Help needed - Vauxhall Concept Car

[windy1]

Long shot in the dark! I was hoping the vast knowledge of the Pistonheads world could help a colleague at work with some missing information on a very special car he owns.

Silver Aero!


Motorshow stand photo - Copy by windy911, on Flickr


44311_002 by windy911, on Flickr

It's a Vauxhall Styling Department car which was whisked away from the roof of the Vauxhall Styling Department into safe hands before the crusher got to it many years ago.
It still lives on to this day (and drives) in the hands of a work colleague Dave Boon.

We are trying to return it to its original Motor Show Spec. One of the things we are struggling with is the design of the wheel centres and the clear plastic discs which went over the Compomotive alloys. They have long since been lost (by a careless previous owner) and we are trying to make some more from scratch.

Question is: Does anyone have any photos showing more detail of the wheels and trims, or possibly even a drawing?

I hope we can find something. Any help much appreciated!!!

[Davie]

Andrew Durden at the Vauxhall Heritage Centre in Luton or John Anchorman of the Vauxhall Bedford Association would be the best bet I reckon. Or head along to the VBOA Rally at Billing in July and you'll definitely find an anorak...

Edited by Davie on Wednesday 19th February 19:51

[windy1]

John Anchorman used to own it. Dave has all the pictures from him so far.
Andrew Duerden may have some archive pictures if we can find them.
We've exhausted all these avenues hence plea for help on here. Perhaps someone has some detailed pictures of the wheels or, at least, may know someone who has some pictures from the motorshow?

[davevx]

As Windy says, a bit of a long shot - can't believe there isn't someone on here that went to the Motorshow in 1980, and didn't see this car. It was a bit outrageous in it's day. Even worse someone might have taken a photo of it. You may not want to own up to it publicly, but I would love to hear from anyone who has a photo,

Dave Boon - Current owner

[pozi]

Have you tried the Droop Snoot Group?

I know they mainly cater for the older Firenza/Magnums etc but they mention Silver Aero on the website.

http://www.droopsnoot.co.uk/cars.htm

[DanB7290]

Found on Flickr, you've probably already seen it but here goes:

[skyrover]

off topic... but I really like that

Shame it was never put into production

[loose cannon]

I had pictures of it on my bedroom wall as a young boy with various firenza's
And a black magic chevette and sports hatch,
I remember cutting some of them out of
Car and car conversions mag I believe
Not much help but you never no
And well done for getting hold of that cool silver aero

Edited by loose cannon on Friday 21st February 20:33

[windy1]

Silver Aero, Bullet and Black Magic are in safe hands and will continue to be driven on the roads, just like Wayne Cherry intended.

[davevx]

loose cannon said:

I had pictures of it on my bedroom wall as a young boy with various firenza's
And a black magic chevette and sports hatch,
I remember cutting some of them out of
Car and car conversions mag I believe
Not much help but you never no
And well done for getting hold of that cool silver arrow

Now you're talking, I still have pictures of them on my walls at work, but as I own Silver Aero and Silver Bullet, I suppose that's not surprising. Also a good friend owns Black Magic. They will continue to be driven and shown. Keep your eyes peeled!!

[davevx]

Anyhow, back to the chase, what I am looking for is someone keen to work with plastic / acrylic to make up some wheel discs - approx 380 - 400mm diameter and slightly convex. Precise dimensions to be worked out.
Any offers.
Once I have those sorted I need to make up some wheel centre caps to hold them on, I suppose it's down to scaling something off the photos. Any offers out there.

Dave B

[loose cannon]

davevx said:

Now you're talking, I still have pictures of them on my walls at work, but as I own Silver Aero and Silver Bullet, I suppose that's not surprising. Also a good friend owns Black Magic. They will continue to be driven and shown. Keep your eyes peeled!!

Awesome will keep my eyes peeled

[rallycross]

Silver aero? It's a Manta hatch with some dreadfull stuck on aero appendages!

Only kidding hope you can get it sorted it's great that things like this get saved/stashed away.

[davevx]

rallycross said:

Silver aero? It's a Manta hatch with some dreadfull stuck on aero appendages!

Only kidding hope you can get it sorted it's great that things like this get saved/stashed away.

Absolutely spot on. It's the same shell as the Manta with some extra bits Vauxhall stuck on it !! Most of them have stayed on over the years as well, but a few bits are beginning to show their age now. It's safely stashed away at the moment, just waiting for some decent weather before resurrecting for the summer.

Apparently all the aero bits did actually work, it had quite a low cd value for it's time around 0.3.

I'm sure we will get the wheels sorted, Have to get some dimensions from the photos and a bit of inventive licence, it would just be good to find some more info or photo's from the show. I have a couple of other black and white fuzzy ones but that's about it really. No joy with previous owners or Vauxhall.

Dave B