Friday 16th April 2010

SOTW: Vauxhall Calibra DTM

Shed inexplicably falls for a tarted-up Chavalier

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Given just a cursory glance at this week's SOTW offering, you would be forgiven for thinking that Shed has taken leave of its senses. A Vauxhall Calibra? Come on... it's little more than a modder's favourite with a Cavalier interior and underpinnings, and wrong-wheel drive, right?

For most Calibras that would be true but, on behalf of this particular one, Shed refutes those allegations with three simple letters: D, T, and M. For the cognoscenti, the Vauxhall Calibra DTM is a pretty special car.

The Calibra DTM was built to celebrate Opel's participation in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM). The racing version, with its screaming V6, four-wheel drive and spectacular bodywork, will no doubt stir up plenty of fond memories for those that followed what was then one of the world's premier tin-top categories.

Note we say participation and not success - the Calibra didn't lift a championship until 1996 when Manuel Reuter took the International Touring Car Championship crown.

But we digress. In reality, the Calibra DTM road car was one of those typically 1990s special editions, with nothing mechanically to differentiate it from more everyday Calibras ('Bras?) other than lower suspension.

You did, however, get some natty white 16-inch BBS alloys (wrapped in what the brochure called 'ultra-low profile 205/50 R16 tyres') to accompany the bright white bodywork and rear spoiler with integrated high-level brake light (everybody say 'ooh').

Inside there was a leather-wrapped wheel, some gloriously cheesy yellow-and-grey cloth upholstery and a stereo with a boot-mounted CD changer.

Engine-wise, you could choose the 2.0-litre 16-valve Ecotec engine with 134bhp, a 168bhp 2.5-litre V6, or the 201bhp 2.0-litre turbo version, which came complete with four-wheel drive (although only 22 UK DTM customers went for that option).

This car's original owner plumped for the popular naturally aspirated Ecotec motor, which was still good for 0-60mph in 8.0secs and a 133mph top speed (no doubt courtesy of that famously slippery shape).

N499 UJM seems to be a pretty clean example too - it has had seven owners, but has neatly side-stepped the hand of the tuner, and comes complete with plenty of history.

Now we know a Calibra is never going to be the last word in handling or sophistication, but Shed reckons those sleek lines have aged gracefully, and the smattering of 1990s DTM cool makes it a sorely tempting prospect, despite the potential derision from your friends and family...

Advert is reproduced below

Calibra DTM 16v RARE (1995)
£750

Time to sell my my N reg 16v DTM due to buying a new car ,owned the car for 6 years , i have loads of paper work ,7 owners from new , only last year the car had top end rebuild ,new cat, new discs and pads new bottom arms new front window

standard car apart from air filter but i have the standard one
Car has 5 months tax on it and 11 months MOT

the car does have minor rust on the rear arches and the odd rust spot but would not cost much to get painted

 

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[y2blade]

£750! I thought these were fetching silly money now

[VWNutta1985]

Looks clean inside and out. I'd say thats a real bargain for £750. If i had the space in the garage, Id have it as a little run about

[heisthegaffer]

0-70 in 8 seconds? Sounds pretty quick to me? Is that a typo? Not that it matters, just stood out to me.

[ge0rge]

The ultimate Baz Cav. Mate of mines got the v6. Havent aged well have they? Unfortunately the typical vauxhall build quality applys. Kudos = 0.

Edited by ge0rge on Friday 16th April 08:02

[callyman]

y2blade said:

£750! I thought these were fetching silly money now

The Turbo DTM would be worth a fair bit more but still less than a good LE turbo.

[callyman]

ge0rge said:

The ultimate Baz Cav. Mate of mines got the v6. Havent aged well have they? Unfortunately the typical vauxhall build quality applys. Kudos = 0.

Edited by ge0rge on Friday 16th April 08:02

I'd disagree by saying the looks have aged very well, the style of it is better than alot of other cars on the road now. The style was way ahead of it's time IMO.

[stewy68]

Calibras have never really been my thing, but that looks tidy for the money.
Can't help wondering though, what car the car under the cover is.
Oh and I love the BBS rims.

[legacy4cam]

Looks like a Mitsi 3000 GTO under the cover.

[S3_Graham]

heisthegaffer said:

0-70 in 8 seconds? Sounds pretty quick to me? Is that a typo? Not that it matters, just stood out to me.

sounds about right to me! My Chavalier GSi 2000 2wd was 7.9 to 60 and the 4x4 i had was 8.5 so i can believe that! Mine were however Redtop not ecotec.

Edited by S3_Graham on Friday 16th April 08:31

[Tahiti]

I quite like that.

[Tim16V]

Worth a pop at £750 but these, like the Cavalier underneath, seriously do not like bends in the road. The steering starts to weigh up even as you start thinking about turning the wheel!

[Dunk76]

callyman said:

y2blade said:

£750! I thought these were fetching silly money now

The Turbo DTM would be worth a fair bit more but still less than a good LE turbo.

The Turbos are whole different kettle of fish though.

[bazking69]

Not the nicest limited edition Cavalier Coupe they ever did. But then I was never fond of Calibras full stop, especially in white...

[sprinter1050]

I have a soft spot for early/mid-nineties Vauxhalls and fancied a "potent" Calibra.. but that all white with white wheels is a bit toooo Halfords for my liking. Does look tidy tho' & seems to have been cherished a bit.

Guess I'm a touch sad.

[soad]

Tahiti said:

I quite like that.

Me too, hardly see any these days (at least not locally).

[Strawman]

I haven't seen an unmodified one for years now.

[callyman]

Dunk76 said:

callyman said:

y2blade said:

£750! I thought these were fetching silly money now

The Turbo DTM would be worth a fair bit more but still less than a good LE turbo.

The Turbos are whole different kettle of fish though.

I know that very well

[useyourdellusion]

Strawman said:

I haven't seen an unmodified one for years now.

Me neither. It's something I've never understood though about barried ones. Calibras wear their 'mods' worse than any other car I can think of....

Edited by useyourdellusion on Friday 16th April 09:32

[ge0rge]

callyman said:

ge0rge said:

The ultimate Baz Cav. Mate of mines got the v6. Havent aged well have they? Unfortunately the typical vauxhall build quality applys. Kudos = 0.

Edited by ge0rge on Friday 16th April 08:02

I'd disagree by saying the looks have aged very well, the style of it is better than alot of other cars on the road now. The style was way ahead of it's time IMO.

It was always huge debate between my bazcav owning mate and me - a corrado owner as to what was better looking.. They were both good looking cars in their time, i just think the 'rado has aged better.. Probably because of better build quality..

[useyourdellusion]

ge0rge said:

callyman said:

ge0rge said:

The ultimate Baz Cav. Mate of mines got the v6. Havent aged well have they? Unfortunately the typical vauxhall build quality applys. Kudos = 0.

Edited by ge0rge on Friday 16th April 08:02

I'd disagree by saying the looks have aged very well, the style of it is better than alot of other cars on the road now. The style was way ahead of it's time IMO.

It was always huge debate between my bazcav owning mate and me - a corrado owner as to what was better looking.. They were both good looking cars in their time, i just think the 'rado has aged better.. Probably because of better build quality..

It's also a classier - more understated design. I'd take a Corrado any day over a Calibra.

The Corrado has always been leagues ahead, which is probably an unfair comment as it may have cost a fair bit more in the first place, I'm not sure on that one.