qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,410
Club RR Member Number: 52
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I love the GM J-Carqwerty
@qwerty
Club Retro Rides Member 52
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Jan 25, 2010 17:15:46 GMT
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HIRST!! THIS is for sale on Pistonheads for £300!! Randomly I was just looking at it this afternoon then I've stumbled across this thread! Get it bought!
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Jan 25, 2010 17:52:59 GMT
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That's a bit of alright, that! Not going to Cornwall for something without a test though. Looks tidy mind.
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Jan 25, 2010 18:21:24 GMT
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I can think of a lot worse cars than mk2 cavs,don't know how peeps can slag them off...
Ive been in the past the proud owner of 2 mk2 cavs,a chavved up SRI saloon in blue over silver and an as brown as you can get 1.6 GL saloon..loved them ;D
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1984 Subaru GLF Hatch 1983 Skoda 120LE Super estelle 1977 Subaru DL Wagon 1978 Datsun 120Y Coupe 1995 Skoda favorit estate
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MattW
Part of things
Posts: 841
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Jan 25, 2010 18:28:29 GMT
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Excellent, a bit of Cavalier/Ascona love! Nice one. Thing is though, people can have some very volatile opinions, especially when it comes to cars. Statements like "I would rather ride the bus than drive one of these" - seriously, would you? You'd stand there in the rain waiting for the hourly bus with sticky floors and sit there whilst babies scream and phones go off? Think it's just that it is easier to slag something off than try to appreciate it. There's not many cars I don't like. There's a lot of cars that don't do much for me, many more that aren't aimed at me (but I can appreciate them for what they are), but they're better than a sodding bus. Take a Corsa Envoy with a 1.0 3cyl - pretty unpleasant to drive, still rates much higher than a bus to me. It's not like the J-car is a big joke either - the idea of an Isuzu Aska diesel or a 1.8 Cimarron could provide a bit of a titter to most, but surely we can largely agree that things like the Cavalier SRi are full-on well-loved mass-appeal motors. Whether it was a good idea at the time or whatever, I would love a go in one of those Z24s. Vauxhall Cavalier MK2 but in a smart-looking body with a V6? Sounds alright to me, sign me up. No, they really are that bad. I've had the misfortune of having to work on many a pile from GM of the 80/90's. There is quite possibly nothing worse than a J body. They are simply AWFUL.
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Jan 25, 2010 18:37:17 GMT
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This thread is more than enough to stop me from lurking and to start me posting on here! ;D I love retro in all shapes and sizes but the above white ascona SR/e is mine, it's my daily driver and she's running an F28 and a liberated Omega 3.0 V6. (this is us visiting the factory - now to be closed - in Belgium where the more hardy (than Luton) Cavs & Asconas were built!I started mk2cav.com years ago to support these once loved by all cars and have a soft spot for J-body the world over. I will own a Chevrolet Monza 2 Door hatch! The standard variants don't even include all the cross breeding the engineers started to do with Saab etc either. It was the worlds first "best selling" FWD car, and the most stolen car in the UK for 6 years consecutively! ;D ;D Currently I have the SRe and my mums car that I inherited when she died when I was little, I bought a heavily modified sunbird 2.0 turbo lump from Atlanta Georgia - which was dynoed and gave 260 WBHP which I am hoping to have ready for the summer after many years of messing around. I've compiled info for a BBC documentary on the J-car world car platform but as yet I think it was just in the research stages... Now I know there is at least a little love on here for the old girls I'll get a thread up no doubt. Nice to have a thread covering most of the main variants in one place! For those interested in reliving any MK2 related fantasies my youtube account has all the videos I've cobbled together over the years - including the original top gear review of the mk2, as well as a 3 part-er of us lot heading over to cause trouble in Europe. www.youtube.com/user/jtypecavFor any "serious" (ha! read anorak!) on the j-car there is a book by John Butman called "Car Wars" which although predominantly about how GM built the MK3 Cavalier / Vectra A has amazing insight into GM and how revolutionary their rivals considered they were being at the time of their "great experiement". Oh and I know of a pontiac sunbird GT (8v Turbo) that will be for sale shortly if anyone is interested.. Just needs a cometic headgasket, its a LHD flyer! ;D
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Last Edit: Jan 25, 2010 18:38:22 GMT by jtypecav
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Jan 25, 2010 18:57:32 GMT
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Picture of the Aska didn't work, here's one instead. And an Irmscher. Mad trims, dunno if they're stock. I feel like this wouldn't be a Hirst thread without a dodgy period advert, so: And some bonus rally footage:
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Jan 25, 2010 19:39:39 GMT
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Excellent, a bit of Cavalier/Ascona love! Nice one. Thing is though, people can have some very volatile opinions, especially when it comes to cars. Statements like "I would rather ride the bus than drive one of these" - seriously, would you? You'd stand there in the rain waiting for the hourly bus with sticky floors and sit there whilst babies scream and phones go off? Think it's just that it is easier to slag something off than try to appreciate it. There's not many cars I don't like. There's a lot of cars that don't do much for me, many more that aren't aimed at me (but I can appreciate them for what they are), but they're better than a sodding bus. Take a Corsa Envoy with a 1.0 3cyl - pretty unpleasant to drive, still rates much higher than a bus to me. It's not like the J-car is a big joke either - the idea of an Isuzu Aska diesel or a 1.8 Cimarron could provide a bit of a titter to most, but surely we can largely agree that things like the Cavalier SRi are full-on well-loved mass-appeal motors. Whether it was a good idea at the time or whatever, I would love a go in one of those Z24s. Vauxhall Cavalier MK2 but in a smart-looking body with a V6? Sounds alright to me, sign me up. No, they really are that bad. I've had the misfortune of having to work on many a pile from GM of the 80/90's. There is quite possibly nothing worse than a J body. They are simply AWFUL. Which ones did you have the misfortune of? I know loads of mechanics and the all love working on MK2's in the UK because of their simplicity, reliability and relative performance compared to their rivals. We may have been lucky though as I have heard similar things about the Holden too. Contrasting to that though, the pontiac sunbird Turbo interior alone is enough to give me nightmares - they did things very different in the states.. horrifically so! I'll dig up some pictures, but I'm sure you are all aware!
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Last Edit: Jan 25, 2010 19:40:34 GMT by jtypecav
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chevazon
Posted a lot
1939 Chevrolet 2 door coupe, `67 `Zon estate, `87 Ragtop Cavalier, 4 x 800 Drifters,(!) 1500 Drifter
Posts: 2,259
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Jan 25, 2010 21:07:28 GMT
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Just bought this - I must be mad according to MattW. (don`t say anything)
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Jan 25, 2010 21:36:03 GMT
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A convertible! Hehe you are brave at this time of the year. They got their rep from how they were made, or 'converted' from 2 door shells they are not bad at all really, and certainly one of the prettier 80's convertibles in profile.. not the poor relation that they are made out to be to the rest of the MK2's. Looks healthy mate! Good time to buy because of the weather.
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Jan 25, 2010 21:41:26 GMT
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Thers one of them ^^ at the salvage place i got my vw camper from,its red with black roof,all complete and in good nick and it runs!!
Apparently it got taken there as the sump leaks,i cant imagine itd take much to change it
will get some pics next time I'm up there if anyones interested..i think he said he wants 500 for it..
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1984 Subaru GLF Hatch 1983 Skoda 120LE Super estelle 1977 Subaru DL Wagon 1978 Datsun 120Y Coupe 1995 Skoda favorit estate
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alex77
Part of things
Posts: 624
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Jan 25, 2010 22:26:12 GMT
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1978 Capri MK2 Ghia Zetec
1990 Ford escort mk4
1996 Nissan Rasheen
1998 Honda CRV (my wifes)
2002 Alfa 156
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Jan 25, 2010 22:55:21 GMT
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Following on from Angle's superb Isuzu Aska videos, let's have some adverts of the lot.
Vauxhall Cavalier: Lots of synth music and moustaches. I like the digital readout clicking over to 90hp.
Opel Ascona: Also Kadett. More synth music, but jolly.
Pontiac Sunbird: "It's so red!" I think this lad fancies his mum.
Cadillac Cimarron: The smaller dream? Not the best advert really.
Chevrolet Cavalier: Fly the coupe! Pop the top! Laugh inside your car! Like a moron!
Chevrolet Cavalier: AMERICA! OH YEAH! Might as well have two Cavalier adverts, they both have merit.
Buick Skyhawk: All of these girls will go out with you if you buy one.
Oldsmobile Firenza: Lousy advert. Sorry.
Holden Camira: SUPERCAR! FROM THE FUTURE! HIS MISSION, TO RIIIDE STREET HAWK!
Isuzu Aska: Can overtake old tractors, wow.
Toyota Cavalier: This is the best advert. No, it's the worst advert. No, it's the best. Worst. Best. Argh.
Chevrolet Monza: Drives up the world's longest car park ramp and there's an announcement on the PA system, presumably to celebrate its arrival.
Daewoo Espero: When I arrive at work I chuck my keys up and grab them like this bloke. It makes me feel big.
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Jan 25, 2010 23:56:03 GMT
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It was interesting to hear the slogan in the Vauxhall ad, "The power you want, the economy you need." There's a big sign out the front of my local Holden dealer at the moment saying "The performance you want, the economy you need." No new ideas in GM marketing then!
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Prud
Part of things
Posts: 308
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I still don't get why people knocked the Camira so hard in Oz. Sure it wasn't the most powerful car (but then again, few stockers are ), but it wasn't a bad thing. I grew up in Windale (which will mean loads to every Aussie Novacastrian) and Camiras were growing on blocks in every second front yard. A whole heap had the gas-axe lowering job and a collection of random paint jobs. And they looked cool. But they've well and truly disappeared off the face of the planet. I know Autospeed did a project car of a Camira a while back, but my Google-fu has chucked a sickie and I can't find it. It involved finding respectable horsepower and going down the drag strip for little money and well-thought-out mods. Just my 2c worth.
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Jan 26, 2010 10:54:19 GMT
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No, they really are that bad. I've had the misfortune of having to work on many a pile from GM of the 80/90's. There is quite possibly nothing worse than a J body. They are simply AWFUL. And there is deffinalty one thing thats so called worse than a J-body, your attitude!! I thought this site had a 'don't like it don't reply' policy which normally works well!! I'm another Mk2 Cav fan, good honest cars that kept the nation moving and are now like poor quality wobbly children's play pony curse word!! It was a decent FWD Chassis with superior engines to many of its rivals of the time. Along with the Mk1 Astra it really moved Vauxhall into the main stream, probably saved the company in the end. My old man had 2 Estates when I was a kid. Couldnt fault either of them. My SRi in the bodyshop at the moment.... The Mk2 Astra has an equally wide array of international cousins Hirst you may want to check those out.....
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Last Edit: Jan 26, 2010 10:57:23 GMT by brettsri
87 Mk2 Cavalier SRi Turbo
89 Mk3 Cavalier SRi V6
90 Cartlon GSi3000 24v (Lotus Rep)
90 Senator CD 24v
99 Omega 3.0 MV6
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pirate
Part of things
Posts: 848
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Jan 26, 2010 12:00:56 GMT
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did that caddy in the 1st vid already blow a head gasket? looks smokey.
brett, american j bodys really wernt half as good as the euro cars.
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persistant retro offender. 04 laguna load lugger alfa 159 lusso beast 82 austin allegro 82 mg metro
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Jan 29, 2010 13:30:59 GMT
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Hirst
Posted a lot
This avatar is inaccurate, I've never shaved that closely
Posts: 3,930
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Jan 29, 2010 14:15:02 GMT
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Hey look at that! Weird facelift Camira. Reminds me of the late 80s onwards Ford Thunderbird.
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Jan 29, 2010 14:24:14 GMT
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Hey look at that! Weird facelift Camira. Reminds me of the late 80s onwards Ford Thunderbird. The trend for "lets steadily extend the headlamps til they almost touch in the middle" was not a good trend. I do wonder about how much stuff is swappable aboutable on these cars though. I'd assume the yank ones came with big v6s, bigger brakes and stuff. Could make for an interesting conversion.
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Jan 29, 2010 14:28:42 GMT
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My uncle had one of those late model Camiras in red, exactly like that one. He owned it for decades and had it written off last year in a rear-end collision. The car looked fine at an initial glance except that it was about 100mm shorter than before! The plastic bumper had pushed in all the rear end metalwork below the tail-lights and crinkled it all up. Still looked and drove fine but it was comprehensively insured and only had a market value of about $300 so it was written off and scrapped. He was really sad to see it go. Replaced it with a new red Focus which his wife instantly grabbed and won't let him drive!
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