My new Cadillac/Vauxhall shite!

[fiatdaft]

Are you going to add a merkur scorpio to have a pair of home grown all american imports?

[Madman Of The People]

Are you going to add a merkur scorpio to have a pair of home grown all american imports?

 

 

Many years ago, I once owned a Merkur XR4Ti (Ford Sierra XR4i body with a turbocharged 2.3 litre four-pot). I still have some old Polaroid snaps I took of the car which I need to have scanned. Before that, I had a US-built Renault Alliance, the American version of the R9.

 

Maybe my next car will be a Saturn Astra (AKA Belgian-built Opel/Vauxhall Astra) or a Buick Regal (German-made Opel/Vauhall Insignia).

[Rod/b]

Wasn't there some film with Michael Keaton as the manager of a car plant that was building Alliances? Story was something like: productivity was shite so they go the Japs in to teach them how it was done. Anyone remember it?

[Rod/b]

Ha! Here we go: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091159/syn ... de=desktop

 

http://www.imcdb.org/movie.php?id=91159

 

Wrong cars, like. But still.

[Madman Of The People]

Here's an update on my Cadillac Catera, now boasting a Vauxhall grille, UK numberplate (with correct registration letter!) and griffin badge on the rear!

 

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The rear boot trim took a bit more work. I found a spare trim piece (between the tail lamps) at a breakers and modified it. I wanted to keep the original one intact in case I ever want to sell the car and convert it back to a Cadillac.

 

Here's what the original boot lid looked like....

 

 

 

I removed the Cadillac wreath and crest emblem and prised the "CATERA" letters out of their holes and filled them in.

 

 

 

And here's the finished product!

 

 

 

I now have the only Vauxhall Omega in North America! But it's not done yet. AutoShitters, I need your help. I need to locate the "VAUXHALL" and "OMEGA 3.0 V6" badges that go near the bottom of the boot lid.

 

 

 

I'd be willing to pay for new ones from a Vauxhall dealer. Sadly, since I'm 4,000 miles away from the nearest Vauxhall dealer, this is a bit inconvenient for me. eBay is no help, either. If any of you would be willing to pick these up and ship them to me, I'd be indebted to you for the rest of my life! I could even send you some American contraband, if that's what you're in to. Oh, wheel centre caps would be nice, too.

 

If you think you can help, please drop me a line! Thanks.

[Alexg]

Nice one!

 

What's the deal with the front number plate, are you able to bowl about with that on?

[Cavcraft]

If you're not in a desperate rush I reckon I could sort those badges (eBay or a main dealer) and have them sent over to you.

[John F]

Excellent! The Vaux styling is a lot more discreet than that yank stuff. Top effort on the rear panel, too.

[Station]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEG ... 2a15c5c1fc

 

Have to say that Omega front end looks much better. Don't think we got brown spec interior over here either. Has anyone asked you what car it is yet?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Is anyone on the case with sourcing these badges? If not, I will cheerfully get on it though i can only get to the dealers on Friday afternoons.

 

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/0 ... ac-catera/

[Madman Of The People]

Nice one!

 

What's the deal with the front number plate, are you able to bowl about with that on?

 

 

Tennessee doesn't require a front plate so you can put anything you want up there. You'll see quite a few owners of European cars with German or UK plates up front, sometimes displayed incorrectly. For example, I've seen someone with a yellow (rear) UK plate on the front of their Land Rover.

 

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VAUXHALL-OMEGA-B-2-5-V6-EMBLEM-BADGE-O-ONLY-/180753908220?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a15c5c1fc

 

Have to say that Omega front end looks much better. Don't think we got brown spec interior over here either. Has anyone asked you what car it is yet?

 

 

I hadn't seen that one on eBay, but I'd prefer the correct 3.0 V6 badge. No one has asked me about the car yet but I think that's because the Omega's styling is so anonymous that it just blends in with all the Yank and Japanese porridge which blights the roads over here.

 

 

 

 

If you're not in a desperate rush I reckon I could sort those badges (eBay or a main dealer) and have them sent over to you.

 

Is anyone on the case with sourcing these badges? If not, I will cheerfully get on it though i can only get to the dealers on Friday afternoons.

 

 

I'm not in a big hurry. If either of you fine gentlemen happen to be driving past your local Vauxhall dealer and have a few minutes to pop in for some badges and wheel centre caps on my behalf I'd be much appreciative. I can send payment via paypal or if you'd prefer some Yank stuff not available in Blighty I can do that too.

[cort16]

I sent you a pm as there's vauxhall dealer 5 mins from work so I can pop down and order them. Let me know though so we all don't go out and order a set.

[pocket.calculator]

Full marks! The Catera is almost certainly the shitest car ever to wear a Cadillac badge.

[Formula Autos]

Full marks! The Catera is almost certainly the shitest car ever to wear a Cadillac badge.

 

Au contraire - surely that 'honour' goes to the Seville of the late '70s? Also available in diesel flavour, for added grimness.

[Madman Of The People]

Full marks! The Catera is almost certainly the shitest car ever to wear a Cadillac badge.

 

 

Far from it! Most "real" Cadillacs have been shit for the past 30 years or more. The sad truth is the Omega/Catera was the BEST car to wear a Cadillac badge up to that point! For example, a friends 1997 Cadillac Seville SLS has just blown a head gasket, a common (and expensive) failure with the 4.6 litre Northstar V8 engine.

 

 

 

Now that I think about it, THIS was the worst car to wear a Cadillac badge......

 

 

 

 

The Cadillac Cimarron. A thinly disguised 1980s Chevrolet Cavalier costing TWICE THE PRICE of the nearly identical Chevy!!!!

[Ross_K]

I'd be willing to pay for new ones from a Vauxhall dealer. Sadly, since I'm 4,000 miles away from the nearest Vauxhall dealer, this is a bit inconvenient for me. eBay is no help, either. If any of you would be willing to pick these up and ship them to me, I'd be indebted to you for the rest of my life! I could even send you some American contraband, if that's what you're in to. Oh, wheel centre caps would be nice, too.

 

Try these Vauxhall part numbers - your local friendly Caddy dealer should have access to them.

 

5 Nameplate, Vauxhall 90509790

10 Nameplate, Omega 3.0 V6 90509793

 

[cort16]

I've just ordered them from Vauxhall for a wholey unreasonable price.

[Madman Of The People]

I've just ordered them from Vauxhall for a wholey unreasonable price.

 

 

Typical dealer. I should have guessed they wouldn't have had them in stock!

 

How long until they arrive?

 

 

BTW, thanks for getting those sorted for me.

[cort16]

No worries, they should be at the dealer on Monday (28th) so should hopefully get them to you by the end of next week. I pm'd you about delivery details and stuff.

[Madman Of The People]

Better late than never! All the badges are now in place!  It's now officially 100% Vauxhall!  Thanks, "Cort16" for the help sourcing the badges!

 

Behold the world's only US-spec Vauxhall Omega!

 

 

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[Tayne]

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[Ross_K]

Excellent!

[cort16]

Good to see them adhered! Those wheels are way to shiney for anything with a Vauxhall badge though. Get some silver paint and misery them up a bit.

[rml2345]

Superb! Hope someone asks you about it now.

[RichardMoss]

I love my Omega coupe (3.8L):

[chaseracer]

Completely pointless. And, therefore, completely brilliant!

 

Good work, that man!

[Cavcraft]

Excellent work!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

OMG WHAT HAVE U DONE, ALL VAUXHALLS R SHIT!!!! etc

[Cavcraft]

MODS!

[dollywobbler]

Completely pointless. And, therefore, completely brilliant!

 

Good work, that man!

 

That was entirely what I was thinking.