I’m now down to two Turbo 4x4s following my recent decision to sell the 1993 Satin Red ‘minter’ that I’d owned since 2011. Parting with that car leaves me with a ‘92 Spectral Blue example and another Satin Red Turbo that currently wears an M-plate at each end.
The latter of the two remaining Cavaliers was bought with heavy modification in mind. In truth, I was afraid to detract from the ’93 car’s originality by toying with it too much, instead opting to restore and replace its factory equipment with brand new genuine parts wherever possible. Reasoning that an additional Cavalier Turbo would enable me to tune to my heart’s content, I decided to seek out another of these nineties powerhouses of performance.
Already advertised at a low price, the second Satin Red car that would join my MV6 (at what increasingly looks like a Network Q dealership) is certainly not without its faults. A tired interior, a messy engine bay, rear quarter panel scratches, mismatched coil springs and a suspect turbocharger are all features that the seller described as ‘adding character’, although he came unstuck when trying to convince me that there was nothing wrong with the car’s electrics – my Tech 1 diagnostic machine never lies! That’ll be another £500 off the asking price, thanuverymush.
A Cavalier Turbo in need of work was what I was looking for, and that’s exactly what I’ve ended up with. Job done. Well, not quite. A series of vintage alarms appears to have been installed on the car over the years, leaving a mad mix of random wiring and additional dash lights dotted about its cabin. One of these security systems includes external proximity sensors that trigger warning messages from a loudspeaker if an unsuspecting pedestrian (or the car’s new owner!) gets too close. This probably-advanced-for-its-time bit of kit allowed its installer to select any one of a number of languages for the pre-recorded messages, but today we find ourselves stuck in ‘Spanish’ mode. Yes, that’s right – my car screams at me in Spanish if I stand too close to it. Needless to say, one of my first jobs is to rip out the old security gear and fit something sensible in its place!
Plus points include a decat Scorpion exhaust system, a custom headlining, low mileage and a recently rebuilt F28 gearbox. There’s a dash that lights up like a Christmas tree too. Nice.
I’ve started stockpiling under-bonnet equipment already, and one of my first purchases includes a complete set of Roose Motorsport silicone hoses. Finished in bright red and supplied with polished chrome clips, these awesome ancillary, turbo, breather and coolant pipes will enhance the appearance of the car’s engine bay while providing durability and a huge amount of heat resistance over the odd mix of hoses that the silicone parts find themselves replacing. I suppose I’d better get outside and fit ‘em then, eh?!
THANKS
Roose Motorsport
01522 787187
http://www.roosemotorsport.co.uk
