures bring back memories. My first car was a red E reg. 1.2 Antibes special edition (with white wheel trims).

Loved that car. Went to great scrapyard in the sky after about three years of ownership.

[mad4amanda]

Have you got a register going I would love to find out where my old one is C571SGX think it is either scrapped or in storage but not sorned somewhere it had some great bits inside !

[LanceRS]

Baskey said:

I have just put a post in the tv section of PH asking if anyone has a copy of the old topgear where vicki butler Henderson tunes up a nova sport and races clarkson in a rover sd1. I can't seem to find it on u tube?

Nova sports where awsome. I still remember my mate buying one in 1991 and leaving my other mate (in a nova 1.6 gsi) for dead

Must be worth a bomb now

That was not Top Gear, it was one of Clarksons videos, 'At Full Throttle'

[s m]

LanceRS said:

Baskey said:

I have just put a post in the tv section of PH asking if anyone has a copy of the old topgear where vicki butler Henderson tunes up a nova sport and races clarkson in a rover sd1. I can't seem to find it on u tube?

Nova sports where awsome. I still remember my mate buying one in 1991 and leaving my other mate (in a nova 1.6 gsi) for dead

Must be worth a bomb now

That was not Top Gear, it was one of Clarksons videos, 'At Full Throttle'

http://www.streetfire.net/videos/?t=Clarkson%20full%20throttle

[powerstroke]

Geordie boy said:

Evening all, not sure if I am in the right area on the forum here but I thought some of you may be interested in a site I've put together with a bit of help from a couple of friends. We've set up www.novasportregister.com as part of our plans to get as many Nova Sports together for shows this year for to mark 30 years since the car was born. We managed 10 cars last year at our big event in July but hoping for 25-30 cars this year.



For those that don't know the Nova 1.3 Sport was a special Vauxhall produced to be able to go rallying with twin carbs and was very successfully driven by Colin McRae in 1988 to win the Scottish Rally Championship beating many more powerful cars. Only 502 cars were produced and we think around 50 are left today but due to the registration document not being for a "Nova Sport" it's not easy to get an exact figure.



On the site you should be able to find nearly everything about the car and I have been lucky enough to be able to speak to Russ Swift and have quite a bit more information to add in the coming weeks.

I'm hoping posting here I may be able to bring back some memories in case anyone on here had one, or knew anyone with one that we can add to our list.

Thanks in advance.

Edited by Geordie boy on Wednesday 25th March 23:41

Mate bought that nova off Colin, did a few rallys and sold it on !! Hmmm wonder how much it would have been worth now!!??

[dumfriesdave]

Interesting site.
Sent you some info re. my old Nova Sport.

[Geordie boy]

Baskey said:

I have just put a post in the tv section of PH asking if anyone has a copy of the old topgear where vicki butler Henderson tunes up a nova sport and races clarkson in a rover sd1. I can't seem to find it on u tube?

Nova sports where awsome. I still remember my mate buying one in 1991 and leaving my other mate (in a nova 1.6 gsi) for dead

Must be worth a bomb now

The car was built by Courtney Sport a big Vauxhall Tuning company. Jon the owner bought it for himself to restore and then it was used for the video, the car actually out performed the SD1 but the whole video was scripted in true Top Gear style.

The story of the car and how it came to be in the video is here

http://www.novasportregister.com/history/media/vic...

The car was sold a couple years later but Jon has since bought it back

Do you remember the reg of your mates Sport? Any pictures??!!

[Geordie boy]

toon10 said:

Love it. My mates brother had one in St. Neots back in the day and there was another in the next street! Swapped his GTE for it. I hope you get some interest.

Thanks for the reply, would love to know the reg of the Sport he had If you or he could remember it?