|
|
Sept 6, 2012 19:20:52 GMT
|
Thought it was about time I introduced myself on here. I'm Rob, I've been a member of the Manta club for several years and I was brought up around Senators, Monzas, Royales and big old Triumph saloons amongst others. I've got several projects on the go at the moment, a '77 Cavalier coupe which I've owned for about 5 years, an '82 Manta SRB coupe, a '79 Rekord saloon which is up for sale, and the most recent one - my Viva. My Dad and his partner went to look at a house they'd seen for sale locally and as they were leaving realised there was a garage beneath the undergrowth. A quick look inside revealed a sorry but solid looking Viva estate. So after a few calls to estate agents and the person selling the house, I was told I could buy it on condition that I got it out of there myself. This looked like a bit of a challenge, as this was what we could see of the garage: I recruited my Dad and my mate Chris from the Manta club, and we got to work. After a couple of hours with a hedge cutter and flattening brambles with my Discovery, we found the front door. This was the first daylight it had seen since December '95. None of the tyres would hold air, and the steering wheel had been snapped off years ago so it was a bit of a faff to get it out, but with a bit of careful dragging and bouncing: The paint's scabby as you'd expect, but apart from a little hole on the NSF wing and a bit of rot on the back of the OS sill, it's virtually mint. 13k miles from new, interior is unmarked now I've got all the broken glass out. It's got 4 nearly new tyres now and I've replaced the column, so it rolls at least. I collected a windscreen from Redditch on my way back from the Gathering a few weeks ago, so that's in and it's getting more weatherproof. The interior's all stripped out and safely stored indoors, just waiting on someone near Exeter to tell me whether or not he's got the rear glass pieces I need then I can get it all back together and concentrate on getting it running.
|
|
'77 Vauxhall Cavalier coupe 1.9 GLS - the long term project '81 Opel Senator 3.0S '81 Opel Senator 3.0CD '82 Opel Manta SRB coupe '90 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi '93 Vauxhall Senator 24V '93 Lancia Thema 16V Turbo '94 Vauxhall Carlton Diamond
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 19:32:27 GMT
|
it don't look so sorry to me, it looks amazing !
what a ballache the glass has been poshed, on an otherwise sound looking car
|
|
Last Edit: Sept 6, 2012 19:33:00 GMT by darrenh
|
|
MK2VR6
Posted a lot
Mk2 Golf GTi 90 Spec
Posts: 3,329
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 19:40:32 GMT
|
Amazing find! Love the way you so nearly missed it, but then came full circle and ended up saving it. I do wonder what it's fate would have been should you not have made the enquiry and the house sold to a developer. Bookmarked; looking forward to seeing it come together
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 20:43:16 GMT
|
darrenh - it's one of those rare cars that actually looked better in the daylight once I got it out of there! Apart from the glass and the steering column there are a few dents in the bodywork that look like vandalism. I think someone tried stealing it years ago when they might have had a chance of driving it out of there.
GSi2000 - I'm still amazed with it myself. To be honest I've never taken too much interest in Vivas before, but the thought of it being dragged out with a chain through the roof and taken straight to the scrapyard would've killed me!
I'll update soon, still on the hunt for a set of locks and keys and a steering column shroud, and probably more bits I haven't noticed yet!
|
|
'77 Vauxhall Cavalier coupe 1.9 GLS - the long term project '81 Opel Senator 3.0S '81 Opel Senator 3.0CD '82 Opel Manta SRB coupe '90 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi '93 Vauxhall Senator 24V '93 Lancia Thema 16V Turbo '94 Vauxhall Carlton Diamond
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 21:08:51 GMT
|
What a great find and story too. Lovely Viva, great to hear the interior is mint now the glass is cleaned out. Hopefully you will restore this seeing as it is such a low mileage and solid base car? Brilliant, keep us posted. That is a superb list of cars you've got too!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 21:17:53 GMT
|
Yep, work's already begun! I don't know whether or not I'll keep it, but I'll certainly save it. I won't be modifying it in any way, but I'll get that bit on the sill sorted out and see if I can get it through an MOT at the very least.
|
|
'77 Vauxhall Cavalier coupe 1.9 GLS - the long term project '81 Opel Senator 3.0S '81 Opel Senator 3.0CD '82 Opel Manta SRB coupe '90 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi '93 Vauxhall Senator 24V '93 Lancia Thema 16V Turbo '94 Vauxhall Carlton Diamond
|
|
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 21:28:18 GMT
|
What a ruddy great find sir...!!! That is going to make one stunning Griffin...
|
|
***GARAGE CURRENTLY EMPTY***
|
|
ShaunOfCalder
Part of things
Yes - I should know better....
Posts: 120
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 21:57:03 GMT
|
Wow! Nice to see another lovely estate on here, apart from the glass, it looks quite complete, a really nice find!!
|
|
Another bloody Mx5 The wifes' Suzuki Grand Vitara Mercedes Sprinter Ambwilans (Rescue Unit)
|
|
Clement
Europe
ambitious but rubbish
Posts: 2,095
|
|
Sept 6, 2012 21:59:16 GMT
|
Congrats! I'd happily roll that daily, lots of style
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 14:40:32 GMT
|
you have saved a classic motor from the almost certain scraping, for that alone you should get a medal. that looks a great project to have on the go too, plenty of photos of its rescue for shows too! i look forward to seeing how this goes, good luck with the glass.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 16:34:37 GMT
|
These are the finds that I dream about - something left for years and uncovered from near-obscurity. Good luck in getting her running. She looks in top shape!
|
|
1995 Mk4 Fiesta 1.25 LX. Rockin' it.
1999 Mk4 'Astrat' 1.6i Club estate - work in progress....
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 16:39:54 GMT
|
just noticed its a 3 door estate. is that itriguing, or normal? you have to tilt the front seats to get passengers into a familly car?
i know the astra estates sometimes came in 3 door fashion, but they tended to be van with windows type thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 17:41:12 GMT
|
just noticed its a 3 door estate. is that itriguing, or normal? you have to tilt the front seats to get passengers into a familly car? I know the astra estates sometimes came in 3 door fashion, but they tended to be van with windows type thing. For a HB/HC viva estate it's normal, they were only ever 3 door!
|
|
|
|
hbpete
Part of things
Posts: 30
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 21:10:10 GMT
|
Thats amazing. Quite a rare car. It also has the rare optional GLS wheels rather than the normal Rostyles. Its also now the 4000 car in the Viva Owners Club register. We would love to see more photos and follow its awakening on www.vauxhallviva.com The forum section. Peter
|
|
|
|
Lopez
East Midlands
Posts: 867
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 22:09:44 GMT
|
Good to see you over here Rob, has your old man still got the Bitter?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 22:27:53 GMT
|
WOOHOO! viva gls estate buddys!
|
|
'72 Opel kadett coupe
'77 Opel kadett city sr
'92 Peugeot 309 Gti Goodwood
'93 Peugeot 205 GL auto
'88 Citroen BX 16v(Breaking)
|
|
|
|
Sept 7, 2012 22:36:00 GMT
|
we also have a windscreen if your interested...
|
|
'72 Opel kadett coupe
'77 Opel kadett city sr
'92 Peugeot 309 Gti Goodwood
'93 Peugeot 205 GL auto
'88 Citroen BX 16v(Breaking)
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks for all the comments everyone!
Pete - I'll be signing up on the Viva club forums soon, I'll be sure to keep you all up to date over there too! I think the wheels are pretty nasty, but I'd never change them as they're original and meant to be with the car.
Lopez - Leon from the OMOC I'm guessing? He sold the Bitter last year sadly, it was just sitting outside with nowhere indoors to keep it, so he decided to let it go to someone who might get around to doing it.
Elliot - I see you were washed out at Billing this year too then! I was over with the Manta club, stayed for the whole weekend. Nice to know there's at least one other like mine about. I've got a windscreen in it, thanks for the offer though. I'm meant to be collecting the rear side windows and a rear screen from someone in Exeter soon with any luck, would it be possible to make a detour into Tiverton and have a look at yours? I think there might be some bits of my dashboard missing, could do with seeing what one of these is meant to look like inside as I've never seen another one.
|
|
'77 Vauxhall Cavalier coupe 1.9 GLS - the long term project '81 Opel Senator 3.0S '81 Opel Senator 3.0CD '82 Opel Manta SRB coupe '90 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi '93 Vauxhall Senator 24V '93 Lancia Thema 16V Turbo '94 Vauxhall Carlton Diamond
|
|
jpsmit
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,268
|
|
|
just noticed its a 3 door estate. is that itriguing, or normal? you have to tilt the front seats to get passengers into a familly car? I know the astra estates sometimes came in 3 door fashion, but they tended to be van with windows type thing. They only came as three doors.
|
|
|
|
mjsrb5
Part of things
Posts: 162
|
|
|
Hello Rob Thats a cracking looking Viva and a brilliant find, I'll be watching this thread with interest.
|
|
'80 - Escort Ghia / '83 - Manta / '99 - RB5 / Bye Bye RS2000
|
|
|