Any love for Vauxhall Royales on here?

[Spiny Norman]

Hope so, because I've just bought one!

Allegedly in lovely nick, crusty wings & front valance notwithstanding, and with a ton of history from day one.

 

 

Velour-tastic!

 

I had one years ago when they were just another cheapo 10 year old executive barge nobody wanted and I thoroughly enjoyed its waftiness and interior ambience, so when I spotted this beaut on the Bay of E I couldn't resist a cheeky bid.

I'm picking it up tomorrow, just a short burst across the M8 from Edinburgh to Glasgow so I reckon £20 in petrol should do it!

 

My main concern is getting bits for it. I've got a Volvo Amazon which is an absolute doddle for just about every part under the sun, but somehow I'm getting the niggling feeling that this might cause me grief. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions where to try? I'm guessing Vauxhall dealers won't want to know and there seems precious little on Ebay for them. Is Autobahnstormers still on the go? I've had a look at their website, but it doesn't look like it's been updated for a good while.

[brammy777]

Thats well buff! Nice buy.

[Split_Pin]

Lovely purchase - I have a Corgi model of the equivalent Opel Senator.I'll look out for it as I work in Dalry Road in an office and I have a window seat!There are many Vauxhall websites that will be able to point you in the right direction, but I also believe that there are a few GM entuusiasts on here who can help.

[whitevanman]

feckin' sweet Dude

[whitevanman]

I'll look out for it as I work in Dalry Road in an office and I have a window seat!

quote]

 

Edinburgh?

[warren t claim]

That is so cool! I feel one of the ten deadly sins coming on...These beauties were made worldwide so if you don't mind waiting then a plentiful supply of parts is probably available in Australia etc.Top save though, pity it isn't a Viceroy.

[greengartside]

Aha! I did see this on the 'Bay the other night.Glad someone off here bought it. Loving the interior! Keep us posted on how she goes

[Spiny Norman]

Cheers for the comments guys. The plan is that so long as I can keep it running OK I'll be using it as a daily driver, although a tinge of guilt creeps in because these things are meant to be mega-rare now. I'm sure I saw in Practical Classics a while back they said there were only about 40-odd left!

[retro80sboy]

quality purchase!love that 70's interior!!what engines in it?

[wuvvum]

Nice buy. That interior is stunning. Re the rarity thing - don't feel too guilty. There's supposedly only 15 Talbot Alpines left on the road but I've been using mine as a daily for the last few weeks. Admittedly that's probably going to stop now they've started salting the roads - the rear arches are starting to get a little crusty as it is. I think Autobahnstormers is still going in one form or another - a decent contigent of them seems to turn up to the RAF Marham track days.

[retro80sboy]

There's supposedly only 15 Talbot Alpines left on the road

makes you think that.I remember a mate of mine having one about 10 years ago, but must admit thats probably the last one I saw on the roads.

[wuvvum]

And yet weirdly nobody seems to look twice at it. When I had the Princess a few years back, or even the little red Colt last year, I got loads of comments along the lines of "you don't see those any more", but both are far more numerous on the roads than Alpines.

[Wolseley1660man]

Now that looks the business. Good purchase that.

[Guest]

Lovely motor, I admired that on eBay myself. Glad it has ended up on here, seems like a natural home for it.

[greengartside]

There's supposedly only 15 Talbot Alpines left on the road

makes you think that.I remember a mate of mine having one about 10 years ago, but must admit thats probably the last one I saw on the roads.

Really? That's scary. My dad had one - a 1.3 LS in dark frog green with a black vinyl roof - reg was KAK 513W (obvious connotations there) - dad paid little money for it from ECA in Norwich one evening in December 1989. Party pieces were that there was no carpet for some reason so dad being dad made one out of a household carpet offcut - light green swirly stuff to match the car (wrong shade of green, dad) and also whenever it was driven in rain, hitting a puddle would cause the electrics to dim badly then come back again. Will always remember the smell of this car as it smelled like an accident at the Glade factory.

[Spiny Norman]

 

what engines in it?

It's got the 2,800cc straight 6 that started life in the old Opel Commodore. (Remember them? Luvverly old cars!) Royale spec means a frightening old Solex 4 barrel carb complete with autochoke which makes 20mpg cause for a party! Think it's about 140bhp but it's a torquey old lump if I remember right.

I don't feel that guilty about driving it regularly, after all it's not a Bugatti Royale, and if a car doesn't regularly get driven horrible things start going wrong with them.

 

I'm off to bed now. Train to Edinburgh to catch tomorrow morning!

[Pete-M]

I had a green 3.0E Monza. BBU 88T. I liked it.That Royale is rather lush, 70's execubarges always look great in black.

[barrett]

As I may or may not have mentioned about 100 times these are one of my all-time favourites, and I too was drooling over this one on ebay, I'm really glad it's ended up with someone on here. I fantasise about owning a matching pair of saloon and coupe versions some day....Reckon you're gonna want to a sort that front wing out ASAP, it looked very crusty in the pics iirc. Good luck, and keep us updated on the progress!

[babydriver]

Lush that, brings back memories of me mk1 carlton all that mustard interior, when I first test drove it I thought it was orange inside. well done!! Love it.There is a great old vauxhall fan club on net somewhere..............Good luck & happy crusin

[fotorabia]

jeez mate..looks like a Holden Commodore..ace..and so cool in black..i got a lift hitching on Isle of Mull in a white Monza in 1986..luxury!

[VWPowered]

Thats well buff! Nice buy.

+1

 

My mate had a Mk1 Carlton popped in a 2.2 and was running it on menthol

 

proper job save that, proper job

 

[strangehighways]

I love this car. That interior is honestly one of the best I've seen. I am imagining cruising in that. Unbeatable.

[Cavcraft]

Absolutely lovely and the interior is pure class.I'd imagine parts are a bit scarce to be honest so you might need to be creative with wings etc.Occasionally whole cars pop up on eBay and what have you and also imagine a banger racing forum might throw up parts if you're lucky.

[Rocket88]

I've had a Monza, and, apparently, the Holy Grail of Royales, a convertable. This was a factory approved job as well, done by a company in Germany [similar to Bauer]. Apparently they did 4 Monzas, and 2 Royales. Watch the front chassis legs, and turrets! There not quick, but comfy old barges, word of warning, use 20/50 oil, modern stuff causes the oil pressure gauge to drop to zero!

[dollywobbler]

Fantastic. Personally, I think the Opel Monza is the ultimate version of this range, but I think the Royale gets some extra shite points for its blingy nature.That interior is just stunning.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I am 99% certain that that exact one used to belong to Matt Wright in practical classics, it used to be in his 'running report' every month, I think he got rid due to its crippling thirst! Marvellous car though, I would love one of those running on Calor gas.

[retrogeezer]

The Cosford Senator as mentioned in the ebay thread...

 

 

 

 

[r.welfare]

It was Danny Hopkins who ran this car for Prac Classics, not Matt Wright. I reckon it was fairly well-featured during 2001-2002 in the mag. I'm pretty sure he had another one as well that was more rusty and knackered first, then got this from the original owner.Nice old buses, these - I liked my 2.5E Senator. Juicy on fuel though despite the manual box, I used to get about 22mpg out of it driving gently...

[pompei]

I'm guessing that the reg plate will be ironic ...Not seen one for donkeys. One of the bosses had one in silver when I worked at the council. GR9 save!

[Heep]

Oh, that's lovely! Nice buy!I remember reading about Danny Hopkins Royale back in the day when I used to love that mag, and I thoroughly wanted that car back then. Would still love one...