1994 Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4

Please note that the photographs have been provided by the seller

Highlights 

• Handsome and rapid '90s coupe

• Rare example of a fading modern classic

• 204bhp turbocharged four-cylinder engine

• Four-wheel drive

• Recent recommissioning work

• Solid car with excellent bodywork

• Underbody treatment applied

• Low mileage

• Long, advisory-free MOT

Overview

Cast your mind back to 1994. Petrol was less than 50p a litre, Forrest Gump was on at the pictures, Wet Wet Wet's Love Is All Around was dominating the airwaves and you could walk into your local Vauxhall dealer and drive away in a brand new Calibra coupe. Life was good. OK, maybe disregard the Wet Wet Wet bit but we stand by the rest. 

The Calibra had been around for five years at that point but it was still considered a handsome, well-equipped two-door. Marketed as the West Midlands answer to the slew of sporty Japanese coupes of the time it certainly looked the part and seeing as how it was built upon proven underpinnings it had the oily bits sorted too. Engines came in a variety of guises, from naturally-aspirated and turbocharged four-cylinders to the 2.5-litre V6. The car also made a decent account of itself in the FIA International Touring Car Championship but it's the Turbo 4X4 models, like this particular example, that are the pick of the litter. Producing 204bhp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine the car could accelerate to 60mph from standstill in around six seconds before topping out at 152mph, which for the time were rather impressive numbers.

After hitting rock bottom in the 2000s the Calibra is now enjoying a renaissance as people are realising that it has aged far better than most of its rivals. Today it presents as a stylish coupe with practical leanings thanks to four proper seats and a decent boot, despite only having two doors, and this 1994 Turbo 4x4 is well on its way to being a peach of an example.

It's a low miler having covered just 64K and it has recently been furnished with a fresh MOT. Brought back to life by the current owner who has carried out myriad works in order to get it to the condition it currently enjoys after being dry stored for a decade it looks to be a solid car with excellent bodywork, which is a rare thing when it comes to the Calibra. Offered with a refreshed interior, full service kit and a few minor niggles to address it's now over to the next custodian to nudge it over the line and bring it back to its true '90s best.

History and documentation

• 1994 model year

• V5C present and correct 

• First registered 01 Sep 1994

• In current ownership since 28 Jun 2025

• Four former registered keepers 

• Preview booklet from launch plus a brand new service book

• Recent recommissioning works as reported by the vendor

• Previously dry stored for ten years

• Advisory-free MOT until 06 Mar 2027

• HPI clear

• 64,879 indicated miles

Interior

• Black leather upholstery is in very good condition for its age 

• Usual signs of use to high traffic areas

• No signs of any major damage

• Heated leather seats present well overall

• Door cards and carpets are in great shape

• Dashboard remains intact although the black on the gauges is starting to peel in places

• No reports of any electrical issues or problems with the switchgear

• The vendor inform us the front leather seat has been replaced along with new leather gear and handbrake gaiters and headlining

• Period-correct radio but the buttons are not allowing code input according to the vendor

• Passenger door lock is not connected to the handle so the central locking doesn’t operate on that side, though the door still locks manually 

• Vauxhall branded floor mats

• Boot space is clean and tidy

• Parcel shelf present and correct

• Full size spare wheel and tyre

• Engine bay presents well

Exterior

• Bodywork looks to be in excellent shape for the car's age and mileage

• Black paintwork remains in healthy condition across all panels

• Shut lines are uniformly straight

• Some minor marks here and there but no major damage to speak of

• No evidence of any corrosion

• All glasswork presents well

• Correct badging to the boot lid and doors

• Factory sunroof

• Some of the black plastic trim is beginning to fade slightly

• Original 16” wheels present well with no evidence of any kerb damage but the centre caps are all showing signs of degradation

• Rotalla Radial F105 tyres all round

• Vendor reports the underside has been wax-oiled and the chassis is solid

Mechanical

• 2.0-litre turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine 

• Six-speed Getrag manual gearbox

• Four-wheel drive

• 0-60mph in 6.4s

• 152mph top speed

• New correct exhaust back box fitted as reported by the vendor

• Full service kit included in the sale consisting of timing belt, water pump, oil, oil filter, and air filter

• No mechanical issues to report

Summary

With less than three-and-a-half thousand turbo 4x4 models built – not to mention the sheer number lost to the sands of time – this is a really rather rare beast. Add in the car's still impressive performance credentials, low mileage and apparently healthy chassis and bodywork paired with a clean and tidy interior and things start to look incredibly appealing. Make no mistake, this Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4x4 is a true '90s hero that still cuts quite the dash today.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Wigan, Lancashire.