Vauxhall Nova 4 Sale

[phil_lihp]

The time has come for me and my Nova to part company - it's been a great education and quite satisfying to see the faded little car come back to life. It's almost finished and I have almost run out of time to do any more to it as I may be moving house soon - besides, it's not really getting used and I don't see the point in a car that doesn't earn its keep in some way. I thought I'd offer it up here before resorting to ebay. The car's located in Bideford, North Devon.

 

So, form an orderly queue and take note:

 

Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Merit 5 Door 1988 4 Speed

Less than 62,000 miles

Taxed until the end of February 2013

MOT until 3rd September 2013

 

Luxuries include a clock, radio cassette and a Britax sunroof (that doesn't leak and works perfectly) - that's about it. It also has a towbar with working electrics.

 

 

More photos taken today here: http://s1267.beta.photobucket.com/user/phillacey/library/Vauxhall%20Nova/Nova%20For%20Sale

 

Since I've had it I've done the following work:

 

New brake discs, calipers, pads, front flexi pipes & brake fluid change

Fresh oil, coolant, oil filter, air filter

New cambelt

New wiper blades

New fan belt

 

For the MOT it had:

Welding to the rear ends of both sills

Welding to the front subframe

 

It wasn't a failure point but due to extensive corrosion I also had a new battery tray welded in.

 

After these repairs, it passed without a single advisory. Both the MOT tester and mechanic remarked on its condition - now the repairs are done there really is a remarkable lack of corrosion. The sills are (aside from the two small repairs at the rear) pretty much spotless. The rear arches are fine, the rear suspension turrets are fine - it's very solid and from what they could tell, it has never had any welding until now. This may be due to the generous quantities of underseal that are under the arches.

 

I've given it a good clean and polish, cleaned the interior and replaced a few manky bits of interior & exterior trim. I've put a tiny 200 miles on it myself and it's been pretty much faultless.

 

The engine's in pretty good condition as befits the mileage and starts on the button, pulls well and sounds healthy. After 5 years untouched outside, the previous owner stuck a power pack on it and it started instantly - I was amazed how well it ran when he delivered it, especially on stale fuel (it now has fresh petrol in it).

 

All 4 tyres have plenty of tread (one rear is a little perished) and the spare is new.

 

It's not all rosey, there are some minor niggles but it is 24 years old:

 

- the drivers side front door was hit by a tractor during its layup and has a shallow dent and a long, deep scrape down it - I've touched this in but it's not pretty

- the passenger front door is rotten along the bottom edge

- there is a shallow dent and a rust blob on the bootlid

- the wheels were hand painted in hammerite and not the best - I'm in the process of repainting them to improve matters but it's not ideal

- the fuel gauge doesn't work - I thought this was the sender unit but having had it off the car and cleaned it up to no avail I'm not sure. A spare is included but the connections are different so I haven't been able to fit it

- there is a very small oil leak which I believe is coming from the distributor - this only started after I began to use it so I am guessing a seal has broken down

- the original front grill had a crack in it so I got hold of a better replacement - however this one has a couple of small holes drilled in it so it's not perfect.

- there's possibly a blow around the exhaust manifold, it may be my imagination but it does sound a bit louder than I'd expect

 

It really needs a good long drive to clear out the cobwebs, in the last 5-6 years it's covered less than 1000 miles. I am just finishing off the last few bits - a thorough polish and wax and some coats of paint on the battery tray and sill repair (which has now been filled and blended), this will be done before it goes to a new home.

 

There's a thread on the 'restoration' here: (http://autoshite.commlm/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14123).

 

I guess I'd say it's tidy, very original, very useable but not immaculate. The 5 door version does seem to be quite rare now. Oh, it also has a pile of reciepts and a stamped up service history too, mostly from the Bournemouth area where it seemed to spend most of its life.

 

I'd like to see £850 for it based on what I've seen of their current value and what it owes me but am open to sensible offers and am happy to discuss delivery options within reason.

[phil_lihp]

One little bump for this one before I resort to the mong hoards on ebay, any takers? Mechanically it's done and dusted, some little bits of paint to finish which I will have done soon so it's ready to go to a new home ASAP.

 

Go on, you know you want it.