Cavalier mk2 - another blue giffermobile.

[grogee]

1 hour ago, 4wheeledstool said:

Don't know if I'm ever going to be ready for that!

Christmas came early this year! After completing a couple of small jobs, I had a bit of a play with my new toys.

Much easier to move cars around the shed now. 

Semi-employer has a set of these skates, they are very useful for moving cars sideways when you don't have room to 'parallel park'.

The Cav is a beaut. I look forward to seeing the PC feature, I'm lucky to get @Cluffy's copies when he's finished doing the crossword. 

Re: driver's door rattle: TADTS. My Dad's five MK2 Astras all did it. It's a factory feature to keep you awake/annoyed.

[Shite Ron]

Practical Classics was delivered today, it was great to see this on page 64. 

[4wheeledstool]

Ran this up for a while the other day...

Hopefully the gritters are getting put away soon so I can get the thing out again. 😀

[4wheeledstool]

Not had much time for this since taking on the restoration of a G40 body, but made a bit of time for a decent ride out in it this evening.

A thousand miles done since getting it back on the road - this thing'll probably see me out at this rate. 😀

[4wheeledstool]

This has been neglected for the last few months. Fortunately it forgave me by starting instantly when I finally got round to paying it a visit this morning.

The very light use its had since its return to the road means it has stayed pleasingly clean under the bonnet. 

And inside too.

It really needs a lot more use - I'm thinking of letting it go if I don't get much time in it next year.

 

 

[stuboy]

On 26/12/2023 at 23:08, 4wheeledstool said:

This has been neglected for the last few months. Fortunately it forgave me by starting instantly when I finally got round to paying it a visit this morning.

The very light use its had since its return to the road means it has stayed pleasingly clean under the bonnet. 

And inside too.

It really needs a lot more use - I'm thinking of letting it go if I don't get much time in it next year.

 

 

is the best mk2 ive seen

[Matty]

Be a shame to sell it, but I can see where you're coming from.

It would be interesting to see what it would fetch. There can't be another in existence which would come with the provenance (I know hate the word but can't think of another) of the photographic history of the restoration!

[New POD]

7 hours ago, stuboy said:

is the best mk2 ive seen

In 1993 I bought a D reg 1.6 GL off my father in law. With 20 k on the clock. It had never been out in the Rain or Salt. 

Was probably as clean as that. 

5 years later with 110K on the clock I sold it to buy an AX1.4D .  How stupid can one person be. 

[grogee]

@4wheeledstool's Cav is the stuff of legend. A painstaking nut-and-bolt restoration detailed with pictures.

Shirley this is a five-figure car that should be advertised in the glossies? 

Saying that, a quarter of a random if it goes that way. 

[Captain Mainwaring]

I'd somehow forgotten about your Cavs, so naturally I had to read both threads all the way through again! Lovely to see them both still looking great and being cherished. Hats off to you sir, they're a credit to you the pair of them.

[4wheeledstool]

Taxed this today - proper expensive nowadays! Had a decent ride out in it, then dropped it off at my unit. 

It'll be getting a good clean at some point, 6 months in a dusty garage has left it a bit mucky. Looking forward to getting some miles in over the summer.  😀

[4wheeledstool]

Had a good look underneath today after noticing a slight knock when accelerating. Turns out the front gearbox mount had come a little loose. 

Still looks pretty fresh under there.

It's a little dusty, but hasn't reverted to brownness yet.

Even the exhaust still has paint on it.

Chassis legs still looking decent.

Gearbox mount bolts were tightened up, then back on its wheels for a ride out. 

[danthecapriman]

That is absolutely stunning, on top and underneath! Credit to you👍

[captain_70s]

I don't think they looked that good new...

[grogee]

In a way it seems a shame to drive it and get it dirty! Such a wonderful restoration, the time and effort shows through. 

I'm sure you are appreciating the dry weather which means you won't get mud splattered all over the car. Instead, you'll be washing the dead insects off! 

[lisbon_road]

This is fab. You say expensive to tax but presumably free tax is just a few years off?

[Cavcraft]

Really does need to be a in a Vauxhall showroom somewhere.

[stuboy]

still a credit too you

[Bmwdumptruck]

Well I’ve just spent most of the morning reading the whole thread.  I’m a luton boy, and in my 20’s got sent to the factory for work now and then and remember seeing these being built, right from the press shop to the end of line areas. Was in the factory the last day they were built, rumour has it the last two cars off the line got scraped after the building crews followed them too closly with angle grinders cutting the track out looking to get a headstart on the 3 week schedule to build the new track for the mk3.  
Eventually owned two basic saloons, but they were superbly brilliant cars.  Probably just about the best car ever built at Luton.  And if memory serves me right, pretty much the last to be Built rather than just assembled.  I believe the whole press shop was moved over to IBC for the Midi and Rascal panels with the mk3 Cav assembled from imported panels.  
Anyway, absolutely hats of to you for this one, looks absolutely stunning. 

[4wheeledstool]

On 26/06/2024 at 13:37, grogee said:

In a way it seems a shame to drive it and get it dirty! Such a wonderful restoration, the time and effort shows through. 

I'm sure you are appreciating the dry weather which means you won't get mud splattered all over the car. Instead, you'll be washing the dead insects off! 

I don't take it out when the weather's shite - just gets dusty underneath. 👍

On 26/06/2024 at 18:23, lisbon_road said:

This is fab. You say expensive to tax but presumably free tax is just a few years off?

Tax free in 2029 - seems a fair way off. 🤔

Finally got round to straightening the steering wheel the other day. Itwasn't far out, but enough to make it look a bit "90's taxi". The wheels were proper clarted up with brake dust, so gave the wheels a bit of a clean while the trims w were off.

Just got to wait for it to stop pissing down to get it out again.

[danthecapriman]

I really hope it and cars of this age do get to become tax exempt, but I’m not so sure that exemption is going to be a ‘thing’ for much longer… I hope I’m wrong though.