The replacement!

[Nick J]

Hi all,

Well as some of you know I put my previous nova up for sale for the want of trying something different. I spoke to a fair few of you at billing and my basic idea was to find a good mk1 shell and go let with it. However after weighing up my options obviously building a good car costs lots of cash and with me and the missus only being in our second year of house ownership Id much rather try to put money into our property rather than spending huge amounts of money on a build.... Anyhow once again for the third year running I came across a cracking car at billing which was just how I would want mine to look if I was to build one. On my return from billing I just thought Id ask the question even though the car wasnt up for sale. One quick pm later and I was shocked to discover it may be available! A few days later my car had sold and I was nova less but it gave me the funds needed to think about buying the one Id enquired about. So this weekend me and the missus took a 4.5 hour journey down to Norwich to view the car in question. To cut to the chase I was happy with what I saw and with a deal agreed we all went off to the pub for a meal and a few drinks. This morning I collected the car and myself and the missus set about our long journey home. This was rather uneventful and the car performed well with no issues whatsoever. So After spending the last few hours cleaning off a huge amount of roadkill on Two cars. Here is the new nova of choice that many of you have been quizzing me over the past few weeks! Some may recognise it others may not......

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/nj_photo/novawip334-1.jpg?t=1251048454

For those who dont already know it is a genuine 88' mustard yellow sr thats covered a genuine 70k which Shaun larnder and Simps converted to a phase two let. Its had a very neat conversion using all the chris astley proper parts and so on. And also has the bonus of the majority of the wiring and vac lines hidden away behind the inner wings and battery tray. Other goodies include four pot reyland front stoppers,full cage inc door bars,cobra buckets,hybrid turbo and front mount Ic,avo coilovers and one of my favourite parts the Quaiffe sccr gearbox! Its a very very clean shell and overall a well spec'd car. Future plans for it for now... unsure but I do have ideas! I want to keep the car in its original mk1 sr guise but get it immaculate in the coming years. Shorty mirrors may make an appearance but Im undecided as yet. Here's a few pics taken by various people at billing this year......

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/nj_photo/2exwzzn.jpg?t=1251049266
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/nj_photo/DSC00913.jpg?t=1251049293
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/nj_photo/DSC00912.jpg?t=1251049315
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k27/nj_photo/VBOAbilling09097.jpg?t=1251049345


Hope you all like! Big thanks to Shaun/Lorna for selling me the car and sorting us with a top meal on saturday eves! Top people.

Shauns full wip can be found here on mig if you'd like any more info.......


http://www.migweb.co.uk/forums/projects-restorations/315241-shaun-larnders-mustard-yellow-nova-sr-let.html

Good times ahead........... Hopefully! :)

Nick.

[Rickardo]

Stunning motor, :thumb:

[Joe Richardson]

Nick i need to come round and look at this:eek:

That looks seriously Nice:cool: we need to get some pics of yours and mine together:d

[vxr_racing_2008]

tweet twooooo you got a nice one there:thumb:

[novaxe235]

very nice, love the mk1 front ends so aggressive.

[sulphur]

Lovely choice for a replacement. This should be nicer than your previous (if that's atall possible) when you crack on with it. :thumb:

What's the let like in comparison to your tuned xe?

[auzzy-b]

Very nice:) looks cool in the colour!

[twistysnovagte]

wow she's a beauty mate,nice to go out and buy a car like that,glad its with a enthusiast ;) :thumb:

[krobinson]

Glad you got it Nick, it's an awesome car and i'm sure you'll have it in stunning condition come billing 2010!

[novalicous]

Looks a top car

good buy

will look even better in your more than capable hands :thumb:

[NOVA-KID-93]

That is stunning, cant wait to see what you have got planned for it, will you be bringing it down to show us all at the NE meet?

[Southie]

What a cracking looking motor. :cool:

A selection of your excellent detailing bits and bobs and this will even better. :)

[Benn]

Knew it, there where only a few it could have been.
Awesome car, should get even better too.. Cage needs to be yellow..

[John]

Wow! This is one of my fave cars ever! (as i think i've told you before Nick) And now it's destined to be the best nova ever Imo!
What's it drive like compared to the old one Nick? And so, what ARE the plans?

[Rickyb]

That is absolutl awsome sir i look forward to seing your own touches.
Rick

[Rich]

Wow! This is one of my fave cars ever! (as i think i've told you before Nick) And now it's destined to be the best nova ever Imo!
What's it drive like compared to the old one Nick? And so, what ARE the plans?

Alot of carbonfibre is my guess lol

Looks very nice, mk1 novas ARE the best :thumb:

[blue_peg_16v]

phils the odd one out now then with no boost

very nice mate

[craig green]

OMG! Thats my new colour plans out the window...

re the Questions.. My guess is it has some torque & it drives nice due to the half sensible ride height.

Nice one mate!

[Martin]

nice one nick.. had no idea it was going to be this one.. i thought you wanted a white one lol

[Nick J]

Wow! This is one of my fave cars ever! (as i think i've told you before Nick) And now it's destined to be the best nova ever Imo!
What's it drive like compared to the old one Nick? And so, what ARE the plans?

Hey guys, thanks for the comments, shaun's done a cracking job with the conversion and it drives lovely in a comparison with my last one! I think thats mainly to do with ride height and the fact of the c20let being much smoother than the old school carbs... Its soo much nicer to drive and feels firmer and a lot more responsive too. I definately wont be dropping it down any further. The power is awesome (feels loads quicker than my old one!) coupled with the sccr box as obviously the revs dont drop as much between changes. When shaun last had it at courtenay it was approx 280 on the rollers and John shield had commented saying it was running spot on. Shaun also said this car was quicker point to point than his 500bhp skyline!! which he also recently sold. This project Im taking a totally different route I think... I want it clean,standard looking and above all driveability is my main objective. Function over form this time! Carbon is a no no for this one! ;)

Benn... Hmmmm undecided on that yet I was thinking dark grey to go with the lower half etc?? time will tell I guess!

Martin... white or mustard!

[Rick Draper]

Very nice Nick, very nice.

[MARTIN KELSON]

Hi mate

Pleaed to see you have a replacement already.
This one no doubt will be as imaculate as the last one.
Look forward to seeing it in the flesh next year.

Martin

[Adam]

Awesome!!!!

I cant wait for you to put your perfection touches onto this car Nick, will be even more stunning than it is atm!!! :cool:

[Edd]

That looks awesome, cage needs to be yellow IMO.

Are you going to be keeping the SR vinyl are bumpers?

[Graeme]

Love this car Nick and can't wait for you to add your touches

[Joe Richardson]

Nick sent you a PM matey:thumb:

[SRimon]

Brilliant Nick.

And i'm sure in time, and in your hands it'll be a show stopper.

[L14MNP]

Amazing Nick! Immense car and fantastic mods! SCCR box, very very nice!

I'm sure you will soon have your stamp on this one and have it even cleaner! Loving that subtle FMIC.

[Matt Pickering]

Love it nick!!!

[Big_Chap]

Martin... white or mustard!

well, I'm glad you went mustard!!! Good choice!

[Martin]

ahh well its Niiiiiiiiiiice... mite sack the biggest athletic dog event of to come to trax to see it now lol

[matthew172]

bloody brilliant mate, will be over soon for a thorough inspection lol

[greg1.4]

stunning!

just how i would like a mk1!

[discoinferno]

Very very nice mate! will look forward to you putting your own touch on things

[The Simps]

Glad you two came to a deal mate although I may be getting dogged for it some point down the line for I'm sure! lol

Ref the cage colour. I always told shaun to keep it red bacause with the inside stripped and being yellow it was a good contrast and also picked out the red stripe in the bumpers and now in the 4 pot fronts. Just my 2p.

Look forward to seeing your progress nick. I'm gonna have to get shaun to buy me some new coilovers and top mounts now :D (They're 300lb springs on the front btw mate and 175lb on the rears I think).

Simps.

[Nick J]

Glad you two came to a deal mate although I may be getting dogged for it some point down the line for I'm sure! lol

Ref the cage colour. I always told shaun to keep it red bacause with the inside stripped and being yellow it was a good contrast and also picked out the red stripe in the bumpers and now in the 4 pot fronts. Just my 2p.

Look forward to seeing your progress nick. I'm gonna have to get shaun to buy me some new coilovers and top mounts now :D (They're 300lb springs on the front btw mate and 175lb on the rears I think).

Simps.

Hey Simon,

I was hoping you'd be around for a chat but Shaun did say you were busy otherwise you'd have popped in. He also said he'd be buying you some new jobbies! lol Im not doing anything rash yet Im just going to see how it goes and how I feel. I dont mind the cage in red either tbh! cheers for the info Im sure I may need your input in the future regarding the car! I felt awful when I drove off as Shaun looked rather gutted tbh. :(

Nick.

[shaun larnder]

Glad that you had a good drive home, just got to find somthing to replace it with now :roll:
Didnt think you could keep it a secret for long lol.

[Nick J]

Glad that you had a good drive home, just got to find somthing to replace it with now :roll:
Didnt think you could keep it a secret for long lol.

I can see the white corsa having an let/xe soon fella!.... lol I coudnt help myself! :)

[DAFTJOHN]

Very nice, looks like an nice one

[MK999]

Cage in dark grey to match vinyl/bumpers would be cool imo :) Awesome looking car though, Mk1 SR is always a top choice!

[shaun larnder]

Thats what everyone keeps saying to me about the white Corsa GSi, thing is they are getting rarer in standard form now, most of them now have XE/LETs in them.

[The Simps]

I felt awful when I drove off as Shaun looked rather gutted tbh. :(

Nick.


I went round tonight and made hima cup of tea and gave him his favourite teddy to cuddle and I think he's gonna pull through lol

The new project we were discussing tonight sounds like the best plan moving forward shaun - I've already typed it into google images to have a look! lol

[shaun larnder]

Hardest thing is trying to find 1, 1s thats have been allready done are quite expensive.
But it would be cool :)

[Riggy]

gorgeous mate , :thumb: what is it with the 80's vauxhall's lol

[The Simps]

Hardest thing is trying to find 1, 1s thats have been allready done are quite expensive.
But it would be cool :)


Fancy taking a holiday?! lol

[dj_wudgey]

i f*cking love this car you sir are a legend!!! lol

mate this is a awesome car every time i see it i ogle it for ages!! do the cage grey like you say mate would look the mutts!!!

but yea get this over to some meets i need some pictures off mine joe's and your sr's together like a happy familly lol

but yea im well impressed its in yorkshire now any way lol

[let_nova]

i f*cking love this car you sir are a ledgend!!!

legend lol loose the D

[andybishop]

Nice one fella, as already said in text message. Awesome car and build! Look forward to seeing it.

[djbrowney]

well well well, the yarmouth sea front eating machine lol lol lol

awsome car nick :thumb:

the sound of that box is nearley as good as sex wee lol

[shaun larnder]

well well well, the yarmouth sea front eating machine lol lol lol


lol Yeah, the Nova WAS so well known around here.

Its going to be in Total Vauxhall in the next few months only had the photo shoot a couple of weeks ago.

[djbrowney]

are the man him self lol lol lol lol

how slow am i lol

bit late to be joining now you have built the car lol

[dj_wudgey]

im going to have to pop through to york now and see joe's and this aswell lol but yea this is one off my favorite nova's this a top quality car!!!

[Joe Richardson]

im going to have to pop through to york now and see joe's and this aswell lol

we will both be at the North East meet mate:thumb:

[dj_wudgey]

ha ha im not coming that lol ill pop through york its closer lol

[hybridturbo]

Great choice Nick :thumb:

[dj_wudgey]

Great choice Nick :thumb:

you know dont you lol

[blue_peg_16v]

Fancy taking a holiday?! lol


im guessing new project now and if its a nova id say spider

[The Simps]

not a nova.

[let_nova]

corsa A lol

[Benn]

Benn... Hmmmm undecided on that yet I was thinking dark grey to go with the lower half etc?? time will tell I guess!


That would look better yes, standard but better is allways a good route to run on...

[ben doodar]

absolutly love this! didnt think you would of replaced your old one so soon, nice change from the red 1. i bet you were equally as gutted when who ever it was drove your red one away tho. nice car now, will be great when youve had your way with it.

[novaload1992]

that car is fantastic!

[Lynsey]

Brilliant :D I love that lil' Nova! Welcome to the mk1 club Nicky boy ;) it's where all the KoolKidz hang out lol

[Cormac]

Very nice choice Nick, Seen this car at PV last year and thought it was stunning, Looking forward to see what you do with it!!

[walker-nova]

looking very well seen this on mig before cant wait to see what ur plans are for this 1

[Cle]

omg i love it !!!!!!!

[SKoob]

lovely car, best colour by far

[dj_wudgey]

Brilliant :D I love that lil' Nova! Welcome to the mk1 club Nicky boy ;) it's where all the KoolKidz hang out lol

i have to agree with lynz all the cool kids in town have mk1's!!! lol

[Dec16v]

Good find Nick.... love this colour, and great spec Turbo too!!!!!!

Personally, I think a sleeper project would be in order. Old school Mk1 bumpers, some discreet 6x13" steels, inconspicuous tailpipe, -15mm drop and some period / retro features (spots, square badges and lots of brown inside!!!!)

What ever you do I know it'll be ace!!!

Dec

[Brodie_Sri]

Very nice nick:thumb:
hopefully i will get to see this in the flesh sometime,

[Plug]

/\ dont think 13" will fit over the reyland calipers and discs

[Matt]

Very nice Nick. Loved the car when I saw it at Billing. It all looked very carefully/ neatly put together so you've got a spot on base to put your own touches on.

Look forward to seeing the progress.

[~~joycey~~]

Thats well nice mate fair play :)

[blue_peg_16v]

Good find Nick.... love this colour, and great spec Turbo too!!!!!!

Personally, I think a sleeper project would be in order. Old school Mk1 bumpers, some discreet 6x13" steels, inconspicuous tailpipe, -15mm drop and some period / retro features (spots, square badges and lots of brown inside!!!!)

What ever you do I know it'll be ace!!!

Dec

nice idea but what breaks would he run under 13s hed be in a hedge the first time he went out in it

[Dec16v]

Re the brakes, pretty sure you can squeeze some baby Wilwood 4-pots under e.g. GrpA 13" RFX's.....

Dec

[adam c]

Really nice car Nick and even though it looks spot on now im sure it will be even better(if thats possible!)soon.I like the fact that it looks standard from the outside and immaculate but that it has also got a very good spec list!

[scott.parker]

Quality purchase mate, dam nice car!

All the best with it.

Scott

[ben doodar]

so then, when do we get a new project thread?

[Nick J]

Cheers for all the comments guys! :)

Ben...... who knows mate! I dont know if it will ever become a full scale project tbh. I like the standard sr look and mechanically its well spec'd, I wont be chasing any more power than it currently has either. I imagine I'll make the bodywork spotless and enjoy driving it.

Nick.

[Martin]

wheel change nick?

[Nick J]

wheel change nick?

Only for Mo's mate if a flat spoke set came along.... would suit the cars guise better maybe?

[John]

hmm, i reckon a set of 15" rfx's would look well too, the 16's look a bit too big with the standard bodywork imho.

[MARTIN KELSON]

I've always fancied a set of Raceline RL7's.
Would look nice on yours mate.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/david.jackson17/images/newwheel.jpg

[MK999]

they are quite positively pornographic... but too modern for the mk1 imo!

[MARTIN KELSON]

they are quite positively pornographic... but too modern for the mk1 imo!

Not made them for years so not a modern wheel.
Would be tempted if a set came up for mine tbh.

[Nick J]

Hi Martin,

I quite liked RL7's hence why I tried them for a year on my last nova, however I think maybe the old school mo's would suit the mk1 better? They go very well on Karl Rowntrees etc. But It would have to be the flat spoke design as Im not a fan of the other type. Time will tell I guess. Im in no rush! :)

Nick.

[MK999]

Not made them for years so not a modern wheel.
Would be tempted if a set came up for mine tbh.

They do have a very modern look to them though, very similar to a lot of 'cutting edge' rays etc

[sr jack]

THAT CAR IS HOT!:eek:

[danzel]

thats a minty pal.

[dave.gsi]

(skips to last page!) ................thats pretty much my perfect car......except the private numberplate, looks a little weird to me, much better on its original plate

[shaun larnder]

Different wheels would be better in one way........you could get rid of the spacers i had to make to fit them over the front 4pot Rayland/APs.
Or just sell the brakes lol (give me a shout if so)...

[The Simps]

I sure Shaun had said to you about our mate who has got A13 VXL which I'm sure he'd maybe do a swap or something. A1.3 VXL would be great for this car.

[dj_wudgey]

Cheers for all the comments guys! :)

Ben...... who knows mate! I dont know if it will ever become a full scale project tbh. I like the standard sr look and mechanically its well spec'd, I wont be chasing any more power than it currently has either. I imagine I'll make the bodywork spotless and enjoy driving it.

Nick.

im liking those plans matey!!! but glad the standard sr looks will be staying!!!

[Jeff16v]

Lovely car Nick, didn't take you longlol