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.








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

[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

[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

[krobinson]

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

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 :-)