{"id":3298,"date":"2019-10-03T07:50:26","date_gmt":"2019-10-03T07:50:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.co.uk\/magazine\/?p=3298"},"modified":"2024-09-12T10:23:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-12T09:23:35","slug":"1976-opel-ascona-project-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carandclassic.com\/magazine\/1976-opel-ascona-project-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"1976 Opel Ascona – Project Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 1980s saw some great competition cars, especially in the world of rallying. For many, the Ford Escorts, the Vauxhall Chevettes and the Fiats were the bread and butter cars of the sport. Though there was one other, a traditional three-box saloon, that caught our eye back on the grassy banks of damp rally stages – the Opel Ascona<\/a> 400.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"project<\/span><\/p>\n

It was a formidable machine. Built for homologation purposes so that the Ascona could compete in the Group 4 category, it featured flared arches, seep spoilers and a rear wing all from Irmscher. Under the bonnet, complications based around the 2.0 donor engine being too weak led to the 400 ending up with a mighty 2.4 four-cylinder engine with a 16-valve cylinder head developed by Brit speed merchants, Cosworth. It was a properly serious bit of kit, and one that none other than Walter R\u00f6hrl shunted to victory in the 1982 WRC season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what\u2019s all that got to do with this humble Ascona? Well, look at it. It\u2019s an early two-door car. If that\u2019s not the perfect basis for a 400 recreation, we don\u2019t know what is?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is it?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s a fairly hum-drum 1,600cc left-hand drive 1976 Ascona<\/a>. When not in full rally trim the Ascona wasn\u2019t a bad car, but crucially it wasn\u2019t anything remarkable, which is why you shouldn\u2019t feel guilty about chopping this one into a 400. The vendor states that it is a recent import, but has since been registered for UK roads including a fresh bill of health care of MOT.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"project<\/a><\/p>\n

It seems to have been loved in the past. It\u2019s had a respray in a non-standard metallic red, the interior has been retrimmed (albeit in the dark), the vendor states that some structural repairs have been made to the hunderside, and on the whole it\u2019s a nice, presentable car. We\u2019re told the 1,600 engine is on the button and the four-speed manual transmission is in good health. In reality, you could buy this car and just use it as is. But where\u2019s the fun in that?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it a project?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

As we said, the Ascona was not a thrilling car in standard guise, so you owe it to this little car to make it a project and build it into the rally car it secretly wishes it always was. This is a good base from which to start. Yes, you might find a rougher car, but really, do you want to spend shed-loads of money and time fixing up a rotten car? If you buy this one, you\u2019re there at the starting block, you don\u2019t have a load of work to do before you even start its rally car journey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Five things to look for:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1) The body<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, you\u2019re going to strip it all back, but as we said earlier, you don\u2019t want to be doing a load of pre-work if you can help it. So check the chassis thoroughly, the inner wings, the suspension mounting points and the floors especially. Prepare yourself for any work you might need to do.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2) The paperwork<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

As we always say with an imported car, check the paperwork. Nine times out of ten there is nothing to worry about at all. But you\u2019re going to be pumping a lot of time, money and effort into this Ascona. The last thing you want is any legal dispute when it\u2019s done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3) The important trim<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Rally cars use a lot of original trim, so don\u2019t just dismiss everything in the car. You want the dash to be in good condition, the glass and the rubbers need to be reusable, the dash instruments need to function. Broken or missing bits will add to the cost of your build.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"project<\/a><\/p>\n

4) The parts you\u2019ll sell<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

You\u2019re not going to use that 1,600 engine and four-speed transmission, but someone else might, so check for leaks, knocks and rattles. Drive the car and satisfy yourself that the suspension is decent. What about the door cards and the head-lining? These are all the parts you can sell to help put money back into the build.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5) The YouTube videos<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Get on YouTube, type in \u2018Ascona 400\u2019 and fill your boots. Projects need a steady flow of motivation, and in the case of the 400, the internet is awash with suitable media. See that Ascona 400 flying through the forest stages? That\u2019s going to be you, that is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What should you do with it?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"project<\/a><\/p>\n

Erm, we\u2019ve pretty much covered that. Build a 400 replica. But as this is never going to be a real 400, you have the creative licence to do things differently. You could fit a more modern engine, maybe something turbocharged? What about a sequential transmission? Go all out and build a five-link rear end into it. Fit modern, high performance brakes, modern buckets and harnesses, electronic engine management, just go for it. Build it into a cutting-edge Ascona 400, show the crowds what this humble little car is really capable of. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 1980s saw some great competition cars, especially in the world of rallying. For many, the Ford Escorts, the Vauxhall Chevettes and the Fiats were the bread and butter cars…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":3269,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[322],"tags":[1009,1010,15,12,11,666,14,1008,1006,325,710,205,16,1007],"yoast_head":"\n1976 Opel Ascona - Project Profile - Car & Classic Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This 1976 Opel Ascona is pretty much ready to go. 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