1986 Vauxhall Carlton CDi, Daily use of a 37yr old car.

[tooSavvy]

My 'Xmas cracker gift' boombox is tonkinn along (c/w disco lights 🤦) 👍

 

[sutty2006]

So long as I can play Spotify through it, that’s all that counts. I’d prefer a darker facia but there weren’t many available 

[Bmwdumptruck]

Well thats half my morning gone…😀

A great read, well done for saving a beautiful car.  Coming from Luton I have a bit of a love hate relationship with Vauxhalls. But this one Is special, my first proper boss bought one new and I remember being rather envious.  We used to do work for one of the three main agents in Luton, Ploughmans in Hitchin Road, long since gone.  The owner and my boss were all Masons allong with quite a few of our other customers.  So we ran Astra and Rascal vans too. 
 I did progress to a 2.0 Cavalier Sports Hatch at the time, my first decent car.  Just wish I had pics of it.  Had to sell it in 87 to help furnish my new flat. 

[sutty2006]

Been using the Carlton as much as possible over the festive period.

 

went to visit Nan Xmas eve at Carmountside Crematorium and my passenger (84) commented on how well the Carlton looked. So I took this picture 

 

 

it has developed a fuel leak. But right now I’m trying my hardest to move back home, so I’ll get to it when I can. 

[grogee]

#sadreact for the fuel leak. Hope it's an easy fix. 

Is that pic going into or coming out of the crem? 

[sutty2006]

On 30/12/2023 at 08:54, grogee said:

#sadreact for the fuel leak. Hope it's an easy fix. 

Is that pic going into or coming out of the crem? 

That’s the only place I could park as it was BUSY as fook Christmas Eve. But it’s pointing out towards Leek road there on the side closest the traffic lights. 

[sutty2006]

Well, I’m bored at work. So a few jobs done today. 
 

fuel leak investigated. Probably the sender unit seal. Nothing dripping now, but I’ve dropped below half a tank now, so I’ve nipped the ring of bolts up. Will keep an eye on that one. 
 

 

I’ve got an issue where the alternator doesn’t always start alternating once the engine is started. A rev sorts that out. I’ve put it down to the fact that the idle control valve is restricted with that 2p. But I’ve also got an issue when I turn the headlights on I get a massive drop in voltage. I’ve cleaned the main engine earth up and replaced the bolt into the chassis. 
 

 

 

 

fault still there. There’s one earth left from alternator to engine block, I’ll do that another day. If that doesn’t cure it, alternator will need replacing or repairing. 
 

[sutty2006]

Also fitted this £12 radio off eBay. It works really well! Wiring it up was simple too. Sounds as good as 1986 speakers can handle. Connected phone up, now playing Def Leppard 👌

 

[Richard_FM]

On 31/12/2023 at 13:03, sutty2006 said:

Also fitted this £12 radio off eBay. It works really well! Wiring it up was simple too. Sounds as good as 1986 speakers can handle. Connected phone up, now playing Def Leppard 👌

 

My Dad's Cavalier CD had the same tape drawers, which ended up being used for my & my sister's taking book tapes.

[sutty2006]

Those of you that know me well, I like period correct dealer number plates. And while this car has period correct plates, the rear is from a Volvo dealer (John Tallis) and the front is plain. 
 

I just happened to go onto eBay last night and have a look in the Vauxhall section of the classic department. To my surprise a 1.3 cavalier currently on bids and the original dealer is Welch Cars of Bristol. Same dealer that this one came from. I messaged the seller, who was happy to take more pictures of the rear number plate. Unfortunately no dealer sticker exists. 
 

now, I have messaged RetroPlates who made me some for my manta a few years back. I potentially have three options. 

1. Stick with red writing?

2. Change to black writing?

3. Have the GM logo coloured like this 

 

what are peoples opinions? The original red ones on the cav look boring. 

[tooSavvy]

#3......

👍🥂

[crad]

number 3

[Wibble]

3

[Shep Shepherd]

Definitely number 3.

[sutty2006]

That’s settled then 👍

[sutty2006]

[sutty2006]

Unsure about the “2” looks different to current number plate. 

[sutty2006]

News just in. Man works fast. 
 

The red one doesn’t look too bad in all honesty! 

 

does the coloured version look too modern? 
 

 

[Marina door handles]

Just to be awkward I prefer the top set with the plainer red decals, rather than the coloured ones.

[sutty2006]

2 minutes ago, Marina door handles said:

Just to be awkward I prefer the top set with the plainer red decals, rather than the coloured ones.

Yeah, that’s where I’m swinging at the moment. Think it suits it better? 

[Westbay]

Prefer the coloured ones ...

[Marina door handles]

1 minute ago, sutty2006 said:

Yeah, that’s where I’m swinging at the moment. Think it suits it better? 

I just don't think a number plate printer outer'er machine would have done multiple colours back in the early Eighties. Printing coloured bits only seemed to come in more recently with the addition of flags and country indetifiers at the start of plates.

[sutty2006]

Just now, Marina door handles said:

I just don't think a number plate printer outer'er machine would have done multiple colours back in the early Eighties. Printing coloured bits only seemed to come in more recently with the addition of flags and country indetifiers at the start of plates.

Well, I know some did locally as I look after an 88 manta that had coloured logos from dealer. 
 

probably an expensive machine! 
 

but like you, I think the red looks more correcter for the year. 

[JakeT]

Red looks good to me. Nick does great work too, I’ve had a few sets from him. Not cheap, but what else can you do?

[sutty2006]

1 hour ago, JakeT said:

Red looks good to me. Nick does great work too, I’ve had a few sets from him. Not cheap, but what else can you do?

£55 a set. Two ways about it, don’t halfrauds charge £18 or something for 1 plate? And they will only do modern font…. Or there’s my work who are happy to run me a plate for free, but again it’s modern font and has our merc logo on it. So yeah, considering it finishes the look, I recon it’s worth it. 

[JakeT]

I think you’re right. Last time someone bummed the plates off of my car and used them to steal petrol, Halfords were expensive and the only place open.

[danthecapriman]

I like the multi coloured set, it does look nice, but I think the single coloured one is probably more period correct.

[Spottedlaurel]

Just had a trawl through my stickers and tags album on Flickr. Assuming these are all original plates, looks like they were doing both options back then, with a third, all-blue alternative a little later just to confuse you even more....

 

 

 

 

If the above are a reliable source then it seems to me that the multi-colour version is good for mid '80s, and they then moved onto single colour.

[sutty2006]

4 hours ago, Spottedlaurel said:

Just had a trawl through my stickers and tags album on Flickr. Assuming these are all original plates, looks like they were doing both options back then, with a third, all-blue alternative a little later just to confuse you even more....

 

 

 

 

If the above are a reliable source then it seems to me that the multi-colour version is good for mid '80s, and they then moved onto single colour.

I went with single red, mainly because of the cavalier on eBay with its original dealer plate on the back. Odds are that’s what it should have. Can’t wait for for them to arrive. 

[sutty2006]

I finally got my tool box into my freshly painted garage. Then washed the Carlton and put her in there. 
 

doesn’t she look cozy in there! 
 

don’t get comfortable. There’s a rusty old manta going in tomorrow.  Shame really lol.