RE: Vauxhall Nova SR: Spotted
Discussion
Back in the day I loved the look of these (heck, I had a Cavalier 1600L and an Astra 1200S), but no way were they ever actually any good - even back when they were popular. They were simple, like most Vauxhalls they didn't really handle that well either.
£16k for a car that was crappy when it was released, and is even crappier now? No thanks. No amount of rose tinting on your glasses can make these any good.
£16k for a car that was crappy when it was released, and is even crappier now? No thanks. No amount of rose tinting on your glasses can make these any good.
Nostalgia fest!
My eldest bro bought one new in 1986 (C321SUF) which stayed in the family until it was weighed in around 1999. His was the dark blue - a very nice combination with the grey panels. His second Nova and good step up from the 1.2L that preceded it (and in fairness both seemed nicer places to be than my Escort 1.3L).
I'd always wanted a sporting Vauxhall but company car policy dictated 'GL' and no more once I moved up to a Belmont (gasp!), although the SR models always had funky sports seats and 'all the dials' even if the oily bits were identical.
But £16k? Whoa.
My eldest bro bought one new in 1986 (C321SUF) which stayed in the family until it was weighed in around 1999. His was the dark blue - a very nice combination with the grey panels. His second Nova and good step up from the 1.2L that preceded it (and in fairness both seemed nicer places to be than my Escort 1.3L).
I'd always wanted a sporting Vauxhall but company car policy dictated 'GL' and no more once I moved up to a Belmont (gasp!), although the SR models always had funky sports seats and 'all the dials' even if the oily bits were identical.
But £16k? Whoa.
Had a Citroen AX myself so Novas somewhat passed me by in my youth - however my Grandfather has owned this beauty for as long as I can remember:
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It's been at his place in Menorca, garaged, pretty much all of its life. It's totally original, rust free and has (I believe, although I'm sure someone will correct me) the same 1300cc engine and 5-speed box as the SR. That odo is in kilometres, by the way
Grandad's well into his nineties now and is no longer able to travel out there, so I suspect the Corsa (as it's known locally) will be moved on fairly soon. I spent a glorious few days bimbling around the island in it last year. I'm seriously considering flying out and driving it home as and when it's available.
]
It's been at his place in Menorca, garaged, pretty much all of its life. It's totally original, rust free and has (I believe, although I'm sure someone will correct me) the same 1300cc engine and 5-speed box as the SR. That odo is in kilometres, by the way
Grandad's well into his nineties now and is no longer able to travel out there, so I suspect the Corsa (as it's known locally) will be moved on fairly soon. I spent a glorious few days bimbling around the island in it last year. I'm seriously considering flying out and driving it home as and when it's available.
Brings back some memories!
I had the same red, but 1l with beige interior, my first car. £725 from the auction in Moseley in 1997. E772 SOA. Stereo and speakers upgraded to Sony, even got a bit dirty changing brake pads etc. Wonder dream of it now! Don't miss the manual choke.
It actually managed to take me and 3 mates down to London for an interview at the BBC (Friends Like These if anyone remembers it, we never made the final cut). Hit a pretty decent top speed down hill near High Wycombe!
I had the same red, but 1l with beige interior, my first car. £725 from the auction in Moseley in 1997. E772 SOA. Stereo and speakers upgraded to Sony, even got a bit dirty changing brake pads etc. Wonder dream of it now! Don't miss the manual choke.
It actually managed to take me and 3 mates down to London for an interview at the BBC (Friends Like These if anyone remembers it, we never made the final cut). Hit a pretty decent top speed down hill near High Wycombe!
Edited by morrisk1 on Tuesday 26th June 20:28
BigMon said:
I'm fairly sure those alloys are from the GSI, so you're paying top dollar for something which isn't original.
No, they were an option over plastic wheel trims on the SR and GTE.I'd forgotten that my girlfriend at the time was also 'persuaded' to buy an SR by me after a Talbot Samba. It was very low mileage, but the interior headliner and post trim didn't fit correctly. We HPI'd it and it had been in a prang but they accepted well below book price and she had it for a number of years (F100 OPL). After we spilt up, she was t-boned by a Land-Rover - the Landie had a bent chassis but the Nova went on with another set of repairs.
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