My boyhood dream, immaculate 1993 Cavalier Turbo
Discussion
Not sure how much interest I'll have in this car, so we'll see how this pans out.
As a little child my mum had a Mk2 Cavalier ex taxi with moon miles, from what I remember it was pretty rusty but she seemed to love this car. My dad also had a Mk3 V6 manual at the same time, the turbo was always something he and mum lusted after. But even back then, they were a rare car. But because they wanted one, that naturally filtered down to me and it became my attainable dream car from when I was about 4, had models of the car on my shelf.
Unfortunately a little while later, mum lost her fight to breast cancer so all of the plans they had made came to a halt. This included the infamous Cavalier Turbo.
Due to other circumstances, I inherited a bit of money. Enough to set me up for life. And as I wasn't in a position to buy a house of my own just yet, university etc, I said to Dad that I'm going to find the best possible example of a Cavalier Turbo. Put the feelers out on the owners clubs and didn't really get the response I wanted, good cars but with issues like rotten arches, high miles or porous cylinder head.
But in my PM's on the book of Faces lay this car, spoke with the owner and it seemed to fit the bill. From the pictures it looked seriously cleaned, asked a few in the know and I was reassured it was pretty immaculate, only issue it was in Northern Ireland, some 500miles away!
So a year of back and fourth of messages, sorting out the logistics of travelling there and a lot of personal life crap got in the way, but as of last weekend I am the proud new owner of this beauty.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/uzd0w65r[/url]
Shes a very early 1993 K reg Turbo pretty much as it came from the factor, 45k miles from new in almost 26yrs! There's not a mark or blemish on the bodywork.
It does however have what I believe is a Courtney Sport charge cooler kit on, this will be coming off over winter as I want a completely OEM car.
I was concerned the paintwork would get chipped from the tow car on the way back to home, so masked the front of the car up. Got some attention for sure!
The only thing that lets the car down is the interior, for some unknown reason somebody has put airbags in! The steering wheel is truly gopping to look at
This is a January 1993 car, so shouldn't have airbags at all. There's no lights when the ignition is on so they're just placed there. I'm in the process of sourcing the correct parts to put the originals back in.
I have a habit of doing this, buying cars and having to return to uni the next day. Parted with all this cash and I'm now 200miles away just 40hrs later!!! So these pics are just before it went into dry storage until I return
As in traditional PistonHead, I've named her Tammy the turbo
Thanks for reading
As a little child my mum had a Mk2 Cavalier ex taxi with moon miles, from what I remember it was pretty rusty but she seemed to love this car. My dad also had a Mk3 V6 manual at the same time, the turbo was always something he and mum lusted after. But even back then, they were a rare car. But because they wanted one, that naturally filtered down to me and it became my attainable dream car from when I was about 4, had models of the car on my shelf.
Unfortunately a little while later, mum lost her fight to breast cancer so all of the plans they had made came to a halt. This included the infamous Cavalier Turbo.
Due to other circumstances, I inherited a bit of money. Enough to set me up for life. And as I wasn't in a position to buy a house of my own just yet, university etc, I said to Dad that I'm going to find the best possible example of a Cavalier Turbo. Put the feelers out on the owners clubs and didn't really get the response I wanted, good cars but with issues like rotten arches, high miles or porous cylinder head.
But in my PM's on the book of Faces lay this car, spoke with the owner and it seemed to fit the bill. From the pictures it looked seriously cleaned, asked a few in the know and I was reassured it was pretty immaculate, only issue it was in Northern Ireland, some 500miles away!
So a year of back and fourth of messages, sorting out the logistics of travelling there and a lot of personal life crap got in the way, but as of last weekend I am the proud new owner of this beauty.
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/uzd0w65r[/url]Shes a very early 1993 K reg Turbo pretty much as it came from the factor, 45k miles from new in almost 26yrs! There's not a mark or blemish on the bodywork.
It does however have what I believe is a Courtney Sport charge cooler kit on, this will be coming off over winter as I want a completely OEM car.
I was concerned the paintwork would get chipped from the tow car on the way back to home, so masked the front of the car up. Got some attention for sure!
The only thing that lets the car down is the interior, for some unknown reason somebody has put airbags in! The steering wheel is truly gopping to look at
This is a January 1993 car, so shouldn't have airbags at all. There's no lights when the ignition is on so they're just placed there. I'm in the process of sourcing the correct parts to put the originals back in.
I have a habit of doing this, buying cars and having to return to uni the next day. Parted with all this cash and I'm now 200miles away just 40hrs later!!! So these pics are just before it went into dry storage until I return
As in traditional PistonHead, I've named her Tammy the turbo
Thanks for reading
Brum_Brum said:
Looks a minter! a rarity for sure,. I lusted after a GSi/Turbo in my early driving days, could never afford one though. I made do with my MK2 SRi 
The SRI is still a mighty car, those 8 valvers take a lot of abuse!!RC1807 said:
That's a very clean car!
I recall some colleagues having 2000GSi 4x4, but there was never a Turbo in the car park.
Look forward to seeing this one back to OEM.
The GSI 4x4 is probably even rarer than the turbo nowadays! I didn't think the car would get this much attention, but everyone seems to love it. I suppose it's a blast from the past. I recall some colleagues having 2000GSi 4x4, but there was never a Turbo in the car park.
Look forward to seeing this one back to OEM.
Cheers, just little touches that let the car down like the charge cooler and steering wheel
Brum_Brum said:
Looks a minter! a rarity for sure,. I lusted after a GSi/Turbo in my early driving days, could never afford one though. I made do with my MK2 SRi
My BiL owned a GSI first then a Turbo. Back in the day both were stunning motors. My over riding memory was of 5 of us in the GSI "cruising" along at 150mph on the speedo!TX.
RicksAlfas said:
Back in the day our local taxi firm had a few young drivers who liked their motors. They had a Carina GTi(!) and one of these. We always used to try and ask for it when we were booking. It didn't half go some! Certainly better than my 1.3 Nova anyway. 
Good luck with it!
It's still fast by today's standards tbf, my Toyota starlet is around 200bhp but the Cav still pushes you in the seat and feels fast, which i was concerned it would feel old and slow. Good luck with it!
What a cool taxi company tho!!!!
Nice clean car that.
I had a selection of Mk3 SRi's.
From memory the airbags came in around mid/late 92 along with the facelift grill which would make yours genuine factory fit.
https://youtu.be/Y_jM-wpkBUc
^^ Only if your really bored.....
I had a selection of Mk3 SRi's.
From memory the airbags came in around mid/late 92 along with the facelift grill which would make yours genuine factory fit.
https://youtu.be/Y_jM-wpkBUc
^^ Only if your really bored.....
Coin Slot. said:
Loved these back in the day, couldn't stretch to a turbo, but had two GSi's and absolutely loved them, although they both had porous heads and nearly bankrupted me.
Most people s
t themselves at how much i paid for this one, but the idea of splashing out and getting a good example to start witg means fingers crossed I avoid expensive trouble with them 
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