Thursday 26th January 2012

PH Blog: Vauxhall's hidden gems

Impromptu visit to the Vauxhall heritage garage gets the PH heart beating faster...

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It was destination Luton for Garlick and I today for a meeting with the guys at Vauxhall. Which was all very nice and grown-up. And then the casual "do you want to come and see the heritage garage?" question as we prepared to leave. Do we ever!

I've visited these kind of places before and they're always fascinating. The Mercedes one is in a warehouse disguised as something far less glamorous in a Stuttgart industrial estate but by heck have they got some cars in there. There's literally a room FULL of 1930s Silver Arrows racing cars, each worth millions. BMW's collection is similarly amazing, containing some weird and wonderful things like that V12 Le Mans engined X5 and gorgeous M cars of all persuasions and vintages.

And these cars are all very well but it's the ordinary ones that really get you gawping. And nobody does ordinary like Vauxhall. But these are the cars that, once part of the backdrop of daily life, have simply vanished. When was the last time you saw a pristine Astra GTE like this?

Or a Nova 1.4 SR?

OK, you might see them from time to time. But these - and the Cavaliers, Omegas, Carltons and Senators - are generally speaking cars people don't bother restoring.

There'll always be folk preserving the exotica. But it's the bog standard, bottom of the range cars plucked off the production line and stored for posterity that make these manufacturer collections truly fascinating.

Of course, there are only so many Cavaliers you can look at. And there's plenty of tasty stuff in the Vauxhall collection too. Like this Monaro VXR500.

I was particularly taken with this Astra GTE too - currently in final prep for a big cavalcade of Vauxhall heritage cars heading to Geneva.

Attendance of which I had to delegate to Riggers, having a pre-existing arrangement. Something I'm now seriously regretting having seen some of the toys he's going to get to play with. Like this Firenza.

Back on the road after an extensive 18-month restoration it's one of around 30 or so left according to our guide. And seeing the pictures of the state it was in when they started work it was barely there at all once all the paint was off it. A miracle it's here at all.

Anyway, a few more random pics for you to enjoy below. And watch this space but there may well be a special chance for PHers to get to see the cars in the metal later on in the year.

Dan

[M666 EVO]

I do like the old Astra and Nova GTEs, a lot...

[Hellbound]

That's quite a 'humble' looking garage.

[PH lurker]

Interesting.

[Tonto]

Had an Astra GTE 16v back in the day. Very rapid car, due to it being very light. A combination of 65 series tyres, poor quality shocks and bendy chassis made for a scary ride at times.

[soad]

Full of old school classics!

[Jw Vw]

soad said:

Full of old school classics!

Love the Astra GTE and the old Calibra's.

[DaveH23]

Anybody know what the car on the right of the picture next to the pirenza is?

[Alfa159Ti]

Yeah those Astra GTEs still make my stomach squirm with excitement.

Also always liked the Calibra. Apparently the interiors were crap, but they look so menacing on the road. So much presence.

I think the exterior styling of the Calibra was pretty ahead of its time and has actually aged gracefully considering it is over 20 years old now.

Was hoping to see a Corsa GSi in there somewhere. My first proper performance car. I was only 18 too. Felt very fast at the time, but probably the rose tinted specs talking and the fact that at that age the you use the throttle like an 'on' 'off' switch!

Have Vauxhalls lost appeal or have I just grown up and become a badge snob? I can't decide...

[ruff'n'smov]

Loved my 82 Cav SR (no i ) then my SRi 130 a Astra GTE and Nova GTE.....now the make ste (mainly)

[Baryonyx]

The Astra GTE looks great. The Monaro is suffering from the 'Passat Taxi' effect at the moment, namely I'm seeing so many of them I don't find them terribly interesting. But man, what an Astra.

[TEKNOPUG]

Lusted after a Mk1 GTE in my yoof

[400SE Dave]

DaveH23 said:

Anybody know what the car on the right of the picture next to the pirenza is?

It's an old Viva isn't it?? By the way, I thought it was Firenza.

[Drive Blind]

PH Blog said:

1.4 SR nova

being on an F plate that should be a 1.3

[Jellymonster]

mk1 GTE... yum.

[skmoore]

DaveH23 said:

Anybody know what the car on the right of the picture next to the pirenza is?

Velox?

[Porkis]

It's a Victor FB just like this one


What do I win ???

and it's Firenza, not Pirenza

[johnpeat]

Someone seems to have slipped a Nova in there unawares - can we get it out and crush it, please!!

[g00chy]

love the old mk1 astra gte, used to be one round here reg was KPU 55Y
and my calibra was great fun, wasnt until i stood looking at an 850 bmw i realised where vauxhall borrowed a LOT of the design! even down to the styling of the rear lights

[SambaS]

Lovin all the retro stuff in there wudnt mind seeing the pics of the Firenza before and during that they mention

[jameswhitburn]

First car was a Nova, Great little go kart !
what a great selection of motors ! Astra GTE was so cool with its Knight rider dash..