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

[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"

[Geordie boy]

ChevronB19 said:

Fascinating pics, thanks Geordie Boy!

Thanks, hope you enjoy it

[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

[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?

[Geordie boy]

mad4amanda said:

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 !

Looks to of been off untaxed since 1995 according to DVLA records, ive added it to our list of cars and wil get it on the site soon, do you have any pictures?

The car could of been exported to ireland but I can't see an export marker on DVLA's site. There is a form you can complete with DVLA if you wanted to find more details of previous keepers and things, get in touch if you would like more details.

[Geordie boy]

powerstroke said:

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

Ive got a picture of it being rallied by someone who owned it after Colin, I'll try and find it as it has the names on the back. I believe the car was bought by someone in the Midlands and he broke it and the he still owns the ID. Jimmy Mcrae has a very accurate replica of it in his collection if Colin's cars that was built by the same person who built them back in the 80s.

It's got quite an interesting history as a car goes as well. It was originally owned by Harry Hockley I believe who sold it to Jimmy McRae for Colin to rally and inbetween Jimmy buying it and Harry selling it, it was also driven by Senna in a Welsh Forrest for a feature in Car and Car conversions if I'm not mistaken.

[Geordie boy]

dumfriesdave said:

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

Thanks Dave, really appreciate the picture, I'll drop you a reply to your email.



Thanks for all the replies and support, it's really appreciated, hoping to build on the information we already have to make it as comprehensive as we can.

[Geordie boy]

powerstroke said:

Yes that would be Dave will ask him for more details I'm not sure but he might have sold it damaged he did have a major off ,!!! it should be something like norevern fencing and longfield chemicals and around the late 80's yes it was built by hockley.

This is the picture I have, bought it with a bundle of pictures of nova rally cars on ebay about 10 years ago



Would love to know more about the car if your friend is able to get in touch? I'm hoping we can get Jimmys car down to Northanpton for our 30th anniversary gathering if your friend is interested

[Geordie boy]

Gio G said:

I used to own one C414 HGS, it was actually my first car. I wonder where she is now - not taxed by the looks of it.. That brought back nice memories..

Thanks G

Thanks for the information Gio G, ive added the reg to my list and will add a profile to the site next time I do an update. Have you any pictures?

[Geordie boy]

Jmacmath772 said:

Used to own own one of these 2 (not sure which one ) as was over 10 years ago. Was working at Vauxhall and reading an article in Total Vauxhall magazine and thought to myself that reg is familiar , double checked in the car park and yes it was the same ! Sold the car to a mate a year later he then sold it on and it was banger raced !

Owned and driven by Russ Swift at one point more than likely then!!

Do you have any pictures? A friend used to own one of those 2 I think