Wahey! The latest full #irmscherMV6 project update has hit newsstands. Check it out in the brand spankin’ new issue of Total Vauxhall. The magazine features some cracking cars and is available to buy from all the usual retailers. You can get the digital version by clicking here:
http://www.totalvauxhall.co.uk/newsstand. You can even have it delivered direct to your door at no extra cost by clicking here:
http://is.gd/YcBaRk. You know what, you might as well subscribe! Click here:
http://is.gd/sLShvy 
Buying components for your project car on a piecemeal basis can make for a surprisingly cost-inefficient build. With that in mind, thoughts turned to getting hold of a suitable donor vehicle as I drew up my wish list of parts for #irmscherMV6.
The good news is that a lot of the features that I want to introduce to the car were available as cost-options back in the day. The bad news is that hardly anyone was interested in equipping their new motorway cruiser with a manual gearbox, limited slip differential, full colour integrated satnav and special edition Recaro sports leather. This makes their appearance in a single car virtually nonexistent (let’s not forget that the majority of Omegas were bought by an older generation of driver that considered the addition of a tow bar to be the cutting edge of modifying). Besides, the optional extras list changed following the introduction of the facelift model. With the odds stacked against me, I logged on to eBay and hoped for the best.
To my surprise, a mini-facelift MV6 appeared in the listings as a breaker. It’s leather looked to be in fantastic condition and I asked the seller for some detailed pictures of the bolsters to ensure that they were free of wear. The seats were still in-situ, and I couldn’t believe my luck when the requested photos revealed a manual gearstick in the cockpit. I immediately made an offer for the interior and transmission, but the owner wasn’t interested in getting his hands dirty and said that I could take the entire car at no extra cost. I was bowled over, especially as the Star Silver saviour had plenty of tax and test, a detailed history and a low mileage X30XE up-front. He even drove it down to my house for the cost of his train fare home!
I was even more surprised when the new arrival turned up on a set of Keskin staggered rims. The seller apologised for the "terrible" wheels, although he probably won’t want to hear that I’ve sold them to a keen VW Golf pilot for more than I paid for the entire car. That Kamei grille and the rare Irmscher rear spoiler went for a pretty penny too...
The silver car’s engine isn’t of much use to me as I plan to stick with the 3.2-litre drive-by-wire version of the six-cylinder lump. I did consider a complete rebuild of the poorly unit that sits under the bonnet of #irmscherMV6, but long term plans involve an entirely different powerplant and I don’t want to invest too much time in what is intended to be a temporary solution. Fortunately, another breaker registered its availability in the form of a low mileage facelift Omega Elite estate. I’ve since bought its engine, which I plan to treat to a light rebuild before bolting it into place alongside the early MV6’s manual gearbox.
Hopefully, there will be some significant progress to report in my next update. In the meantime, the leather has been extracted from the donor and is ready for its new home, and I’ve picked up a new GM battery. Who knows, I might even get around to washing the car at long last!
#irmscherMV6 looking its absolute worst. I think the phrase is 'rags to riches'
Donor mini-facelift MV6. Questionable styling updates aside, it's a solid motor. A shame to break it really, but needs must:
I bought the car for its manual transmission and leather, but I'm sure I'll be robbing lots of incidental trim off of it along the way:
Recaros out. They're in ace condition, but could do with a clean and some fresh colour. That 'spot' in the middle is where the rear armrest had been left down for a while. Nothing to worry about, just needs a wipe clean.
