Classicscrap Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Hi, my name is Brian, and I just wanted to say hello as I've just joined the club. Over the years I have owned 2 Cavalier Sportshatches (plus 2 bought for spares), a Cavalier Coupe and a Manta 1.8. All of these were when the cars were worth next to nothing and were probably scrapped years ago. In November I saw a Cavalier Sportshatch on Ebay which was almost identical to the one I had when I was 18 (pictured below). I kept looking at it as the auction ran and kept telling myself that I didn't need it / couldn't afford it. In the last five minutes of the auction I faltered and put in a bid at the very last minute. I told myself that, if I was outbid then it was too late to do anything about it. Luckily I won the auction and then worried about how I was going to afford it. I managed to sell my Dolomite Sprint quite quickly and had enough for the Cav plus some left over. The car was in Northern Ireland and the owner arranged transportation, so it was a bit of a gamble, but eventually it turned up a few weeks later. The car is in fantastic condition, with just a little surface rust on the battery tray. Everything else is rust free and the interior condition suggests that the recorded 29,000 miles is genuine. As it has been off the road for 10 years, there were a few minor issues to sort out before it would run right. I have given the car a full service and replaced the leaking heater matrix, and the car passed the MOT first time. I am planning to keep the car completely standard as they seem to be extremely rare now. Brian 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksdevil Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Awesome, and welcome. Looks like a cracker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1900SR Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Welcome to the OMOC, fantastic looking SportsHatch. What part of the country are you in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicscrap Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Thanks both of you. I'm in Aldershot, Hampshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Welcome to the club Brian Great looking Cavvy Sportshatch you have there & as you say they are becoming very rare now, nice to see you are going to keep it standard. I've got a couple of club meets lined up for Chippenham on Sunday 5th June & Castle Combe race circuit on Saturday 25th June, both events are about 75 miles from where you live so if you would like to join us your welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlinetta Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Welcome to the club. Very nice Cav hatch you have found there! I would reckon it's (extra?) rare nowadays on three counts - - Cavalier - Hatch - Low mileage I agree with keeping it original btw, too many 'messed with' over the years imho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne ingham Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Hi and welcome to the club if you have any problems you find the answer on hear as l have lots of times Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 Hi Brian, welcome to our world ! You have found a nice Cav there and being near identical to the one from your youth, looks like you've found the perfect car for you ! ( or has this Cavalier found you? Cavaliers have an un-nerving habit of finding the right owner, The oldest one turning up on Cavalier and Chevette chairmans doorstep before he knew its history, the oldest MK 3 being bought by a friend as a daily driver before knowing its provinence, The MK 3 That found Sutty in Staffordshire, just one reg number different to his old one ) You'll have to join us at our annual rally this summer, 16th & 17th July, Billing Aquadrome near Northampton, anyone with any sort of interest in Vauxhalls / Opels / Bedfords must not miss this event ( the best way to enjoy this weekend is arrive friday morning at the latest, get fully into the spirit and see if you can sober up enough to get home sunday evening ! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicscrap Posted January 30, 2016 Author Share Posted January 30, 2016 Thanks for the welcoming comments. I'll try to come to Billing although probably not for the whole weekend. The last time I went there was about 15 years ago when I had a Victor FD. Will certainly try to get to some of the other shows as well. I know what you mean about a car finding it's owner. I had been mulling over the blue Sportshatch that was for sale for months on Car and Classic. I was almost ready to phone up about it when the advert disappeared, I presume because it was sold. That's when mine was listed. It must have been fate. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plumster Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Top colour, nice looking bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 White Cavalier hatches ? everyones got one ! seriously it would look awesome to have these two parked next to each other at Billing ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Welcome to the club Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Hi Brian. you say you were at Billing in an FD - were you a member of the VX490 club by any chance? i was with a V8 FD and a 73 VX490. BIT LONGER THAN 15 YEARS AGO THOUGH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicscrap Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 Yes I was in the VX490 club. I had a green 1600 fitted with a 2300 engine. Just found a photo and it was in 2002. We also went a couple of years later in my HC Viva. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Oooh! I like the Viva, and welcome I'm a relative newby too and this is a very informative and welcoming place. (Just don't mention the Blue Oval, it causes much hurrumphing and spluttering in the gin and tweeds lounge ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicscrap Posted January 31, 2016 Author Share Posted January 31, 2016 I did restore and modify an Escort Mk2 a few years ago, but I sold that because I preferred the Viva - much more refined. I've just found some photos of my old Manta too, which I sold in 2004. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigJohn Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Now you've gone and done it, hopefully the pics will act as a distraction........ I do concede the GM products are technically superior to Henry's stuff. Back in the day I had a Bedford Beagle (stage 3), a 1256 HC estate, and taught my wife to drive in a Mk1 Cav 1256 2dr, such an easy gearbox, an A bodied Senator (would have another but the Manta came up). When I was a kid my old man had a 3.3 PB Velox, Magnum Coupe, and a FE VX4/90 4spd with o/d, the throw on the gearbox was so long it needed two post codes. I would also have a Mk2 Cav SRI saloon in an instant, shocking in the wet but what a hoot to drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCarlos Posted January 31, 2016 Share Posted January 31, 2016 Hello Brian and welcome to the club :-) you've already bought some parts from me but it's nice to see you on here ! Carl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classicscrap Posted February 1, 2016 Author Share Posted February 1, 2016 Thanks Carl, hopefully I won't need to make a habit of it but you will be the first to call if I need any bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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