For those interested in old cars.

[RANGERS]

Raby Castle yesterday.and one for Horse. The other classy piece of French sophistication is thoroughly spoken for, but you can admire the car.

That Cavalier GL is fabulous. Always wanted a mk1 GLS saloon but never did find one at the right price, they were fairly rare. It may happen yet, there’s an elderly gent locally who has one he bought new in August 1981, not seen it for a while so it may have gone, but when it turned up at a classic meet two years ago, it had done less than 30,000 miles. He said free bus travel was the best thing that had ever happened to it!

[Southern Steve]

The starter motor was fitted new by the previous owner as he was experiencing the same problem. Clearly it didn't overcome the erratic start, as he would get a non-start once in every four tries, so he then plumbed in an emergency start circuit in the engine bay. I'm only getting a clean start once or twice every 20 spins of the key.

 

Fluid is clean. It's red when I pour it in, but shows up as clear (like water) on the gearbox dipstick.

 

I was told that it might be low fluid levels, but with nearly three litres of Dexron III going in, I suspect I might have overfilled it now. What happens is that the car moves off normally, but when you press on, the engine spins up from 1700 to 2900 revs but the gearbox takes an age to catch up, a bit like a Variomatic with loose bands. It's difficult to detect gear changes now because of it. This only started happening in April - before that, it was perfect.

 

Try a starter relay mod, easy to do on that car.

 

 

The gearbox problem sounds likae a faulty torque convertor to me?

Edited June 19, 2018 by Southern Steve

[Jol Wilkinson]

Try a starter relay mod, easy to do on that car.

 

 

The gearbox problam sounds likae a faulty torqe convertor to me?

 

I had that thought, but as all my experience was based on BW Type 35s a long time ago, wasn't too sure. Stator one way clutch failure would be a possibility, although I think it usually manifested itself from a stationary start.

 

The auto fluid colour is odd. I would expect it to remain the original colour or go brown/black if their is a problem. Clear would tend to denote water, but you would have lost the ATF through a leak if water was getting in to displace it. Is it possible that some fluid is being lost through a breather when hot, but isn't evident as a stationary leak?

[Horsetan]

 

.....The gearbox problem sounds like a faulty torque convertor to me?

I had that thought, but as all my experience was based on BW Type 35s a long time ago, wasn't too sure. Stator one way clutch failure would be a possibility, although I think it usually manifested itself from a stationary start.

 

The auto fluid colour is odd. I would expect it to remain the original colour or go brown/black if their is a problem. Clear would tend to denote water, but you would have lost the ATF through a leak if water was getting in to displace it. Is it possible that some fluid is being lost through a breather when hot, but isn't evident as a stationary leak?

 

If torque convertor is at fault, whole gearbox will have to come out, which means dropping the engine, which means big bill for labour! One thing I did note is that the gearbox performs perfectly..... in reverse; no slipping at all.

 

The fluid changing from red to clear on the dipstick is a mystery - it's definitely not water. I have never been able to pinpoint any visible leak.

 

Waiting for a vacant space at Brodie's is beginning to feel like waiting for the Second Coming.

 

[runs as required]

Here's a rare one for the Citroen Admiirers' club

I barged past one in the same shiny black and matt silver colour in my beaten up Mondeo on the Gateshead bypass today.

I lusted after one when I first saw it announced because, like a Mk ! Land Rover, you could leave bits at home until you were left with a minimalist matchbox to drive

- sort of low cost decapotable.

The stylish looking lady bypassing Gateshead driving it this morning obviously knew she "was worth it".

 

Can anyone name the model (driver or car)?

 

I couldn't at first and had to rummage through this  pair of sites.

"enjoy!"

dh

Ed

I realise I actually found the name with  this set

Edited June 19, 2018 by runs as required

[Wolseley]

The picture of that Cavalier reminds me that my first car was a 1976 Holden Gemini SL, bought new on (if I recall correctly) 15 June 1976 and, unfortunately, stolen on 5 August 1991.  At the time of its disappearance it had done something like 312,000km and, aside from a noisy diff, was still in good condition.  It was the same colour of the Cavalier and had red coach-lining down the side.  I can't find a photo of it, but here's a photo I found on the 'net that illustrates what that model of Gemini was like:

 

Edited June 19, 2018 by Wolseley

[Horsetan]

Her's  a rare one for the Citroen Admiirers' club

citoen decapotable.jpg

I barged past one in the same shiny black and matt silver colour in my beaten up Mondeo on the Gateshead bypass today.

I lusted after one when I first saw it announced because, like a Mk ! Land Rover, you could leave bits at home until you were left with a minimalist matchbox to drive

- sort of low cost decapotable.

The stylish looking lady bypassing Gateshead driving it this morning obviously knew she "was worth it".

 

Can anyone name the model driver (or car)?

 

I couldn't at first and had to rummage through this  pair of sites.

"enjoy!"

dh

Ed

I realise I actually found the name with  this set

 

The C3 Pluriel. Corrosion is a bit of a problem, apparently.....

[Fat Controller]

The picture of that Cavalier reminds me that my first car was a 1976 Holden Gemini SL, bought new on (if I recall correctly) 15 June 1976 and, unfortunately, stolen on 5 August 1991.  At the time of its disappearance it had done something like 312,000km and, aside from a noisy diff, was still in good condition.  It was the same colour of the Cavalier and had red coach-lining down the side.  I can't find a photo of it, but here's a photo I found on the 'net that illustrates what that model of Gemini was like:

 

Looks more like a Viva HC than a Cavalier to me.

[New Haven Neil]

Looks more like a Viva HC than a Cavalier to me.

 

Chevette, isn't it?

[Jol Wilkinson]

Looks more like a Viva HC than a Cavalier to me.

 

More like an Opel Kadett C 4 door. 

 

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

More like an Opel Kadett C 4 door. 

 

 

 

...which is a Chevette…..

[Jol Wilkinson]

...which is a Chevette…..

 

No, it is the other way round. The Kadett was Opel's version of the GM T- car, introduced in August 1973 in a saloon version. The hatchback version was apparently first introduced in 1973 by GM in Brazil. The Vauxhall Chevette was introduced in May 1975, the same year Opel adopted the hatchback styling as the Kadett City.

 

I worked for GM Limited (Opel UK) based in Stag Lane, Hendon from 1971 yo 1981 during which time the the Kadett C was launched. The dealer network was informed at the national launch presentation that Vauxhall would be getting a version of that car. It was not a happy meeting. That was followed by the Cavalier version of the Ascona B in late 1975. GM's policy was that Opel became responsible for European car design and manufacture so that VM's UK factories were effectively divisions of "GM Europe". 

 

Opel sales in the UK were always much less than Vauxhall and in 1980/81 GM decided to drop the Opel brand in the UK and the Vauxhall name everywhere else. The Bedford van/truck brand had already gone years before. 

[keefr2]

...which is a Chevette…..

 

...with a different nose!

[russ p]

...with a different nose!

And an engine which looked very similar but was completely different.

Shame there was no chevette equivalent to the kadatt GT/E coupe

[BernardTPM]

No, it is the other way round. The Kadett was Opel's version of the GM T- car, introduced in August 1973 in a saloon version. The hatchback version was apparently first introduced in 1973 by GM in Brazil. The Vauxhall Chevette was introduced in May 1975, the same year Opel adopted the hatchback styling as the Kadett City.

.

Opel sales in the UK were always much less than Vauxhall and in 1980/81 GM decided to drop the Opel brand in the UK and the Vauxhall name everywhere else. The Bedford van/truck brand had already gone years before. 

The Brazilian Chevette was initially just a 2 door saloon, not a hatchback which was Vauxhall designed which is why the Opel version had the shaped base for a numberplate below the bumper, though on the Opel it was mounted between the rear lights.

 

The Bedford name was discontinued in 1990.

[doilum]

And an engine which looked very similar but was completely different.

Shame there was no chevette equivalent to the kadatt GT/E coupe

Had the chevette the full range of Opel engines, it would have killed escort sales. 57bhp was insufficient.

[Jol Wilkinson]

The Brazilian Chevette was initially just a 2 door saloon, not a hatchback which was Vauxhall designed which is why the Opel version had the shaped base for a numberplate below the bumper, though on the Opel it was mounted between the rear lights.

 

The Bedford name was discontinued in 1990.

 

Thanks Bernard,

 

I had forgotten the CF van and the army vehicles. There was also the Bedford Rascal, which carried that branding until 1990, as you pointed out.

 

My father had a Bedford CA van in the mid 1960's, with a Martin Walters Workbus conversion IIRC. Three speed box with column shift and steering that felt if it was connected through rubber bands.

 

Jol

[SRman]

The GM Opel Kadett, Vauxhall Chevette and Holden Gemini (which itself was actually an Isuzu) were all based on the same pans with local variations to the front styling, interior trim levels and engines/transmissions.

The Vauxhall Cavalier was, I think, based on the GM J-car, which also had Opel and Holden equivalents; in Holden's case it was the ill-fated Camira.

[Owd Bob]

We had a '78 Bedford CF1 Glendale 2000L 4-6 berth coach built camper for a few years, not long after we had finished & restored it to a show winner from a wreck we had to sell it due to the Wifes serious ill health, thankfully now ten years or so on the Wife is a lot better, and we are at it again, but now with no kids to cater for and take along we've down sized to the Bedford Rascal based 'Bambi' 

Classic camper club Rally 2006. Winners group pic'

 

Our 1987 Bedford Rascal 'Bambi' camper restoration, this pic' was taken just yesterday afternoon after finishing the complete cab spray job with six rattle cans from the local DIY shop.

 

 

[PhilJ W]

The Brazilian Chevette was initially just a 2 door saloon, not a hatchback which was Vauxhall designed which is why the Opel version had the shaped base for a numberplate below the bumper, though on the Opel it was mounted between the rear lights.

 

The Bedford name was discontinued in 1990.

I'd love the Chevette pick-up.

[BernardTPM]

From memory I think there were the Rascal, Brava (KB), Midi, Astravan and Astramax that transitioned from Bedford to Vauxhall in 1990. The lorry side (TK, TL, TM) were sold off to AWD in 1987.

Edited June 20, 2018 by BernardTPM

[doilum]

I'd love the Chevette pick-up.

Wayne Cherry did a great convertible prototype show car.

[keefr2]

I'd love the Chevette pick-up.

Looks just like a Mk3 Escort to me....

[Wolseley]

Chevette, isn't it?

 

 

More or less.  I wasn't saying that the Gemini was an Antipodean Cavalier, but rather that it reminded me of my old Gemini. There is a strong family resemblance (nose aside) and, in any case, it was probably the colour (the same as my old car) more than anything else that made me think that.  For Holdens, the closest thing to the Cavalier would probably be an LH Torana (or, for later cars, the Camira).

 

Incidentally, the badges on the original Gemini all said Holden, except the one on the panel between the rear lights, which said HOLDEN - ISUZU.

Edited June 20, 2018 by Wolseley

[New Haven Neil]

I only meant 'Chevette' in a general appearance sense!