What you’re looking at here is a very significant car. Not just for the fact that it’s a pristine trophy-winner, or that it’s well-known in enthusiast circles as an outstanding example of the breed, or that it’s got a huge history file showing that an incredible amount of care and cash have been spent on it (although it is indeed all of those things) – it’s also an intriguing callback to a bygone age.

1997 may not be all that long ago in the grand scheme of things, but it’s an undeniable fact that the Vauxhall Vectra B used to be everywhere on Britain’s roads, and yet in 2022 you hardly ever see them.

It’s particularly unusual to see one as good as this; indeed, the owner also has an Aston Martin DBS and is amused to note that he gets way, way more interest from passers-by when he’s out in the Vectra. And when you dig through its history, you’ll soon realise just how special a car this is…

This Vectra started life as a 2.5-litre SRi, although it’s fair to say things have changed a bit since 1997. Enthusiast-owned from new, its original owner took the car to the renowned tuner Courtenay Sport (whom, to aficionados of such cars, will require no introduction here) to received a full upgrade to GSi spec – and beyond.

In addition to the Courtenay Sport SuperChip and V6 engine map, the car received Courtenay’s own camshafts, lightweight flywheel and clutch, Bosch 4-bar fuel pressure regulator, 68mm (21.5% increased) throttle body, port-matched and enlarged plenum, and modified airbox.

The Vectra was then further treated to Spax coilover suspension and RND motorsport drop-links to sharpen the turn-in. Externally, the Phase 1 bodykit and alloys were fitted, while inside it was treated to Super Touring-spec Recaro seats and door cards as well as official Irmscher styling additions including gear surround, gear knob and door pins.

Since the current owner bought the car in 2020, he’s taken steps to improve the performance yet further. A bespoke front-to-back stainless steel exhaust including high-flow cats was crafted by BTB Exhausts, and this alone cost around £2000.

Those in the know may recall BTB Exhausts making such a system for the limited-run Vectra ST3000 in period, and the owner managed to convince Joe at BTB to dust off the old blueprints and manufacture a new system to those original specs.

He’s also had a full service carried out, plus new OE front discs and Ferodo pads, new grooved rear discs and Mintex pads, and a full fast-road geometry setup. After all this, the car is running superbly, and there are dyno sheets showing a solid 222bhp. The car has wanted for nothing, and is unquestionably one of the very best Vectras in the country.

There’s a huge history file here, which is both fascinating and reassuring. With modified cars it can sometimes be a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to provenance, but there’s no ambiguity with this Vectra: everything has been carried out by renowned specialists, and it’s all carefully documented.

We find a great many receipts from Courtenay Sport in the file, along with rolling road printouts, and even period photos and timing slips from Santa Pod in the early 2000s. There’s a lot of evidence of the car having been lovingly cherished, with years of club stand passes from Vauxhall shows, and a trophy that the car won in 2015 at Billing for ‘Best Hatch’.

Most recently, we find an invoice from 2021 showing that the front bumper was removed, repaired and refitted as well as the brakes being fully overhauled. The correct V5 is present, and there’s a sheaf of old MOT certificates to verify the mileage.

The superb state of the interior is attributable to three things – the comparatively low mileage, the excellent spec upgrades, and the fact that the car has always been looked after. Everything works, with all of the buttons and switches doing what they ought to and no warning lights illuminated on the dash.

On top of the stock SRi specification, this car has been treated to a host of tasteful upgrades including Super Touring-spec Recaro seats and door cards, Irmscher gear surround, gear knob and door pins, and electric controls for all four windows from the centre console, which is a very handy retrofit.

It also benefits from an upgraded audio setup, Steinmetz pedals and Lockwood dials. The seats are all in excellent condition, aside from a little stitching which has come loose on the rear of the driver’s seat which would be very easy to remedy. The carpets and headlining are all good, and the car has its original factory-fit electric sunroof.
 
Inside the boot it’s all dry and tidy, with the original jack and – impressively – the dealer-supplied first aid kit still in its shrink-wrap. Under the carpet we find no evidence of moisture or corrosion, and the correct spare wheel is in place.

The Vectra really cuts a dash in its Platinum Silver, the look exponentially beefed up by the Phase 1 bodykit and imposing six-spoke alloy wheels. Enthusiasts will be pleased to note the presence of the official Courtenay Sport badges on the rubstrips, a most prized badge-of-honour in period.

The Vectra also wears Steinmetz upper and lower front grilles, a Steinmetz upper rear spoiler, clear side repeaters, a bee-sting aerial, and Team Heko wind deflectors.

The paintwork is in very good condition throughout; there are a few very small stone chips to the nose, but no scratches, scuffs or scrapes to be found, and the car appears to be remarkably solid too – we found no visible evidence of corrosion. It’s extremely unusual to find a Vectra as tidy as this, testament to the manner in which it’s always been looked after.

There’s a little condensation inside one of the headlight units, but aside from this the light lenses are all good, as is the window glass. The cherished registration number is included with the car – enthusiasts will enjoy the MSD reference, a knowing nod to Motorsport Developments whose plaque can be found in the engine bay.

The GSi-spec 17” six-spoke alloys wheels are in gleaming condition with just a couple of very, very minor kerb scuffs, and are shod in Toyo Proxes tyres with plenty of tread.

This is an outstandingly healthy car. The performance upgrades are well proven, having been carried out by specialists not long after the Vectra was new and well looked after ever since.

The dyno sheets show a thoroughly decent 222bhp, an impressive 16% over stock, and there are no histrionics here – it’s not a difficult car to live with; indeed, it drives beautifully and is equally happy to potter as it is to have its performance enjoyed to the full.

The high-torque cams have only had a minor effect on the way the engine idles, so it’s not as if it’ll be constantly cutting out in traffic like you find with some cammed motors. And the real party-piece is that eye-wateringly expensive exhaust, which really does have to be heard to be believed – a beautifully engineered setup, it’s rorty without being raucous; the V6 rumble is unmissable, but never hooligan esque.

The chassis has been very cleverly thought through too. Indeed, on our test drive we didn’t initially realise it was on coilovers as the ride is pleasant and comfy rather than being harsh or crashy; it doesn’t jar over bumps and is happy to go over speedbumps.

But with that fast-road setup, the handling really is superb, and the upgraded brakes provide the confidence to match. It’s a Vectra that’s never wanted for anything, it drives just as well as you’d hope. 

 

The appeal of cars that can be bracketed in the ‘modern classic’ era has being growing hugely of late, and the values of cars like this Vectra are in the ascendent. After all, these were very popular in period, and yet very few have survived – so to find one that still exists in usable form is rare enough, but to come across a Vectra B that would have been considered among the best of the breed back in the day is like hens’ teeth in 2022. 

This Vectra has always enjoyed the best of everything, and that fact shines through in both the performance and the presentation today. Quite simply, you’d have to search very, very hard indeed to find a better one in today’s market.