For sale is my fathers Vauxhall Astra Bertone Colour Convertible.
Good Bits
Full MOT until June 13th 2012
Only 82,800 miles
Very good, fully operational electric roof
4 x electric windows
Bulletproof X16SE engine. This is the 1.6 8v single overhead camshaft engine which Vauxhall have been using since the year dot and is widely regarded as much more reliable than the later ecotec.
The following has been replaced within the last 200 miles:
Cam belt & tensioners
Water pump
One inlet valve (due to a hairline crack)
Cylinder head / inlet / exhaust gaskets (never overheated)
Oil
Oil filter
Air filter
Spark plugs
Rear brake cylinders
Rear brake pipes
Front shock absorbers
Front suspension top mounts and bearings
Coolant
Both front tyres
Both front drop links
N/S Front wishbone
Bad Bits
As expected with most vauxhalls of this age, the bodywork does have the odd rust scab here and there. The car is still more than presentable (please see photos), but the arches and doors are starting to suffer a little. A full body blow over (basic respray in the same colour) can be arranged separately from this auction if the buyer requires it. Please email me for more details.
The stereo has been removed to go into his new car
No tax (car is declared SORN)
The car was a CAT C write off but is now repaired, certified, VIC checked and road worthy again. Please read the story below.
The Story
My father bought this car around 12 months ago to use as his daily driver.
6 months of that ownership went swimmingly until one snowy December morning when he inadvertently had an argument with a kerb and a patch of ice. He lost.
This resulted in a deflated tyre, bent wishbone and two bent drop links.
As is the way these days, the insurance company decided that this minor damage would cost more to repair than the car was worth so they wrote it off as a CAT C.
Being fairly mechanically sound myself (mechanic for a living!), I set about repairing the accident damage. This is the reason for the new wishbone, drop links and two front tyres (as the tyre on other side was coming towards the end of its life too and I always prefer to replace them in pairs).
Then whilst inspecting the rest of the car, I discovered that the cooling system smelt a little of petrol fumes and was a bit low on coolant.
Not being one to shy away from hard work, I set about stripping the engine down to a bare block and fully rebuilding the cylinder head. I removed all the valves and valve gear, cleaned everything down, faced the head surface (facing is a very mild version of skimming), then rebuilt the head with the newly cleaned valve gear along with a new inlet valve due to one of the old ones having a hairline crack in it.
I then built the engine back up with a new head set, cam belt kit, water pump and service items.
The car then went for MOT at which it failed on rear brake pipes, front shock absorbers and front strut top mounts and bearings.
So I had more work to do! I replaced the front suspension, top mounts and bearings and the rear brake pipes. Then as I attempted to bleed the brakes, the bleed nipple snapped off one of the rear wheel cylinders so I replaced those on both sides too.
So there you have it. A beautiful convertible with a fully documented refresh including a partial engine rebuild and a full MOT. All she needs now is a caring new home as father now has a Vectra estate to cart his bicycle around in.
£950 ono
Good Bits
Full MOT until June 13th 2012
Only 82,800 miles
Very good, fully operational electric roof
4 x electric windows
Bulletproof X16SE engine. This is the 1.6 8v single overhead camshaft engine which Vauxhall have been using since the year dot and is widely regarded as much more reliable than the later ecotec.
The following has been replaced within the last 200 miles:
Cam belt & tensioners
Water pump
One inlet valve (due to a hairline crack)
Cylinder head / inlet / exhaust gaskets (never overheated)
Oil
Oil filter
Air filter
Spark plugs
Rear brake cylinders
Rear brake pipes
Front shock absorbers
Front suspension top mounts and bearings
Coolant
Both front tyres
Both front drop links
N/S Front wishbone
Bad Bits
As expected with most vauxhalls of this age, the bodywork does have the odd rust scab here and there. The car is still more than presentable (please see photos), but the arches and doors are starting to suffer a little. A full body blow over (basic respray in the same colour) can be arranged separately from this auction if the buyer requires it. Please email me for more details.
The stereo has been removed to go into his new car
No tax (car is declared SORN)
The car was a CAT C write off but is now repaired, certified, VIC checked and road worthy again. Please read the story below.
The Story
My father bought this car around 12 months ago to use as his daily driver.
6 months of that ownership went swimmingly until one snowy December morning when he inadvertently had an argument with a kerb and a patch of ice. He lost.
This resulted in a deflated tyre, bent wishbone and two bent drop links.
As is the way these days, the insurance company decided that this minor damage would cost more to repair than the car was worth so they wrote it off as a CAT C.
Being fairly mechanically sound myself (mechanic for a living!), I set about repairing the accident damage. This is the reason for the new wishbone, drop links and two front tyres (as the tyre on other side was coming towards the end of its life too and I always prefer to replace them in pairs).
Then whilst inspecting the rest of the car, I discovered that the cooling system smelt a little of petrol fumes and was a bit low on coolant.
Not being one to shy away from hard work, I set about stripping the engine down to a bare block and fully rebuilding the cylinder head. I removed all the valves and valve gear, cleaned everything down, faced the head surface (facing is a very mild version of skimming), then rebuilt the head with the newly cleaned valve gear along with a new inlet valve due to one of the old ones having a hairline crack in it.
I then built the engine back up with a new head set, cam belt kit, water pump and service items.
The car then went for MOT at which it failed on rear brake pipes, front shock absorbers and front strut top mounts and bearings.
So I had more work to do! I replaced the front suspension, top mounts and bearings and the rear brake pipes. Then as I attempted to bleed the brakes, the bleed nipple snapped off one of the rear wheel cylinders so I replaced those on both sides too.
So there you have it. A beautiful convertible with a fully documented refresh including a partial engine rebuild and a full MOT. All she needs now is a caring new home as father now has a Vectra estate to cart his bicycle around in.
£950 ono
