Aus Rüsselsheim mit Liebe: Vauxhall Royale content.

[Angrydicky]

I'd like to introduce fellow 'shiters to my latest automotive purchase. I've always liked the look of these big Vauxhalls and have hankered after a shovelnose Carlton since I found one in the scrapyard in 2007. I'd never seen one before, and I fell in love with the interior.

 

I'd been following this Royale since I saw it on RR back in 2013. It was for sale in Rochford and the chap struggled to sell it due to the obscurity. I couldn't afford it then so forgot all about it.

Fast forward four years and three more owners and the chap from Rochford has it again. Although with seven classic Minis he had no time to work on the poor Royale, so it just sat there on his drive looking sorry for itself. Eventually it came up for sale. I agonised because I'd been saving up for a pre-war car and this would be a fair chunk of my budget, but then I thought 'sod it' went along for a look, and after a test drive and a bit of haggling, I bought it there and then!

 

No collection thread as such as it was one of the shortest journeys I've ever made to buy a car. Suffice to say it was running on fumes when I picked it up, and I managed to lose my dad on the way to the petrol station who was following me in the Maestro. My wallet, keys and phone were all in said Maestro. I was forced to press on to home, fortunately it made it...

 

It's in pretty good nick for a 37 year old Vauxhall/Opel, worst bits are on the bottom of the front wings and the rear valance. It's been well looked after considering it's been through a lot of hands in the past few years. Every piece of glass, including the headlights and even the windscreen, is original and etched with the registration. Original dealer plates too.

 

Plans are a new rocker cover gasket to stem the flow of oil, a set of new tyres as the ones on it are ancient budget brands which are very perished, and a good service. Sadly the original radio was ripped out in favour of the ghastly modern CD player it's got at the moment. I'm on the look out for a Philips 460 at a sensible price, but the CD player does sound excellent and at least I can play my 80s tunes in it!

 

It drives very nicely with plenty of power. It was running far too rich so dad backed it off and got it running better. It's been converted to a manual choke Weber at some point. The autobox is super smooth, about the only problems with the running are an occasional squeak from the OSF wheel which disappears under braking (sticking caliper perhaps) and a clunking noise when manoeuvring on full lock. It's got power steering, electric windows, central locking, solenoid-operated boot release and sunroof, all of which work perfectly, and headlight wipers, which need looking at along with the single wipe function on the stalk.

 

Have some pictures. The whitewalls will be going, since I can get new Michelins sans whitewalls for cheaper than budgets with whitewalls. The gold lower half has also been added at some point, but all the paintwork seems to have been done professionally. There's no stonechips or OAP touchups. There's the odd car park ding and a scrape and scratch on one of the doors but it's definitely one of the smarter cars I've owned. It was very dirty after being sat since September, but has cleaned up very nicely. I'm chuffed to bits with it!

 

 

 

 

 

When I first got it home, pre-wash:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original dealer plates:

 

 

Loads of fake wood

 

 

[Alexg]

Mate, that is something else! I'd never tire of that red velour either. OOFF!

[Noel Tidybeard]

switch blanks on a zecutive car who'd've thunk it was possible?

[Angrydicky]

switch blanks on a zecutive car who'd've thunk it was possible?

Front fogs (I've already secured a genuine set of NOS Opel ones to go on it), air conditioning and I'm not sure what the other one is for!

[phil_lihp]

That looks absolutely stonking, well bought! Loving the two-tone paint job, is that staying?

[Angrydicky]

Indeed it is! It's a good quality job and I quite like it.

[trigger]

That is my new favorite car, it's such a handsome beast and that interior is divine.

 

Top bombing young Richard!

[Spottedlaurel]

Delightful! Not necessarily the sort of car I’d have associated with you, but great to see it in such capable and caring hands.

 

I presume it has decent front inner wings?

 

Also good to see another maroon W-reg barge on here…….

[egg]

Well done! Fantastic, that interior!

 

I hope to meet it in the not too distant future.

[Junkman]

So tell us, what's it like to have sex in it?

[holbeck]

Nice, that takes me right back to the mid '80's. My employers had a light blue Royale that had once been a directors company car in the pool for a couple of years. I used to love being sent on an errand in it.

[RobT]

Fuck me that's MEGA!

 

When can I come and see it please Dicky?!

[Bren]

Fab - I would have another in a flash.

 

A worthwhile mod is an acro prop between the front suspension turrets.

[johngarty]

Velourtastic. What a superb beast. Stereo needs replacing though, something more retro.

[cort1977]

So tell us, what's it like to have sex in it?

 

That was my first thought too.  

[Royale80]

What can I say?

 

Top car!!! Remember seeing this on retro rides ( I think) a few years ago and then for sale on classiccarsforsale.

 

Best cars around!! (I may be biased)- but in my opinion- streets ahead of contemporary SD1's and Granadas (Ive owned many examples of both).

 

Indeed my brother said today on our way home from work in my A2 Senator "this is the most comfy car Ive been in!"

 

Ive also got a blue Royale coupe which should be back on the road in a couple of weeks.

 

Lots of info available on if you join Autobahnstormers?

 

Top car!!!!!

 

Regards

 

Steve

[trigger]

I notice that Dicky buys this and then gets a girlfriend... Connection? I think so.

[dollywobbler]

WINNING. That's thoroughly marvellous. 

[The Moog]

That is velourious .... Lovely old job

 

You should start lending it to those on the single and sad thread, as with these wheels they will be neither for long

[danthecapriman]

That is stunning. Gorgeous car and the interior is just awesome. Almost looks American!

[Shep Shepherd]

Absolutely superb! I love big RWD Vauxhalls and Opels 

[eddyramrod]

Envious!

[Royale80]

That is velourious .... Lovely old job

 

You should start lending it to those on the single and sad thread, as with these wheels they will be neither for long

 

Here's my interiors

 

Senator

 

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Royale

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Hard to get the Mrs to sit in them-let alone anything else!!!!

[The Moog]

 

 

Here's my interiors

 

Hard to get the Mrs to sit in them-let alone anything else!!!!

Good excuse for a mistress then!

[flat4alfa]

switch blanks on a zecutive car who'd've thunk it was possible?

 

Even in a Bitter SC, some were left blank

[ProgRocker]

Top bombing! 8)

 

My parents had a silver 1979 Royale 2800 reg KEX 460V (without air con) between 1985 and 1986. It have the same overpowering burgandy interior. Unfortunately it cost them a fortune to run (17 mpg plus a new water pump) so it was chopped in for a tappetty Talbot Horizon 1.3 LS.

[flat4alfa]

Front fogs (I've already secured a genuine set of NOS Opel ones to go on it), air conditioning and I'm not sure what the other one is for!

 

Wasn't it:

 

1 - Left heated seat

2 - Right heated seat / Rear wash if Coupe

3 - Front fogs

4 - Rear fogs (standard)

5 - Heated rear window (standard)

 

AFAIK the heated seats were Senator and Monza only, as Royale catalogue didn't offer the option.  Holden VB Commodore is another story altogether

 

I'm proper jealous you have this car as I remember it on PH and thought it a love palace bargain at £1500, although he did have a task selling it, even then

[wuvvum]

Superb.  That interior really is something else!

[fred]

Ohhhhh My ..... Ive just wet myself ..... Im a whore for velour

[D Spares & Tyres]

You might want to Fabsil those seats before the next shitefest....

 

That is a lovely car