shite cars Retroshite

[bangernomics]

'TU' is Crewe iirc.

Yes Crewe and Nantwich REG that, probably came from the Vauxhall dealers as was in hightown. Original plates? Or sticker?

[sutty2006]

Ahh the good old sound of a CIH firing up......must get my 76 manta on the road some day. I’ll take several randoms... 

[JeeExEll]

21 hours ago, bangernomics said:

 

They all break, I remember the usual for us was a big washer.

 

We had a 79 Chevanne used by a small business 1984 - 89 (several drivers) which had the steering lock button below the steering column you had to press whilst turning the key every time you put the key in. Not everyone remembered the button was there (>  broken key). I don't remember if 70s Mk1 Cavs had the button. I think Vivas did. The purpose of the button was a mystery to me.

[DodgyBastard]

I've never noticed a button on my chevette but the key does have to be wiggled a certain way to make it turn the ignition. I remember the first time I drove it, it was low on fuel and after I filled up at the petrol station I couldn't figure out how to get it started again.

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[DodgyBastard]

I went to my local motor factors "TMS" to try and source some parts for the cavalier, I had been looking for rocker cover gaskets on ebay ranging between £10-20 with the earliest delivery the middle of next week.
TMS said they could get one next day for £1.62 so I should be picking that up today.


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[Sudsprint]

Great car.

My uncle had a pale green 1600 in the day.

I remember that gear throw, more like a van's than a car's.

[rainagain]

Do you have a trade account with TMS or is that just normal punter prices? What are they like generally price wise? 

[DodgyBastard]

1 hour ago, rainagain said:

Do you have a trade account with TMS or is that just normal punter prices? What are they like generally price wise? 

I don't have a trade account but visit so often I tend to get trade prices, they are usually pretty good on price and quality of the parts and are usually pretty accurate in getting the correct parts. They will also give a full refund for parts bought which turn out to be incorrect or if you ended up not needing them as long as they haven't been used, open packaging is fine for returns. If buying brake calipers they will do a part exchange and will accept any brake caliper in exchange, it doesn't have to be the old one from the car you're buying the new one for. 

[JeeExEll]

Button under the steering column on Chevettes / Chevannes was maybe deleted for the 1980 flush-headlamp restyle, ours was a 79 T-plate.  Also, HC Vivas ended in 79. Looks like Cavs didn't have the button as you'd know by now. I think it was a slim rectangular push-in button which released the steering lock before the key could be turned first time you put the key in. The steering locked again next time you took the key out.

(Am I imagining things, anyone with a 70s Chevette or Viva confirm yes/no?  Just checked with DVLA, FSE 773T Bedford Chevanne last taxed July 1989.  30 years ago FFS.  Maybe I'm getting senile).

[Jenson Velcro]

27 minutes ago, JeeExEll said:

Button under the steering column on Chevettes / Chevannes was maybe deleted for the 1980 flush-headlamp restyle, ours was a 79 T-plate.  Also, HC Vivas ended in 79. Looks like Cavs didn't have the button as you'd know by now. I think it was a slim rectangular push-in button which released the steering lock before the key could be turned first time you put the key in. The steering locked again next time you took the key out.

(Am I imagining things, anyone with a 70s Chevette or Viva confirm yes/no?  Just checked with DVLA, FSE 773T Bedford Chevanne last taxed July 1989.  30 years ago FFS.  Maybe I'm getting senile).

Nope, there was definitely a button on a S reg saloon my parents had from new. It caught my old man out a few times.

[Joey spud]

My first job at 16 was a yts trainee at G.Wells and sons Vauxhall dealer Strood in 1985 and yes i do recall the square button under the steering cowling on the early Chevette and the late Viva and i am sure it wasn't fitted to the Cavalier.

One of my first cars was a R reg 1.9 Cavalier GL in metalic blue with rostyles wheels,i was friendly with a local scrapyard and it came into them with just a seized engine.

I cost me £45 for the car and another £65 for a crank grind,new bearings and a set of gaskets but it ran like a dog because the carburettor was worn out but luckily another 1900cc Cavalier was part exchanged in at the dealer and that had a nearly new carb fitted to it.

So during my morning tea and later lunch break i sneaked off into the corner of the compound where it was parked and was able to swap the carbs over unnoticed.

The shit did hit the fan a while later as the salesman that did the deal knew it had had a new carb recently fitted so had given a bit extra on the p/x price and now the car was running shite with an equally shite carb under the dustbin lid sized air filter.

Another apprentice stole a 5 speed gearbox with all the trimmings out of a brand new Manta that was in the new car compound over a weekend and after the heat cooled down he fitted it to his T reg Carlton.

 

 

[JeeExEll]

^  Variation on that one, a mechanic mate had a 1900GL Cav with a ruined engine. He put in a standard Fiat 1800 twin cam and 5-speed box lifted straight from a giffer's rotten low mileage Fiat 132 which he used to look after, a surprisingly easy swap as loads of room. Nice exhaust note for a Cav. (Didn't tell the insurance as 1800cc is less than 1900cc). He also did a 1800 Fiat twin cam Chevette with an early Manta A axle, which was a great laugh but the exhaust manifold / downpipe was never right on that one.

[DodgyBastard]

DSC_0247 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

Went for a Christmas day drive!

[4wheeledstool]

If you need a pair of headlights, give us a shout.

 

[DodgyBastard]

If you need a pair of headlights, give us a shout.
 

I definitely need a passenger side light, its full of water and the reflector is rusty.

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[4wheeledstool]

11 minutes ago, DodgyBastard said:

I definitely need a passenger side light, its full of water and the reflector is rusty.

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I think I have two left handers - I'll have a root about in my lockup this week. 

[The Moog]

Just out of shot is your big stick to fight the ladies off with.


Great photo and I think cover star for AS calendar!

[captain_70s]

22 minutes ago, snagglepuss said:

Just out of shot is your big stick to fight the ladies off with.

Just a shovel and a well scouted place for a shallow grave.

[Braddon81]

It's been just over 12months since your heroic efforts kept this beastie on the roads. Have its keepers got back touch with you for any more work? ☺️

[DodgyBastard]

16 minutes ago, Braddon81 said:

It's been just over 12months since your heroic efforts kept this beastie on the roads. Have its keepers got back touch with you for any more work? ☺️

 

I haven't heard anything yet, it hasn't been in for a test so who knows what's happening with it.

[bezzabsa]

red top for driftz Yo???

or keeping it simple?

[DodgyBastard]

4 hours ago, bezzabsa said:

red top for driftz Yo???

or keeping it simple?

The Cavalier is the last car I'd want to take drifting so it'll be staying with the original engine.

[DodgyBastard]

RJC_3175 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3173 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3172 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3171 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3169 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3160 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3158 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3157 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

 

I sent the 305 off to a new home today and packed in a few spares including wings, doors and windscreen. I took £700 for it which was pretty good.

[Stinkwheel]

 
I haven't heard anything yet, it hasn't been in for a test so who knows what's happening with it.

But it’s a visa decap, we do actually neeeed to know.


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[DodgyBastard]

I spotted this beauty for sale along the road, 24k miles on it and a long mot.
It's now on my driveway...

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[DodgyBastard]

RJC_3202 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3200 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3199 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3194 by srblythe, on Flickr

RJC_3192 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

First impressions, it drives quite well and although not particularly fast it picks up speed fine, bit of a wheel wobble around 70mph probably due to this.

 

RJC_3189 by srblythe, on Flickr

 

 

[chancer]

That looks like a right wee belter! Love it 

[Ben_O]

That's a long way from the IOW!

[DeeJay]

That rim has taken a bit of a belt.

[sdkrc]

@DodgyBastard you seem to shit gold when it comes to finding and selling shitboxes. You're the Lionel Messi of second-hand cars. 

Would be good to hear you doing some reviews on your YouTube channel