1990 Cavalier SRI newbie seeking advice

[tony3251]

Hello everyone,

Firstly thank you for accepting my application to join your forum.

To give a little background as to why I am here. Back in 1990 I purchased, for my Mother, an ex demonstrator White SRI from the Vauxhall Main Dealer in Crowthorne, Berkshire. The car I believe was standard but has a sunroof fitted as an added extra. My Mother absolutely loves the car and she still has it now, some 32 years on. Due to a medical condition she now can no longer drive and we are looking to sell rather than leave it in the garage to rot away. It is a very difficult decision and has a mountain of memories but Mum realises that someone out there will realise it’s potential and keep it on the road, etc.

The car is a one owner with original sales invoice, has the original sales brochure and lots of invoices, details of work and MOT certificates. It is in white, 106,000 evidenced mileage from new, totally original, matching numbers and has the optional sunroof and radio cassette audio. The car is maintained structurally by a Vauxhall qualified panel beater who has replaced panels and repainted over the years. The underside is remarkable and bodily I would say excellent. The car has always been garaged so this obviously has greatly secured its future with remedial work along side to keep in the condition it is.

Sorry but I have not got photos at this point as the loss of her Driving License was last Wednesday and I returned home to Glasgow on the Thursday. I will be able to take extensive library of photographs the next time I am down in Reading in the next 4 weeks.

I am hopeful that your expertise can help me establish if this car is desirable, how to sell it, any suggestions and thoughts. I know you are the right guys to ask as I have a 1971 MGB, sorry to swear, and am active member on the MG forum and without their support, guidance and helpfulness I would be in real trouble.

Please feel free to message me if that is better for anyone and I would be happy to reply very quickly. Again thank you.

Antony

[Robsey]

The earlier SRi's are indeed quite highly sought after.
Especially if it has been well maintained and kept close to the original look.

If you are looking to find a home quickly for the car, then there are a few Cavalier based Facebook groups that have a lot more traffic than our forum does.

The first group to spring to mind is "CavalierCorner".
It is a very popular and busy group.

I hope that helps, regards, Rob.

[tony3251]

Thank you Rob,

Really appreciate your post, very helpful.

Yes the car is totally original and always maintained, serviced and looked after to keep it the best my parents can. It will certainly make a show standard car with not much work and money with the added benefits of a one owner car.

Thank you again, regards Antony

[vexorg]

Always difficult to price an older car like that. The issue I'd have with it, could need work purely through aged components, like fuel lines, brake lines, tired suspension, etc. Not saying it's the case, but often there can be hidden things for cars that look stunning. You cant tell unless you start to look at it in detail.

What kind of price area were you looking at for selling?

[tony3251]

Hi David,

Thank you for your valued observations, you are spot on.

What I can tell you is that it has two specialists looking after the car. One is a Vauxhall trained panel beater who did his apprenticeship with Vauxhall and yearly inspects the car for defects. He replaces whole panels and I am not exaggerating when I say underneath is excellent, no rust what so ever. Bodily, I believe they are prone to rust around wheel arches, sills,Petrol filler area and all these are perfect having been replaced in years gone by. The bodywork is also excellent but not perfect but then it has not been resprayed!

With regard mechanically the car is maintained by a small specialist garage and recently had new clutch kit, water pump, camshaft belt and thermostat. If it needed anything this Specialist will do it as my Father is very good and authorises everything. It is also stringently MOT’d so that my Mother was safe at all times.

I do appreciate that there is always things to do on an older car, also we all have different aspirations as to how we want it and there are areas I would refurbish if I were to keep it. The front seats I would have refurbished, the gear lever and handbrake gaiters need new ones, the passengers side door car the fabric is lifting, the passengers side mirror is slightly damaged on the underside white plastic, the mileometer stopped last Wednesday on way home from town although everything else is working but I have not gone through it so may be other bits and pieces....there alway is!!!

I judge it on my MGB and I have done an awful lot of cosmetic work to get where I want it, I am picky and very fussy.

With regards to price I really do not know, how can I gauge it? I know it is perfect to drive as is and make improvements as you go along or make into a show car. Sorry but hoping you guys can guide me. Regards Antony

[vexorg]

Without seeing it, I'd say £1,500 - £2,000 for a quick sale, or £3000 - £4,000 if you're prepared to wait for the right buyer.

It's a nostalgia thing for most, and the distance will put off a lot of buyers that think birmingham is in the far north.

[tony3251]

Thanks David. I appreciate your thoughts on value. We are not necessarily rushing this as my Mother wants it to go to someone who will look after the car so I suppose that will lean towards a buyer who will be the right one. I think it will appeal to someone who really wants a top example, which can be detailed up to a show standard or a collection of classics or like you say a nostalgic buy. After all it is in a small percentage of time warp cars, one owner, very original and not a rot box....but hey I could and probably be completely wrong! Thanks again, Antony

[tony3251]

Oh the car is in Reading, Berkshire.....not Glasgow...that’s where I live

[Envoy CDX]

Without seeing it, I'd say £1,500 - £2,000 for a quick sale, or £3000 - £4,000 if you're prepared to wait for the right buyer.

It's a nostalgia thing for most, and the distance will put off a lot of buyers that think birmingham is in the far north.

Birmingham - far north?

[vexorg]

It's the impression I get from londoner, kent. essex, or whatever the counties are down that way.

[Joner1983]

Hi Antony, I'd definitely be interested in seeing this with a view to buy (despite already having 3 to my name ) When would I be able to see it? Cheers, Andy

[tony3251]

Hi Andy,

So sorry for very late response but away last week and only back today.

Yes of course you can view the car. I would appreciate someone taking the effort to come and view, be able to take their time inspecting and appreciate the car for what it is. It is important aspect of selling that it goes to someone who will cherish it and not only keep it on the room but improve it....it is really like my Mother’s child.

Again sorry for late response maybe we should have a chat over the phone as I can give you some more detail of the car so you can be sure it may be of interest. I am only too aware that descriptions can be exaggerated and not totally truthful so I will be able to give you my view of what I see. Maybe this is the best way?

Antony

[tony3251]

My contact number is 07889 719836

[Joner1983]

Hi Antony
That's great, I'll give you a call over the weekend if that's ok then we can arrange a good time to take a look. Cheers

[tony3251]

Perfect.

[vexorg]

Thought we were getting pictures of it?

[tony3251]

I am concerned David if you thought this as in my post of 31st Jan I did say that I could take an extensive set of photos when I was down in Reading in the next 4 weeks. As I also posted I live 400 miles away so I have to carefully plan visits as it is a 7 hour journey so not a simple matter of taking some pictures and digitally uploading. I have not said anything about putting up the pictures on here or had anyone ask for pictures and you had not in your post. You gave an indication of values which I was grateful to receive.

I will be making an extensive set of photos for the purpose of selling the car that will be available to any potential buyer so that they can evidence the condition of the car for themselves, to determine if it is of interest or not and therefore everyone’s time is not wasted, I certainly do not want to mislead anyone in this process as this is a genuine car but not a trailer queen but with a little bit of detailing and money could well be not far off.

It will be advertised within the next two months on specialist sites as there is interest locally which I am also dealing with when I am next down and if not sold after these viewings then it will be advertised. Take care, Antony