Courtenay 16V Turbo GTE Nova

[krobinson]

Hi All,

My mrs often says "you can't save them all" when I see a good Nova for sale. So I rarely jump at the chance of buying another these days. But after seeing Mark Watt's old Courtenay turbo nova appear online, in the hands of someone who really didn't look like they cared much, I just had to save it.

I gave him a call, put a deposit down, asked zero questions and booked a flight. I had it in my mind that I would buy it as long as it wasn't rotten...

Well, it wasn't rotten and I now own it!

When I got it, it had bonnet pins, a large bonnet dent, and the front bumper had paint flaking. However all engine bay seams are mint and the car has only done 7k miles since mark sold it in 2003.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/IMG_0293_zpsgb4goxhx.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/IMG_0293_zpsgb4goxhx.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/BF7BCA69-C8BE-40B1-A0D1-AE21790038D9_zpspv72fw3h.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/BF7BCA69-C8BE-40B1-A0D1-AE21790038D9_zpspv72fw3h.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/D8E47211-5448-49FF-913B-A92CBFCA9920_zpssggdxkt3.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/D8E47211-5448-49FF-913B-A92CBFCA9920_zpssggdxkt3.jpg.html)


So far I've sorted:
- New focus RS charge cooler pump
- New rear discs, pads and replaced rear callipers (one was seized)
- Front discs and pads replaced
- Ordered new headlights (hella) and indicators (clear)
- Ordered silver strip for bumper
- Courtenay turbo decal in the post
- Fitted the speedlines from my other turbo (as the originals need repainted)

I pick it up from the bodyshop tomorrow with the bonnet fully repaired, grill painted and bumper stripped bare and painted.

So I'd like to document here the detail of its resurrection.

Cheers

Keith

[-fred-]

Will be some job Keith, u now have two cars I love lol

[M Sutton]

Well done for saving it!! Going by your other Nova I have no doubt this will be a minter ;)

[SRimon]

Heroic

[krobinson]

Don't think I'll sleep tonight, cannot wait to pick it up tomorrow :D

[Jonlem]

Lovely Keith, a proper piece of nova history right there !

[Kev Turbo]

That previous owner needs a slap for fitting those pins!

Great stuff from you as always Keith!

[murph-gsi]

Lovely car Keith, say it will be a top notch motor when all the niggly bits are done.

Kev I think the previous owner was even on about taking out the engine and putting in a Saab engine :eek:

[Southie]

I find it a shame that people who know this car will only recognise it due to a numberplate, a cracking car and well done in reincarnating it again Keith.
Hope you get a new numberplate worthwhile as the current one is shite lol

[krobinson]

Hope you get a new numberplate worthwhile as the current one is shite lol

Lol! Yeah the current plate does nothing for the car. That's the original plate though and it's etched into all the glass.

I have a plate for it, just waiting on the cherished transfer now :-)

[Ian_Gsi16v]

Looking forward to seeing this come back to it's best, was one of the Nova's I drooled over when I got into them in the late 90's.

Well done for saving it :thumb:

[Benn]

When you start working on it at home, i'd be very interested to see how the AFm and piping is done.

Glad you've saved it and started fixing the bits it needed. Another awesome car saved and ready to live on.

[ASH GSI]

Im pleased this has gone to a good home, I met the last owner briefly and was disappointed with his vision for future mods for the car. looking forward to seeing the progress.

[krobinson]

Hi All,

Quick update.
- I've had the bonnet repaired, grill painted along with the bumper
- Fitted new Hella headlights
- Fitted new indicators
- Reinstated the courtenay turbo decal and the 16v on the bumper
- Fitted the plate by Girlfriend Terri-ann bought for me :)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/63B6B8ED-0A04-4BEF-8D18-EEDF47708E1B_zpsvkqf56ob.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/63B6B8ED-0A04-4BEF-8D18-EEDF47708E1B_zpsvkqf56ob.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/5D03653C-D019-4311-9CC6-A41827DC99FC_zpsejnu07lu.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/5D03653C-D019-4311-9CC6-A41827DC99FC_zpsejnu07lu.jpg.html)

[M Sutton]

Looks really good! Like the new number plate too ;)

[torquey]

Love the colour of this. Can't beat a mk1 turbo.

[Spudly]

Looks bloody nice that Keith, spotted a few comments on fb so i knew you had this on the quiet, is it just the light or does the paint on the side appear to be a bit more dull in comparison to the newly refreshed grille and the bumper?

Either way i hope you will be treating us to plenty of pics in here as i for one am glad to see it has resurfaced after so long off the scene, and with so many tales of it having been mistreat or scrapped over the years!

[krobinson]

is it just the light or does the paint on the side appear to be a bit more dull in comparison to the newly refreshed grille and the bumper?

The paint on the car is around 19 years old, so it's not going to shine like new paint (yet! lol)

I've yet to properly clean the car (it's been washed once since I got it), on Saturday I'm spending a full day machining the rest of the paint with my friend (a pro detailer) with the aim of bringing some life into it.

Next winter I'll bare shell it and repaint the full thing.

[Benn]

Looks great with the newly painted bits. Head lights make a difference too.

What's the Nova in the back ground about too?

[krobinson]

Looks great with the newly painted bits. Head lights make a difference too.

What's the Nova in the back ground about too?

It's a spare shell I have :D

[Southie]

Looks miles better already, it will look fantastic with a respray though ;)

[gary_126]

Seems in surprisingly good nick concidering what the previous owners was writing on fb, seemed clueless. Good work tho its looking great! Where you get the time for all these projects, I cant even get round to starting one. Lol

[mac1976]

Gary you just need get your finger out bud . Haha

[NovalutionGSi]

Looking great with the Plate etc.

Have you Spoken to Mark at Courts? ie, is he aware that it is still on the road?

Think your going to have to get a car transporter to get all these Novas to billing in the coming years!

[krobinson]

Seems in surprisingly good nick concidering what the previous owners was writing on fb, seemed clueless. Good work tho its looking great! Where you get the time for all these projects, I cant even get round to starting one. Lol

Yeah it's in very good condition considering its 27 years old and was built 19 years ago into what it is today.

I took off the rear bumper to reveal this: - Delighted

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/6CA15149-33A1-4301-B171-10A31036453E_zpssroz70qx.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/6CA15149-33A1-4301-B171-10A31036453E_zpssroz70qx.jpg.html)

[krobinson]

Have you Spoken to Mark at Courts? ie, is he aware that it is still on the road?

Yeah I phoned Mark and I've sent him photos. He had heard all sorts of rumours that it was rotten/scraped etc, so was glad to hear it wasn't true.

He kindly sorted me out with the courtenay windscreen decal and is sorting some other things for me.

I'm in two minds wether to bring it to billing next year. It's in great condition all things considered but I'd prefer to have the full car painted before showing it.

[krobinson]

GTE decals and silver stripe added. And the final few photos before it gets tucked away.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/A6406549-C263-4E4E-A88F-3B0DB9AD3115_zpsobbg6xw4.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/A6406549-C263-4E4E-A88F-3B0DB9AD3115_zpsobbg6xw4.jpg.html)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/1ACC209B-B77B-480F-810D-C953750F94BD_zpskwyrby68.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/1ACC209B-B77B-480F-810D-C953750F94BD_zpskwyrby68.jpg.html)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/FB80EC5B-0B98-4777-9AF6-509C345C5EB0_zpskxd4dkqo.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/FB80EC5B-0B98-4777-9AF6-509C345C5EB0_zpskxd4dkqo.jpg.html)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/922371B5-FD7C-416A-B174-B5BF2AF175B7_zpsdh1fkawa.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/922371B5-FD7C-416A-B174-B5BF2AF175B7_zpsdh1fkawa.jpg.html)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/82F3C010-99A1-4AE2-A942-7678950F5130_zpsmlpajgio.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/82F3C010-99A1-4AE2-A942-7678950F5130_zpsmlpajgio.jpg.html)



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/7782C52B-3262-4569-9DB6-9EA3C7C38575_zpsmxhmzq0s.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/7782C52B-3262-4569-9DB6-9EA3C7C38575_zpsmxhmzq0s.jpg.html)



Keith

[torquey]

Very nice looks stunning.

[Ian_Gsi16v]

That looks fantastic.

[NovalutionGSi]

is great how the little things just finish off the car. I'd bring it along to billing next year, as you say its in great condition. Might even draw Mark away from playing with his VXRs out on track!

[Benn]

Good job with what you've done.

Why not get Terri to drive this and you drive yours if the rebuild is finished.

[krobinson]

Good job with what you've done.

Why not get Terri to drive this and you drive yours if the rebuild is finished.

That's the plan :-) she's away to work today in it

[Benn]

Love that. perfect car to cruise to work in.

Great plan too, matching his and her's turbos... Perfect.

[Southie]

I wonder how many people wished they'd have bought this now Keith... Looks great, I'm jealous anyway.

[RJM25R]

Glad it's rescued

Sad it's in ireland

Glad it's an enthusiast (well done Keith!)

Sad I won't get to see it

Glad it's been returned to standard

Sad I didn't buy it myself!

[krobinson]

Glad it's rescued

Sad it's in ireland

Glad it's an enthusiast (well done Keith!)

Sad I won't get to see it

Glad it's been returned to standard

Sad I didn't buy it myself!


Cheers. I'll bring it to billing most likely so you can always see it there.

I'm glad I took the risk to buy it, I think many assumed it would be in bad shape.

[dan16v]

Looks great Keith! Love this car what a great find.

[krobinson]

Well thats it tucked away now till the new year. I've bought a load of new parts for it while they are still available which will allow me to bring it up to show standard when I eventually repaint it.

[Slineclean]

Love the work you've done chap and look forward to the other works you will do on the car.

[g111mds]

Fantastic Keith! I thought this one had died along time ago, so it's great to see it in good hands.

[krobinson]

Fantastic Keith! I thought this one had died along time ago, so it's great to see it in good hands.

I assumed it was dead also. Looking forward to getting the front seats restored in January and getting to use it loads in the spring/summer :)

[krobinson]

I've now removed the leather seats and GTE astra steering wheel for refurb.


Leather Doctor in Ballymoney is doing the work, and should have it all back by the end of the month. He will remove the original surface then recolour them and finish with a matt coating which will hopefully have them looking like new again. The rear seats haven't been sat in and are perfect.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/68C54FEB-C561-46E2-A515-6915D4961705_zpsivklss74.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/68C54FEB-C561-46E2-A515-6915D4961705_zpsivklss74.jpg.html)

[krobinson]

Also - got a pair of brand new rear quarter interior panels from Rich. Will get some photos next weekend when I fit them :)

Keith

[Benn]

Leather work sounds good and will be interesting to see.

[Novasport]

Also - got a pair of brand new rear quarter interior panels from Rich. Will get some photos next weekend when I fit them :)

Keith

Glad they arrived safely :).

[krobinson]

Got my seats back from Leather Doctor in Ballymoney - (check him out here - https://www.facebook.com/LeatherDoctorNI )


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/7A501FF5-B3C1-4A17-9E06-3291F9C47EAB_zpsfhhvht3d.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/7A501FF5-B3C1-4A17-9E06-3291F9C47EAB_zpsfhhvht3d.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/91AD8802-A6BB-44DF-BC0D-AF899C32A7C9_zps4koxcgj0.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/91AD8802-A6BB-44DF-BC0D-AF899C32A7C9_zps4koxcgj0.jpg.html)


Had to strip the interior out, including cage:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/C0C89BEC-513C-4958-BEB4-E248EA7E64A6_zpsrf6fh38j.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/C0C89BEC-513C-4958-BEB4-E248EA7E64A6_zpsrf6fh38j.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/B03F9A89-F4B7-4387-AB5D-B83836BF34E9_zpswxmpxml9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/B03F9A89-F4B7-4387-AB5D-B83836BF34E9_zpswxmpxml9.jpg.html)


Pulled miles of old sound system wiring out of it.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/BC3BDF92-677F-4277-9968-567A8BE51639_zpsbaot81my.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/BC3BDF92-677F-4277-9968-567A8BE51639_zpsbaot81my.jpg.html)


Fitted brand new GTE rear quarter cards:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/DDB22088-0A1D-453C-A974-4CE9D32F6B4F_zps010p00je.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/DDB22088-0A1D-453C-A974-4CE9D32F6B4F_zps010p00je.jpg.html)


New Gearstick, gear knob and gear shaft - it's really tightened up the gear change!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/DF735D85-E8BE-430D-8C81-8658F693C569_zpsoq8yacvh.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/DF735D85-E8BE-430D-8C81-8658F693C569_zpsoq8yacvh.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/C164288F-9F41-467A-98A2-1AC1DD62B121_zpskdaaanhz.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/C164288F-9F41-467A-98A2-1AC1DD62B121_zpskdaaanhz.jpg.html)


And all done:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/D4225C17-1471-445B-BD15-41B3AB31EBE9_zpskhkt4xrv.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/D4225C17-1471-445B-BD15-41B3AB31EBE9_zpskhkt4xrv.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/27357FE8-B895-4D1C-B115-7252FE470081_zpstsfdygwc.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/27357FE8-B895-4D1C-B115-7252FE470081_zpstsfdygwc.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/0C0E30FF-E0CA-4F21-81AD-8C2599644EEF_zpszfykx1ll.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/0C0E30FF-E0CA-4F21-81AD-8C2599644EEF_zpszfykx1ll.jpg.html)


That's it for now, Nothing else to do except fit a headunit, drive and enjoy it, and save for a rebuild in the future.


Keith

[Nick J]

Looks fantastic mate! Can't wait to see it in the metal. Time to enjoy for a bit now!

Nick.

[SRimon]

Legend, it's immense

[novasrikev]

what are the electric window switches out of fella

[krobinson]

what are the electric window switches out of fella

Out of an old skool BMW

[Nick J]

Out of an old skool BMW

Looks like E36 switches to me. Sure the ones in my 96 M3 Evo were the same?

Nick.

[krobinson]

Possibly E36 or E30. Was done in early 90's so probably E30

[HAZBO4]

Hi, any chance you would consider selling this ?
thank you

[SRimon]

Hi, any chance you would consider selling this ?
thank you

Join the queue!

[NathanKirkpatrick]

By the time Keith thinks about selling this I'm sure my balls would be touching the ground from old age..

[Southie]

The grey leather looks fantastic, it looks more matt than shiney which looks nicer to me.

[Benn]

I didn't remember it having a purple cage, really like that!

[dan16v]

The grey leather looks fantastic, it looks more matt than shiney which looks nicer to me.

Leather should be matt it's only cheap or worn leather that is shiney.

Looks great Keith, look forward to any updates.

[krobinson]

Leather should be matt it's only cheap or worn leather that is shiney.

Looks great Keith, look forward to any updates.

I had to choose from Shiney, Satin or Matt finish, went with Matt which IMO looks more "new". Love it!


Hi, any chance you would consider selling this ?
thank you

No plans for sale. And if it was the asking price would make your Sphincter twitch.

[Benn]

As Dan said, Leather should always be matt looking.
The shiner the cheaper/dirtier.

[L33 LEG]

Can't believe you've bought this. One of my
all time favourite novas and one that got me into the damn things.

Stunning car, glad it's in safe hands. Shame the reg has changed, is there a reason why the old one was taken off?

[krobinson]

Can't believe you've bought this. One of my
all time favourite novas and one that got me into the damn things.

Stunning car, glad it's in safe hands. Shame the reg has changed, is there a reason why the old one was taken off?

The Reg is Mark Watts personal plate, MAP18W (spelling MARKW). It's on his Astra VXR and was on his VX220 before that.

I got the car on it's original E reg, and bought the A20 TBN for it (A 2.0 Turbo Nova)

[L33 LEG]

Ah never realised it said his name, that's fair enough then although it's a shame because everyone knows the car with that reg but it's still an amazing car to own. Very jealous of it!

[Andy]

Ah never realised it said his name, that's fair enough then although it's a shame because everyone knows the car with that reg but it's still an amazing car to own. Very jealous of it!
Probably cos it looks nothing like "mark" lol
Id have never in a million years guessed it was that.Still will always remember the car by that reg though.Iconic nova.

[krobinson]

Car made 238BHP at Dyno tune today. Thanks to Steven Gault for the power run.

The car was always touted as having 240bhp in all the 90's mags. So glad to see the engine is in great health.

Some photos from yesterday:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/B90E5217-CA9E-43AF-A6D9-2ABF92F29799_zps1wobi27z.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/B90E5217-CA9E-43AF-A6D9-2ABF92F29799_zps1wobi27z.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/44ED9BE4-C746-4204-BBC7-800702C8E1A0_zpsaw2yskmx.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/44ED9BE4-C746-4204-BBC7-800702C8E1A0_zpsaw2yskmx.jpg.html)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/keithrobinson/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/5B5D4483-CF7A-4231-8E43-DA4EE7C73133_zpsixsatzgg.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/keithrobinson/media/Purple%20GTE%20Turbo/5B5D4483-CF7A-4231-8E43-DA4EE7C73133_zpsixsatzgg.jpg.html)

[torquey]

Very nice nova. What spec is the engine?

[Benn]

Good healthy power. Perfect for enjoyment and use.

[krobinson]

Very nice nova. What spec is the engine?

Pretty sure it hasn't changed since here: http://www.courtenaysport.co.uk/courtenay-nova-2-0-16v-turbo/info_41.html