View Full Version : working out the age of a nova?
davie_slim
14-04-11, 02:50 PM
Is there any sure fire way to tell a mk1 and mk2 nova shell other than going by cosmetics? Looking at a e plate nova which should be a mk1 but has mk1 2 front end,bumpers,dash interior but mk1 tailgate,bronze tinted glass, electric front windows but no central locking, also has the clips on the sills for skirts, no rear sound proofing, the front panel has no mounting for the mk1 grill as well and doesn't look as if its been changed lol so was wondering if there's a way of telling when the shell was made?
Thanks
Davie
The chassic number will tell you, what's the letter after the vsx000093 ?
look at spurious bits of plastic, they usually have a date code on them.
is the interior a mk2 or a mk1?
look at the electrical connectors in the engine bay, as an earlier mk1 doesn't have all of the waterproof connectors that the later ones have.
Is there any sure fire way to tell a mk1 and mk2 nova shell other than going by cosmetics?
Are the seatbelts adjustable?:thumb:
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:09 PM
after the vsx000093 its a H
The whole interiors black mk2 stuff
It has solid seatbelts with no adjustment
the gte came out on an e plate, so it is possible for it to have skirt clips.. but it will also have turret plates on the front suspension.
put some pics up on here, we'll soon see what it is.
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:18 PM
I thought gte, but there's no turret plates, would the gte have a slide and tilt sunroof?
Mk 2's started on letter N on the vin iirc
pics of under the head lamps
or how the vin plate is on the slam panel if its an early mk1.
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:24 PM
if the seat belts dont adjust and the other things you have mentioned id say it was a mk1 wouldnt worry about the clips not everyone who fits skirts uses the pikey method of tiger seal my loon has the side skirt clips and no loons ever had them
I thought gte, but there's no turret plates, would the gte have a slide and tilt sunroof?
gte's all had turret plates, and most had slide & tilt, only competition spec ones didn't
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:25 PM
pics of under the head lamps
or how the vin plate is on the slam panel if its an early mk1.
he says its an e plate so the panel is of no use its not an early mk1
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:25 PM
The front panel seems to be mk2 it has no holes for the mk1 front bumper to screw too, just the holes for the mk2 grill to clip into, I looked under the headlights and it looked as if the holes for the mk1 headlight clips went into had been used lol
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:28 PM
the mk1 dosent have the holes for the mk2 grill so if its been mk2'd they may have changed the slam panel
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:29 PM
So gte would have the skirts, sunroof but would have the turret plates, did sporty novas only have sounproofing on the front footwells?
after the vsx000093 its a H
The whole interiors black mk2 stuff
It has solid seatbelts with no adjustment
the chassis letter H means the shell is indeed a 1987 shell.
So mk1 it is
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:31 PM
About the front panel, got another nova here with a replacement front panel just a pattented part but it has holes fot mounting both mk1 and mk2, would a genuine vauxhall replacement only fit one or the other?
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:32 PM
About the front panel, got another nova here with a replacement front panel just a pattented part but it has holes fot mounting both mk1 and mk2, would a genuine vauxhall replacement only fit one or the other?
yes
but if you want to turn it back to mk1 you only need to drill 3 holes
Another thing to check at the rear of the passangers headlight does the panel above it have a rectangle shape hole about 2" x 6 "
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:34 PM
Right so its just a *******ised mk1 with a mix of mk2 parts, its registered as a 1.6sr lol which I'm sure they didn't make, would an sr have turret plates?
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:36 PM
no and its obviously been a gsi rep with the interior engine skirts etc
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:36 PM
Behind the passengerside headlight there's a 5p sized circle hole
lol get pics up, promise not to laugh lol
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:38 PM
Behind the passengerside headlight there's a 5p sized circle hole
if the slam has been changed that would explain it
sounds a straight forward car tbf alot of people used to mk2 mk1s and sounds like the one your looking at has been done well and declaired as the log book proves
davie_slim
14-04-11, 03:47 PM
Its been put together too well lol its had a few of us go round it and doubt it but its likely to have just been an sr that's been gsi'd
I've sent you a message mate,
blue_peg_16v
14-04-11, 03:52 PM
as you can see phils is an e plate sr thats beem mk2'd no strut top plates
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm71/richardmee/scan0007-1.jpg
davie_slim
14-04-11, 04:01 PM
Reply sent basil
replied again, seems to be ok in the end, a mk1 thats been mk2'd with a 1600, sounds fine
davie_slim
14-04-11, 04:19 PM
Ill get a few pictures off it up when I get home, and see if anyone knows it
davie_slim
15-04-11, 12:57 PM
really crap pictures taken on my blackberry :(
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/davie_slim/IMG00065-20110414-1620.jpg
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/davie_slim/IMG00064-20110414-1620.jpg
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/davie_slim/IMG00066-20110414-1637.jpg
http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo32/davie_slim/IMG00068-20110414-1710.jpg
That's a funny looking 1.6 engine lol, and I think I've seen that red one at knockhill
looks not to bad to be honest mate:)
The red one looks like 'that' pickup from PVS?
davie_slim
15-04-11, 02:14 PM
The black one was bought to be at trackcar and I'm guessing the 1.6 has went walkies along time ago, both this and the red and white have been on the track at knockhill
The red and white one is a 3 door hatch not a pickup but I did see the pickup at pvs
red and white one is local to me, seen it plenty of times. i've a feeling ive seen the black car before aswell, where you get it from?
bigsteviesti
15-04-11, 11:46 PM
yes my wee black 1 has noised a few cars at knockhill big thanks to marty and davie and john for all the help. Need to get more/good pics davie...
davie_slim
16-04-11, 02:14 AM
Grooge, marty who owns the red and white ones pretty local to me, its not road legal so I'm guessing you have seen it on his transit or on the trailer?
Bigsteviesti lol its not noisey up as many as martys on the track :p its got me tempted to ditch the corsa in favour of another nova because I loved mines to bits
aye seen it on the trailer/transit and also up next to autovaux in ek.
davie_slim
16-04-11, 08:46 PM
Yeah marty has a garage in eastkilbride just round from autovaux, you may of seen his astra van on the road up to autovaux as well
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