Opel Kadett 400 ?

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16-10-09, 04:03 PM
vaughanmc

Opel Kadett 400 ?

Anybody got any more info on the 2 or 3 Opel Kadett 400's that were made

Basically just a Mk1 Astra and I think they were RWD or 4WD I can't really remember

I think there's only 2 or 3 ever made in the world; MSM593R and Q625 PDS
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../AstraRWD3.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../AstraRWD5.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../AstraRWD4.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../AstraRWD8.jpg
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../AstraRWD9.jpg
Cheers, Vaughan :thumb:
16-10-09, 04:17 PM
tom reid

Competed against Murray Grierson in the late 80's, in a MK2 Escort and Ascona 400, his car was in mint condition and went like **** off a shovel, I have some footage of it on video.
Iirc it ran a Phase 2 engine, 240 bhp, alloy back axle.
16-10-09, 04:19 PM
bmw156

lol in that last pic is the stig driving!
16-10-09, 04:31 PM
mayhem

iirc there is only 1 left, aint got the original engine anymore and the owner is a really weird farm guy...

when you come up his lane he's already in the door waiting with the shotgun sort of speak.

i just cant remember where is is.. in the netherlands or in the uk.

for those interested.. there was also a kadett E 400 (kadett 4S la groupe B)
16-10-09, 04:49 PM
Mike B GTE

pretty much Opel's verios of the Gertrac rwd converted MK3 Escorts!

looks ace!
17-10-09, 08:06 AM
numptysport1

There is one over here,I will try and get a picture for you .
17-10-09, 07:24 PM
mowgli

if the old memory banks are still working, i think some were built for south africa, basically manta400 running gear in a kadett shell.

the mk2 astra 4s was a bit of a non starter.. before group b was canned, there was a load of interest in group S, pretty much steel shelled prototypes, with stock silhouettes. the astra one had tons of power, and they even tried to paris dakar them, but they used ready made rallycross transmissions, and they had ridiculously weak reverse gears & they all failed....
17-10-09, 07:28 PM
SR-Rally

bloke down the road from me has a kadett, hes had it tucked away for years he only showed it me last month. he might be moving in new year and wondered if i was interested as knows i love chevettes etc :P fingers crossed he moves
18-10-09, 05:38 PM
vaughanmc

MSM is one of the handful that was ever made as the Kadett 400 and used to run about local to me - Owned by a guy called Bernie Roonie a number of years ago and I think it's in NI or Ireland now :)

I believe this is MSM - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te78eAxP7nM

Another possibility - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-qsDBpo-tI
18-10-09, 09:54 PM
numptysport1

thats the one , she is in N.Ireland and still in use but the orignal engine is not in it .
19-10-09, 05:59 PM
vaughanmc

Any pictures of how it is now ? Or is it pretty much the same
20-10-09, 03:01 PM
mayhem

i found some info:

there where 4 kadett D400's built..

1 is still racing (must be the 1 stated above)
1 is wrecked at a rally in south africa
1 is lost in a rally and and never found (the used to leave cars in those days.. there's even a guy who found a manta i400 in africa this year and is restoring it at the moment)
and the last 1... is for sale in the UK. no engine, loads of rust, and not worth the money as its been f*cked.
20-10-09, 04:37 PM
vaughanmc

Any pictures of the one forsale in the UK ?
20-10-09, 04:40 PM
vaughanmc

Found a useful link - http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbumBig.js...mId=7867447368
20-10-09, 04:41 PM
mayhem

nope, but there's a guy on the dutch kadett d forum who almost bought it.
i'll ask him for some pics.
20-10-09, 04:48 PM
vaughanmc

Nice one mate, cheers :thumb:

Where were they built ?
20-10-09, 05:04 PM
mowgli

Vaughan. it was simply a manta 400 floorpan with a mk1 astra (kadett) shell grafted on the top. it was done for marketing, I believe.

if you could find a decent enough astra shell, & a manta, it would be quite possible to make a replica
20-10-09, 05:06 PM
vaughanmc

Was just always curious to know a little bit more about them and their history

I always remember my Dad telling me about one that used to run about local (MSM) I believe and he seen it going round a roundabout and onto the bypass at full chat lol Can't beat that
20-10-09, 05:09 PM
mayhem

Quote:

Originally Posted by mowgli

Vaughan. it was simply a manta 400 floorpan with a mk1 astra (kadett) shell grafted on the top. it was done for marketing, I believe.

if you could find a decent enough astra shell, & a manta, it would be quite possible to make a replica

but how far do you want to go with that? as a manta 400 has a different floorpan as a normal manta.
20-10-09, 07:01 PM
craig green

I thought I knew of all the odd GM dealersport type stuff, but ya learn something new everyday!

Cool car aswell.
20-10-09, 07:51 PM
mowgli

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

but how far do you want to go with that? as a manta 400 has a different floorpan as a normal manta.

i'm on about making a rwd mk1 astra. using manta bits would make it look better (wheels etc).. i think the 400 had a 5stud hub based on the bigger cars, like the commodore or monza
22-10-09, 08:52 PM
mayhem

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaughanmc

Nice one mate, cheers :thumb:

Where were they built ?

dont know if many people are interested, but we have a thread on the opel forum about this and the astra mk2 LS4 grouppe S...

some very interesting info..

the where built by matter in germany.

Quote:

Hello,
The RWD KADETT 400 IS FABRICATED BY USING A KADETT D SHELL ON TOP OF A MANTA 400 FLOOR PAN... ALL RUNNING GEAR IS MANTA 400
MY CAR WAS BUILT BY MATTER,GERMANY.
HOPE THIS HELPS,

2e mail:

Hello
As I stated in last email..use a Manta Floorpan complete to include front chassis legs/inner guards..which are adapted as per 400 rallycar for strengthened suspension pickup points etc

James Mc Sherry.

the rotten D kadett 400 is now in the netherlands.

safety devices made a RWD astra mk1, only nobody knows howmany.
1 for sure, but the rumour says 5..

also turned out that there where 5 astra mk2 4's build. 2 practice cars and 3 rally cars.
there was a barn find where some one found loads of bits from john welch car. everything exept the shell. even the original kevlar seat.

if there is any interest i can copy and translate more of the info from the dutch thread.
22-10-09, 10:45 PM
sport

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

also turned out that there where 5 astra mk2 4's build. 2 practice cars and 3 rally cars.
there was a barn find where some one found loads of bits from john welch car. everything exept the shell. even the original kevlar seat.

Theres a build thread on mk2 astra forum about this.
23-10-09, 12:21 AM
vaughanmc

Aye batter the info into here fella, do you have any pictures ? :)
23-10-09, 02:49 PM
mayhem

http://www.opel-forum.nl/viewthread....=112804&page=1

to many pics, i'm a lazy guy lol
23-10-09, 03:52 PM
vaughanmc

Is that the Barn-Find, all of the panels lying on the grass ?

Looks very interesting
23-10-09, 04:07 PM
mayhem

it is. he must be a happy man.

also said in that funny looking language ;).. Opel has a practice 4s E kadett (mk2 astra) and is rebuilding it for the oldtimer grand prix at the ring.
23-10-09, 04:26 PM
vaughanmc

I bet those parts are worth a lot!

Will be nice to see that one as well, is there no-more info on the Mk1 Astra/Kadett 400 ?
23-10-09, 05:17 PM
mayhem

there isnt much known about them.

there where 3 built, 2 left and 1 in pretty good condition (the mc Sherry one)
the other one is somewhere in the netherlands, but thats the only info about that one, no further info about its condition etc.

manta 400 floorpan (although other sources state ascona 400 floorpan).. almost everything exept the body.

i asked some more info about the D 400, if there's any more i'll post it here.
23-10-09, 05:18 PM
vaughanmc

Thanks fella :)
27-04-10, 11:26 PM
s_racer1

Well fella's, MSM is owned by my dad in northern ireland here!
27-04-10, 11:28 PM
Pete

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

iirc there is only 1 left, aint got the original engine anymore and the owner is a really weird farm guy...

when you come up his lane he's already in the door waiting with the shotgun sort of speak.

i just cant remember where is is.. in the netherlands or in the uk.

for those interested.. there was also a kadett E 400 (kadett 4S la groupe B)

lmaoo this post reminds me of second hand lions if anyone has watched it.
2 millionairs. people come to try and sell them stuff and they have the shotgun's waiting for you lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_racer1

Well fella's, MSM is owned by my dad in northern ireland here!

any more pics on it and spec?
28-04-10, 03:16 PM
dj_wudgey

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR-Rally

bloke down the road from me has a kadett, hes had it tucked away for years he only showed it me last month. he might be moving in new year and wondered if i was interested as knows i love chevettes etc :P fingers crossed he moves

I hope for you he doe's for you bud they look awesome!