Friday 18th April 2008

SOTW: Cavalier SRi

In the eighties all you needed was a Cav with SRi written on the back...

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Do you remember the time when Vauxhalls were desirable? No, neither do I, but there is something strangely alluring about this ‘carnellion red’ Mk2 Cavalier SRi. I’ll be honest, it has had so many new parts fitted it’s starting to sound a bit like Trigger’s broom - I’m not entirely sure what’s left that is original about it - but then again it does only have 38,000 miles.

It fits firmly into the category of ‘there used to be loads around, but now they are rare as hen’s teeth’ and because we have been treated to the new Insignia today we thought it fitting to make it Shed of the Week. The Mk2 Cavalier was Britain’s second best selling car behind the Ford Escort in the mid-eighties and SRi was top of the tree. It was fitted with a 1.8 litre motor and was capable of whisking the country’s reps to 120mph between high-powered paper clip meetings.

However despite being incredibly popular at the time most of these Cavaliers appear to have rusted away, starting from the rear arches, at some point during the late nineties. Staring at the pictures I can't help thinking it looks a bit like a Lada Samara, but perhaps that's just me.

This particular example seems to be in very good condition all round, helped in part by the fact it has had a new passenger door, new arches, ‘loads of welding’, and interestingly even a new A-pillar.It now has alloys and stickers from the 2.0 Sri130 and has the classic two-tone paint job.

Inside there are seats from the high-spec Mk2 Cavalier Calibre (no not Calibra, that was different) which if my memory serves me correctly pinch the sides of anyone larger than Kate Moss.

The styling is razor sharp, or rather the angles are, and you are sure to get a lot of admiring glances from people who remember theirs before it was stolen by joyriders.The caravan unfortunately is not included in the sale and to be honest I am trying to ignore the tools and wires in the interior shot.

There is 10 months MOT and even four months tax, all for the princely sum of £700.

Go on, you know you want to…

PistonHeads ad reads:

‘Mk2 1.8 Sri (1987)

'This is my mk2 sri in rare carnellion red hatchback had new arches rear panel and "A" pilar had new passengers door fitted loads of weilding done to high standard it has 130 sri alloys and new 130 sri door stickers recently had both sides painted motd for approx 10 month and 4 months tax drives great and looks great interior could do with some work as its out of a mk2 cavalier calibre very usable classic hard to come by now real eye cather offers invited must be sold’

[andyturner]

"it has 130 sri alloys and new 130 sri door stickers"

Ahh.. it hails from a time when 130bhp was impressive. Nowadays I don't buy a car unless the aircon has more power than that.

[massive1]

I havent seen one of them in ages, great retro tat for £700 notes.

Isn't £700 a bit OTT for this ?

[Garlick]

article said:

I can't help thinking it looks a bit like a Lada Samara, but perhaps that's just me.

Yep Ollie, it's just you

[sleep envy]

start the clock

[bob1179]

My primary school teacher had a metallic blue SRi saloon on a brand new (at the time) 'D' plate. I always thought it looked rather cool, though I was only 7 years old at the time and as we all know, kids don't have any taste.

[rob e]

i would rather walk

[Turbobanana]

andyturner said:

"it has 130 sri alloys and new 130 sri door stickers"

Ahh.. it hails from a time when 130bhp was impressive. Nowadays I don't buy a car unless the aircon has more power than that.

Don't forget that without airbags, side impact beams, satnav, aircon, EBD, ESP, cruise control or cupholders, it probably weighs about the same as new Corsa so 130 BHP isn't so bad, is it?

[road_rager]

rob e said:

i would rather walk

+1

[Choppers]

It's almost retro cool........ but not quite

[Kieran XJR]

I like it, it's cool!

[Soton Pug]

Turbobanana said:

andyturner said:

"it has 130 sri alloys and new 130 sri door stickers"

Ahh.. it hails from a time when 130bhp was impressive. Nowadays I don't buy a car unless the aircon has more power than that.

Don't forget that without airbags, side impact beams, satnav, aircon, EBD, ESP, cruise control or cupholders, it probably weighs about the same as new Corsa so 130 BHP isn't so bad, is it?

Agreed, 130bhp in something that weighs next to nothing is totally acceptable.

[Bizzle]

Oli,
That's just a shed with an SRI badge mate

[bigtomski]

what's going on with the interior???
most of it seems to be hanging out the dash

[TTwiggy]

Bizzle said:

Oli,
That's just a shed with an SRI badge mate

yeah - and the last picture shows that it's in the process of being hotwired...

[Oli S]

TTwiggy said:

Bizzle said:

Oli,
That's just a shed with an SRI badge mate

yeah - and the last picture shows that it's in the process of being hotwired...

I think the 'just hotwired' look came standard in these cars

[bencollins]

"it’s starting to sound a bit like Trigger’s broom"

[cowellsj]

I like the mass of wires coming out of where the stereo used to be, a common Vauxhall feature I understand.

[bones33]

My friend has a MINT 130 cav and its awsome. Over the years hes done a lot of the engine and tbh in a race with me and my 170 hes not far of it. Well upto to about 50 mph that is.

[Mattygooner]

Well it's parked next to a caravan which i would suggest sums up it's image, if this is cool, so is Gordon Brown.

[twin sparky]

I remember a friend having one of these in exactly the same colour..

The ignition barrel was f'd, so he used a screw driver to start it. And the battery was shot, so when we stopped he had to rev the nuts off it to keep it running.

80's vauxhalls were the best!