Model: Vauxhall Chevette
Year: 1981
Mileage: 100,000
Tax: End May 2014
MOT: 13th Dec 2014
Pics: Below
Location: Leamington Spa
Price: £1300 or near offer
Contact details: PM or (0)7515 588753
Kenlow Fan
Electronic ignition
So its time to admit I have too many cars that aren't quite finished so I'm putting the Chevette up for sale. Here's the build thread which covers a few of the things I've done whilst I've owned it - link
So up front there are two main things to know about this one:
It has never been welded and doesn't need any! - I didn't believe it either but it's been rust proofed very very heavily and whilst this means the underside is a bit messy, it is unbelievably solid. There is surface rust, but NO ROT.
The lacquer, and paint, has had it on the roof - The paint on the top side (roof/bonnet/boot) has had it and it is starting to rust because of this. Not too badly, but starting. The paint on the flanks still shines up well, but there are some small patches of surface rust coming through here as well, front valance worst (but still solid).
Detail of paint issues
Roof
Rear screen surround (it's solid don't worry)
Front Valance
For some this is beautiful patina, that gives the car a real character. Personally that's not really my thing, except on pick-ups, so I had planned a full respray, which would make this a very nice car. But as said, too many plans, not enough time sadly. It's a shame because the paint really doesn't do the condition of the rest of the car justice.
So those are the two extreme ends of the car's condition, here's the other Goods and Bads:
The Good:
-In the last year the car has had:
- Full service with fresh oil/fuel/air filters and fresh engine/gearbox/axle oil.
- Full Carb rebuild (seals/jet/needle/diaphragm) - runs well
- Brand new engine mounts
- New lower ball joints
- New discs and pads on the front
- New front drop links
- New manifold (intake/exhaust) and downpipe gaskets
- Exhaust manifold wrapped - this really helps keep the intake temp down which seems to have helped performance a bit. Quieter too.
- Full brake bleed
- New thermostat and fresh coolant
- Chrome tipped tail pipe (cherrybomb, but retained rest of exhaust so its just bit deeper in tone, rather than loud - this was my daily after all
- ~30mm off the ride height, shortened springs, but not too much - you can still get over speed bumps and fill the boot without bottoming out the suspension
- New Battery a couple of months ago
- New front door seals
-It has also got electronic ignition and a Kenlow electric fan, both of which have helped it be very reliable - I used it as a daily from April to Dec with only general maintenance needed.
-Drives very well, with no known issues. Can't see any reason this wouldn't go straight back into daily service and cope well.
-Seats are in very good condition, and I love them, blue tartan is just cool, isn't it?! Dash also good.
-Chrome in very good condition and all the trim is still there
-Nice JBL front speakers, and retro shelf speakers. Sadly the front ones don't exactly look stock, but they sound good. Also has a CB aerial which gives great radio reception (good thing since only a tape player!)
-Comes with a box of spares (forget exactly what's in there - few gaskets, filters, old seat covers etc.) and Haynes manual
The Bad:
- Dampers are getting tired (not leaking). Got a good few thousand miles in them, but a new set would improve the ride a bit. Not too expensive/hard to do
- Rear tyres need replacing soon (I was running a set of MIMs so this wasn't an issue for me, will sell for £200 with very good tyres if you like the look of them, see below)
- Clock on dash doesn't work (was going to pop a small tacho in, which will sell for cost if you want it)
- The paint/surface rust, thought I'd best point that out again!
So that's the basics, it's a totally usable and reliable little retro that's done well by me and I'll miss cruising around in it. Not exactly fast, but not as slow as you'd think, and even manages 35-38mpg.
If you want to know more just drop me a line. It's well worth coming to have a look at, which I'd recommend because of the paint. If the paint was good I'd be listing this at more like £2000, it's that good otherwise.
And as a final piccy, here's how it looks on some 15" MIMs (£200 with the Conti tyres
)
Thanks for looking
Year: 1981
Mileage: 100,000
Tax: End May 2014
MOT: 13th Dec 2014
Pics: Below
Location: Leamington Spa
Price: £1300 or near offer
Contact details: PM or (0)7515 588753
Kenlow Fan
Electronic ignition
So its time to admit I have too many cars that aren't quite finished so I'm putting the Chevette up for sale. Here's the build thread which covers a few of the things I've done whilst I've owned it - link
So up front there are two main things to know about this one:
It has never been welded and doesn't need any! - I didn't believe it either but it's been rust proofed very very heavily and whilst this means the underside is a bit messy, it is unbelievably solid. There is surface rust, but NO ROT.
The lacquer, and paint, has had it on the roof - The paint on the top side (roof/bonnet/boot) has had it and it is starting to rust because of this. Not too badly, but starting. The paint on the flanks still shines up well, but there are some small patches of surface rust coming through here as well, front valance worst (but still solid).
Detail of paint issues
Roof
Rear screen surround (it's solid don't worry)
Front Valance
For some this is beautiful patina, that gives the car a real character. Personally that's not really my thing, except on pick-ups, so I had planned a full respray, which would make this a very nice car. But as said, too many plans, not enough time sadly. It's a shame because the paint really doesn't do the condition of the rest of the car justice.
So those are the two extreme ends of the car's condition, here's the other Goods and Bads:
The Good:
-In the last year the car has had:
- Full service with fresh oil/fuel/air filters and fresh engine/gearbox/axle oil.
- Full Carb rebuild (seals/jet/needle/diaphragm) - runs well
- Brand new engine mounts
- New lower ball joints
- New discs and pads on the front
- New front drop links
- New manifold (intake/exhaust) and downpipe gaskets
- Exhaust manifold wrapped - this really helps keep the intake temp down which seems to have helped performance a bit. Quieter too.
- Full brake bleed
- New thermostat and fresh coolant
- Chrome tipped tail pipe (cherrybomb, but retained rest of exhaust so its just bit deeper in tone, rather than loud - this was my daily after all
- ~30mm off the ride height, shortened springs, but not too much - you can still get over speed bumps and fill the boot without bottoming out the suspension
- New Battery a couple of months ago
- New front door seals
-It has also got electronic ignition and a Kenlow electric fan, both of which have helped it be very reliable - I used it as a daily from April to Dec with only general maintenance needed.
-Drives very well, with no known issues. Can't see any reason this wouldn't go straight back into daily service and cope well.
-Seats are in very good condition, and I love them, blue tartan is just cool, isn't it?! Dash also good.
-Chrome in very good condition and all the trim is still there
-Nice JBL front speakers, and retro shelf speakers. Sadly the front ones don't exactly look stock, but they sound good. Also has a CB aerial which gives great radio reception (good thing since only a tape player!)
-Comes with a box of spares (forget exactly what's in there - few gaskets, filters, old seat covers etc.) and Haynes manual
The Bad:
- Dampers are getting tired (not leaking). Got a good few thousand miles in them, but a new set would improve the ride a bit. Not too expensive/hard to do
- Rear tyres need replacing soon (I was running a set of MIMs so this wasn't an issue for me, will sell for £200 with very good tyres if you like the look of them, see below)
- Clock on dash doesn't work (was going to pop a small tacho in, which will sell for cost if you want it)
- The paint/surface rust, thought I'd best point that out again!
So that's the basics, it's a totally usable and reliable little retro that's done well by me and I'll miss cruising around in it. Not exactly fast, but not as slow as you'd think, and even manages 35-38mpg.
If you want to know more just drop me a line. It's well worth coming to have a look at, which I'd recommend because of the paint. If the paint was good I'd be listing this at more like £2000, it's that good otherwise.
And as a final piccy, here's how it looks on some 15" MIMs (£200 with the Conti tyres
)Thanks for looking
