Brett and Astrasteve23's 1989 Nova 1.4SR

[Brett]

Steve and I picked this up on Sunday from his brothers garage, its an MOT failure the elderly owner decided not to repair. Its a totally original (bar the wheel trims) example, 2 owners from new - both elderly - and the garage have known it for 15 years or so. 49,000 miles on the clock, unsure whathistory there is - if any though. The interior condition would suggest its genuine, there no wear or damage at all!! its like new. Even all the shields and stuff in the engine bay is there untouched.







Tonight I went to steves to start the tidy up, got the polishing mop out and gave it a good hover out. We are going to sort some bits out with it and are debating wether or not to MOT it or stick it on ebay as neither of us are in need of another car/project! I'd kind of like to have it for the summer though, not had a Nova before! it needs some welding to get through an MOT, and some more to make it solid on the boot floor. Usual Nova places really! The sills and rear arches are totally fresh though!!




We've got a mate whos a very good welder and hes also well into his old Vauxhalls so hes offered to sort out the MOT issues for us. It is actually only welding it needs so thats a real bonus!

[CraigGreen]

Glorious car. Really nice to see an SR with its original identity in tact. Most of them became space ships or GSi replicas. Everything about them is so cool IMO.

Great engines, really free revving.

Also adore the 1.3SR vinyl on the tailgate. Retro 80's styling is so cool.

[Benn]

Thats a very nice loved SR,

[CraigGreen]

I'd love a mint/concourse SR like that. White with the early fr end ideally.

[Benn]

Find one when yours is a driver craig.

Brett want are you gonna be doing with it?

[Brett]

this has the mid-spec front I think, bumper and griller are seperate.

Its got some annoying dents, all little ones that stop it being properly 'mint' on the bodywork but its as near damn perfect as you could hope to get on a car this age which hasnt ever been worked on. It needs welding to the boot floor, chassis legs and a fair bit around the front crossmember. A mate came and looked at it last night and told us £100 to do it all.

got a few options:
clean, ebay it as it is
MOT it then ebay it
MOT it, keep it for a bit of summer fun, maybe try and sell at Billing or on ebay aftrwards.

not 100% sure yet! I really want to have it for a bit, not had a Nova before!

[Brett]

anyone able to confirm if this should have 5 spoke/star style hubcaps originally?

[CraigGreen]

These Brett.



[edit] Heres a nice std looking SR for sale thread showing the hub caps & other nice features. Best colour too IMO.

http://www.pngclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94168

[Brett]

bugger, they will be hard to find

Best see If I cant get some GTE wheels cheap enough!

[SRimon]

Looks great Brett!

[Tom Williams]

Looks good Brett.

If it was me, I would MOT it then sell it. I think there is plenty of need to solid almost untouched Nova shells at the moment and it could be a reasonable profit bucket.

[CraigGreen]

bugger, they will be hard to find

Best see If I cant get some GTE wheels cheap enough!

Think I've got 2 or 3 of the silver ones stashed at someones garage in Glastonbury. Bit of Anthracite paint & some Humbrol Red modelling paint.......

[chip]

Id love a fully restored 1.3 SR as a runabout, as craig says there is just something about them.

PROPER money for vinyl's from vaux though, IIRC mine was about 80 quid just for one door and front wing!

[Brett]

Are the vinyls still available? Most of the Astra ones have gone, you cant get a GTE 16v boot vinyl anymore!!

hopefully its future will be decided soon, I need to get a new metal bar thing that bolts to the back of the front bumper from the scrappy at the weekend for a start.

[CraigGreen]

Agree. The vinyl for the lower doors etc is daft money if you can find it. There was 2 shades aswell, one was bluey shade on later white cars IIRC. The door bump strips are rare too, so the moral of the story is dont peel anything off! LOL

[edit] make sure the bumper iron is from a mk1. Mk2 bumpers iron is different & makes the bumper sit about 2" too high.

[@ndy]

Got a set of 5 3 spokes if you want them Brett, all tyres have tread left and one alloy has been refurbed.

[Brett]

pics and price please Andy, they'd be ideal if we keep it

Criag - cheers for that tip about the bumper bar, it was a Mk2 one I had my eye on but IIRC they have a Mk1 there too

[chip]

A matt grey respray on that section is the cheaper way to have it looking standard.

I got my vinyl from rowcliffes of taunton about 8 years ago, not sure if its still current stock now though.

[g111mds]

excellent. would loved to have bought this. was on the look out for a long time for red 89 SR for my project. Ended up with a really good mk1 base model but would have preferred to have a genuine SR rather than the replica which mine will end up as...

[Brett]

we'll probably sell this as it is for the right money mate

[@ndy]

pics and price please Andy, they'd be ideal if we keep it

Criag - cheers for that tip about the bumper bar, it was a Mk2 one I had my eye on but IIRC they have a Mk1 there too

Will get them done tonight

[Brett]

cheers matey!

[@ndy]

Refurbed one




All are this size




2 mucky ones have been on the front






4 tyres are 175/65/14 and one is 165/65/14.

One of the 175's is borderline but the others have tread left. Centre caps included.

After 60 quid

[CraigGreen]

Wheels look fine, Michelins are OE. £60 is reasonable for a set of them.