Vauxhall Cavalier GSI RestoMod Track Car

[Jules Sunley]

Excellent updates, and looking very sharp.

[Bright Halo]

That is looking really good now, great work!

[ShampooEfficient]

Absolutely magnificent. The attention to detail is great!

[Mark-E34-535]

Cracking job sir!

[Carlos24]

What an amazing build this has been, the car looks awesome in white and I can’t wait to hear how it sounds once those throttle bodies are going at full chat. Excellent work and the flocking on the dash etc looks excellent! Keep up the good work.

[Penelope Stopit]

Getting there now, looks amazing

[CouncilFerrari]

Watchthis said:

Just read from start to finish, what a great looking car the old Cavs are. This one's so nice I wouldn't want to take it out on track in case it got damaged ??

Thanks mate, there's something quite right about them proportionally. I don't think it'll see much track action now, but it definitely will get out to stretch its legs. There are some fantastic roads where I live, so it'll probably spend most of its time hooning around the moors.

phil_cardiff said:

Coming together now! Strong early 90s BTCC vibes

That's the plan, just need to decide whether to add a bit of vinyl or whatever.

Jules Sunley said:

Excellent updates, and looking very sharp.

Thank you, appreciate that. The painter has certainly done an amazing job.

Bright Halo said:

That is looking really good now, great work!

Thanks mate, it has been a labour of love for sure!

ShampooEfficient said:

Absolutely magnificent. The attention to detail is great!

Thankyou! I think so, some other cool little details in the pipeline too.

Mark-E34-535 said:

Cracking job sir!

Thanks very much

Carlos24 said:

What an amazing build this has been, the car looks awesome in white and I can’t wait to hear how it sounds once those throttle bodies are going at full chat. Excellent work and the flocking on the dash etc looks excellent! Keep up the good work.

That's kind of you to say, thanks. I'm quietly pleased with how the dash etc has turned out, some great continuity with the materials for the dash, steering wheel, seats etc

Like you, I'm more excited by how it will sound when I'm giving it some.

Penelope Stopit said:

Getting there now, looks amazing

It really is, the to do list is definitely getting shorter!

[phil_cardiff]

I'm going to vote no on the vinyl. Not that I get a vote

I think plain white with the white wheels will look awesome.

[4340BB]

By far the best build on here. IMO.
Keep up the good work. It’s absolutely stunning.
I remember working for a friend of my Dads and he took me out in it one lunchtime. It was 1995 and his GSI2000 was a 1992 model. From growing up around chevettes and old stags his cavalier felt like a rocket ship. It’s a memory that has always stuck with me. And from that day on it’s always been a car I would love to buy and keep in the garage as a modern classic. But, you just can’t find them.
I’m very jealous but also equally happy that someone has rescued one of these cracking cars.
Ps. I had Cleland’s car on my bedroom wall.

[CouncilFerrari]

phil_cardiff said:

I'm going to vote no on the vinyl. Not that I get a vote

I think plain white with the white wheels will look awesome.

I'm swaying towards no vinyl myself, the paintwork is kinda too good to cover up.

I will disagree on one thing though - I have new wheels coming

4340BB said:

By far the best build on here. IMO.
Keep up the good work. It’s absolutely stunning.
I remember working for a friend of my Dads and he took me out in it one lunchtime. It was 1995 and his GSI2000 was a 1992 model. From growing up around chevettes and old stags his cavalier felt like a rocket ship. It’s a memory that has always stuck with me. And from that day on it’s always been a car I would love to buy and keep in the garage as a modern classic. But, you just can’t find them.
I’m very jealous but also equally happy that someone has rescued one of these cracking cars.
Ps. I had Cleland’s car on my bedroom wall.

Thanks mate, appreciate that.

I love chevettes (my old man had one) but the Cavalier is leagues ahead, the c20xe is a peach of an engine. A 2 door chevette with an xe on throttle bodies though .
The GSi's are getting quite rare, they pop up for sale on owners clubs now and again, that's the best place to find one. Finding a project that doesn't look it's been parked in the sea is the difficult bit though, 90's Vauxhalls aren't known for their rustproofing
I have pictures of the touring cars up in my garage, I love those things and happily watch the 90, 91 seasons on repeat on youtube. If I ever won the lottery, I'd have a Cavalier ST in my garage.

[phil_cardiff]

CouncilFerrari said:

phil_cardiff said:

I'm going to vote no on the vinyl. Not that I get a vote

I think plain white with the white wheels will look awesome.

I'm swaying towards no vinyl myself, the paintwork is kinda too good to cover up.

I will disagree on one thing though - I have new wheels coming

4340BB said:

By far the best build on here. IMO.
Keep up the good work. It’s absolutely stunning.
I remember working for a friend of my Dads and he took me out in it one lunchtime. It was 1995 and his GSI2000 was a 1992 model. From growing up around chevettes and old stags his cavalier felt like a rocket ship. It’s a memory that has always stuck with me. And from that day on it’s always been a car I would love to buy and keep in the garage as a modern classic. But, you just can’t find them.
I’m very jealous but also equally happy that someone has rescued one of these cracking cars.
Ps. I had Cleland’s car on my bedroom wall.

Thanks mate, appreciate that.

I love chevettes (my old man had one) but the Cavalier is leagues ahead, the c20xe is a peach of an engine. A 2 door chevette with an xe on throttle bodies though .
The GSi's are getting quite rare, they pop up for sale on owners clubs now and again, that's the best place to find one. Finding a project that doesn't look it's been parked in the sea is the difficult bit though, 90's Vauxhalls aren't known for their rustproofing
I have pictures of the touring cars up in my garage, I love those things and happily watch the 90, 91 seasons on repeat on youtube. If I ever won the lottery, I'd have a Cavalier ST in my garage.

Interesting...any hints on the wheels?

[CouncilFerrari]

phil_cardiff said:

Interesting...any hints on the wheels?

Yeah sure, they're gold and are named after a famous racetrack in France which hosts a race that runs all day and night!

[phil_cardiff]

CouncilFerrari said:

phil_cardiff said:

Interesting...any hints on the wheels?

Yeah sure, they're gold and are named after a famous racetrack in France which hosts a race that runs all day and night!

Wolfrace Paul Ricards? Or is it that a Grand Prix always feels like it runs all day and night?

[Stick Legs]

Well that rules out TSW Hockemheims which would have been my 90’s wheel of choice.

[Chunkychucky]

CouncilFerrari said:

Yeah sure, they're gold and are named after a famous racetrack in France which hosts a race that runs all day and night!

Phwoar Christ, can't wait to see pics should look insane

[helix402]

CouncilFerrari said:

Yeah sure, they're gold and are named after a famous racetrack in France which hosts a race that runs all day and night!

BBS Le Mans?

[CouncilFerrari]

phil_cardiff said:

Wolfrace Paul Ricards? Or is it that a Grand Prix always feels like it runs all day and night?

Is it wrong that I googled that to see what they looked like!?

Stick Legs said:

Well that rules out TSW Hockemheims which would have been my 90’s wheel of choice.

Hockenheims are lovely, but aren't available in the right size, stud layout and offset for the Cav.

Chunkychucky said:

Phwoar Christ, can't wait to see pics should look insane

I really hope so, I did a dodgy photoshop and I think it looks ok!

helix402 said:

BBS Le Mans?

Correct! These ones to be exact...

[Skyrocket21]

I thought you might be interested in seeing this page, there might be some more info out there, Irmler Racing are restoring Jeff Allam’s 1993 BTCC number 020 Vauxhall Cavalier:
https://www.irmler-racing.de/en/news/restoration-r...

[CouncilFerrari]

Skyrocket21 said:

I thought you might be interested in seeing this page, there might be some more info out there, Irmler Racing are restoring Jeff Allam’s 1993 BTCC number 020 Vauxhall Cavalier:
https://www.irmler-racing.de/en/news/restoration-r...

Thanks mate, it is interesting. I follow Stefan Irmler on facebook, it's incredible what they're doing with the Cavalier. They also have an Astra that they race at historic tin top meets.

[CouncilFerrari]

As I think I mentioned previously, I wasn't entirely happy with how the Team Dyamics wheels fit the Cavalier. They're an et38 which is fine but it does mean they sit flush with the arches as opposed to tucked in slightly.

Anyway, I'd been looking at et48/9 wheels but they're hard to come across in 17x7, 4 x 100 pattern, until I checked BBS fitments anyway. Turns out the BBS LM can be ordered in exactly that fitment. Decision made.

The BTCC Cav with gold centrelock BBS wheeels



the worlds sttest photoshop of a ropey Cav about to go to paint



Obviously the BTCC Cavaliers ran 18's and were lowered to within an inch of their life etc but I'm hoping they'll look good. The main thing is I'll be 100% happy with the fit.

It was a 6-9 month lead time (made to order), they should be here anytime from February.