Cresta, an update.

[Dick Longbridge]

Before you sling the steering wheel, may be worth offering it to the masses. Looks like a Mountney - period correct 80’s aftermarket wheel. Would look spot on in a mild custom Mini.

[D Spares & Tyres]

I say fit an injected Senator engine & 4-spd auto

I would prefer a BMW straight 6 diesel along with the gearbox out of an Omega

[richardthestag]

assuming that you even want to change the big vauxhall engine RV8 and ZF4HP22 autopox could be an option.

 

Go for pre serpentine 3.9 and you get dizzy and simple efi

 

fix it with hammers

[danthecapriman]

Keep it in the family and get a Chevy small block in there!

[puddlethumper]

It's got the  filler cap BEHIND THE  NUMBER PLATE ! !

[richardthestag]

It's got the  filler cap BEHIND THE  NUMBER PLATE ! !

 

this just gets more interesting

 

awesome

[JeeExEll]

Keep it in the family and get a Chevy small block in there!

Vauxhall South Africa built some V8s from new alongside the 3.3s.

But for some reason they didn't fit the SBC which GM made millions and millions of, they used the Mopar 318 ! (Y tho?).

[richardthestag]

was sure I had seen it before

 

here it is papped back in August last year, had some trouser stirage at the time, glad it is safe now

 

http://autoshite.com/topic/31013-ebay-tat-volume-3/page-3602?do=findComment&comment=1290522

[The Moog]

 

 

 

Morrisital, I can assure you the steering wheel will be getting fired into the distance. Awful thing!

And I have basked in its magnificence. Dribble dribble !!

 

 

Make sure that steering wheel lands in Accrington then! 

[puddlethumper]

^^ It certainly will do.

[dave j]

I really like the look of this! Will be good to see it on the road, especially if it gets painted.

[puddlethumper]

I would really like to know its history so if anyone finds out anything it would be appreciated.

I'd love to know who did the conversion.

[DodgeRover]

I would really like to know its history so if anyone finds out anything it would be appreciated.

I'd love to know who did the conversion.

Have you tried a post on Rods n Sods?

[puddlethumper]

Reg is KBJ56J.  I could change my name to match the letters and have a personal* plate. Wooo!

[puddlethumper]

I need to get plates made and i'm sure a shiter will let me know what was period at the time.

Can't remember when reflective began.

[eddyramrod]

Reflective began in about 1967, and would either have been pressed ally or an ally plate with raised plastic letters.  Being a luxury car a Cresta would not have worn black plates!  Good luck

[Datsuncog]

Oddly enough, Vauxhall's own press pics show J and even K plate Crestas and Viscounts wearing a mixture of black and reflective plates, so looks like either wouldn't necessarily be incorrect.

[shamelessly nicked from the Vauxpedianet link further upthread.]

[Braddon81]

"Could it be possible that all the estates were welded at the roof like this? Then maybe lead-loaded? Rather than having a full one-piece roof-pressing. I don't know estate production numbers but think a PC estate would have been a low-volume seller. Maybe they just got the grinder out and got on with it? "

 

 

Looking at some of these photos from Washington restorations website of a PC estate, you can see that the back end was very much additional section added on to the back end.

 

 

Even though this apparently started out as a Saloon its back section has obviously been salvaged from a genuine car. Looking at how they have continued the line of the guttering to flow continously front to rear as apposed to it stepping on the genuine estate, plus the pressing line in the van rear panel, it's had some very involved and talented metalwork to get to where it is now.

[Asimo]

This from a past auction catalogue; a Martin Walter estate conversion. Tailgate looks like fibreglass - no surprise as Martin Walter used fibreglass a lot. Could be your tailgate is from one of these?

 

https://www.brightwells.com/classic-motoring/general-information/classic-vintage-past-results/leominster-past-results-27th-september/

[puddlethumper]

This from a past auction catalogue; a Martin Walter estate conversion. Tailgate looks like fibreglass - no surprise as Martin Walter used fibreglass a lot. Could be your tailgate is from one of these?

 

image.jpeg

https://www.brightwells.com/classic-motoring/general-information/classic-vintage-past-results/leominster-past-results-27th-september/

Well found. I was wondering where the plastic back door came from. 

Initial thought was an owner moulded it, but thanks to A/S and Asimo in particular its another school day.

I ham a froma Barthelona, but hi learna.

[mercrocker]

Even though this apparently started out as a Saloon its back section has obviously been salvaged from a genuine car. Looking at how they have continued the line of the guttering to flow continously front to rear as apposed to it stepping on the genuine estate, plus the pressing line in the van rear panel, it's had some very involved and talented metalwork to get to where it is now._20180302_172126.JPG

Exactly what I was thinking....Given how these things can rot I presume the only part remaining of a Martin Walter car has been grafted on here. 

[puddlethumper]

"Could it be possible that all the estates were welded at the roof like this? Then maybe lead-loaded? Rather than having a full one-piece roof-pressing. I don't know estate production numbers but think a PC estate would have been a low-volume seller. Maybe they just got the grinder out and got on with it? "

 

 

Looking at some of these photos from Washington restorations website of a PC estate, you can see that the back end was very much additional section added on to the back end.

 

pc140686.jpg_20180302_170840.JPG

 

Even though this apparently started out as a Saloon its back section has obviously been salvaged from a genuine car. Looking at how they have continued the line of the guttering to flow continously front to rear as apposed to it stepping on the genuine estate, plus the pressing line in the van rear panel, it's had some very involved and talented metalwork to get to where it is now._20180302_172126.JPG

The panels on the side were what intrigued me, as they look as though a lot of work went into forming them.

The roof wouldn't be too difficult to fabricate, but the formed side panels took serious work from someone who knew what they were doing.

Salvaged from a genuine car ? The panels, obviously not. The roof ? Maybe from an Estate ? Dunno.

I can't find the production numbers for Cresta PC's but it was only in the low thousands and it only ran for about 5 years.

I stand to be corrected on any fake news I publish as far as specifics are concerned. Your average get out clause.

Basically my only experience with this, was a Ventora with the same engine. So I'm on a rather nice learning curve.

Any info or opinions will be put forward to the President of the newly formed Cresta van club, who being a benign dictator 

will seriously in-consider them in a typically benign manner.

 

       Yours benignly

 

       The Prezzy

[wuvvum]

I really, really like this.  I reckon at £1600 delivered you've got a proper bargain there.  I would say keep the 3.3 - I had a PB Cresta with that engine and it went like f*ck.

[AlabamaShrimp]

Well mystery back end or not I like it. I like how someone could be arsed to make it and that it's managed to live so long.

 

I'd say stick with the original engine too but I'm not sure about the paint. I like it worn but it would look nice a good colour, as in now another white van.

[puddlethumper]

Wuvvum, I am in agreement about price.

I think its possible, that as it was a traveller site, it put people off. To my advantage, I think.

I lived on a traveller site near Sevenoaks for 3/4 months back in the 80's and settled travellers are not the same as those on the road and there is always a sort of top bloke of the site that you have to chat with  and the boss guy with this wagon was great. No fuckin about.

[DodgeRover]

Looking at it could it have been built for use as a hurst or flower car?

[puddlethumper]

Looking at it could it have been built for use as a hurst or flower car?

I don't reckon, mentions of ex Hotrodder by the seller, and hursts need glass so you can appreciate the wood.

Of the coffin. 

I dunno to be honest.

[panhard65]

I don't reckon, mentions of ex Hotrodder by the seller, and hursts need glass so you can appreciate the wood.

Of the coffin. 

I dunno to be honest.

What's with the "hurst" I had the same thought that it might of been a hearse conversion but most Uk coachbuilders stretch them. They do normally build them on a saloon shell. Might be worth asking the hearse register if they know of any coachbuilders that converted Vauxhalls back in the day.

[DodgeRover]

Sorry about the hurst auto correct* on my phone. I wondered if the back had been metal panelled when it came out of use.

[puddlethumper]

I'm pretty sure this was a saloon because inside there are still the pillars of the back doors

which, I presume, would be panelled to hide them when finished.