Highlights
- Fewer than 20 left on the road
- One owner from new
- MOT to May 2023
- Always garaged
- Genuine low mileage of 79,849 miles
The Appeal
Sold in the United Kingdom from 1983 to 1993, the Nova replaced the ageing Chevette and was renowned as a perky, cheerful little hatchback that gave many drivers their first taste of the open road. All Novas (and their European equivalent, the Opel Corsa A) were built in Spain, and a large range of trim levels, special editions, body styles and drivetrains were made available throughout production.
If you learned to drive in the 80s or 90s, it’s almost certain that at some point you or a friend owned a Nova. They were ubiquitous for a reason – mechanically simple, cheap to run and insure and great fun to drive, they were the perfect car for new drivers and anyone that just needed a reliable daily runabout. Sadly, they have now all but disappeared from our roads, and many that remain have been highly modified or converted for motorsport use.
That’s where this delightful little car comes in. Not only is it a rare and remarkable survivor, presented in fine condition, but it’s absolutely original. Having been the pride and joy of a single owner since delivery, it’s been pampered, cherished and maintained fastidiously since new, and it really does show.
The History and Paperwork
- First registered in the UK in June 1992
- Bought by the current owner from their neighbour, who won it in a competition with just 243 ‘delivery miles’ on the clock – it has been in their possession ever since
- Just 79,849 miles from new
- Part service history (maintained by a family friend)
- Always garaged
- MOT to May 2023
- Believed to be one of fewer than 20 ‘Fun’ models left on the road
- 1992 facelift model
- Complete with original handbooks, two sets of keys and some maintenance invoices
- Only being sold as the owner is now getting older and struggling to drive the car
The Interior
- Completely original
- Grey cloth upholstery with multi-coloured detailing
- Original radio/cassette system
One of the real joys of driving hatchbacks of this vintage is the visibility - it’s one of the first things you notice when stepping into the car from a more modern vehicle. The glass house area is very large and the pillars nice and slim, giving superb all-round visibility and a real feeling of airiness to the cabin.
This is helped by the light coloured trim in this vehicle. With light grey headlining, carpets and cloth upholstery, it’s a bright and welcoming driving environment. It’s also in excellent, original condition. The seats have only the lightest signs of age related wear with no rips, tears or threading evident at all. Similarly, the door cards and headlining are in superb condition, showing no signs of sagging or damage. We adore the multi-coloured striping detail on the seats and door cards, it really lifts the cabin and is very much of its time.
All of the interior trim, switchgear and instrumentation is complete and in good condition. Naturally, this is a 30 year old car, so there are some light scratches and blemishes present on some of the interior trim, but nowhere near as much as you’d expect from a vehicle of this age. Clearly it’s been very well cared for.
The boot area is very neat and clean, with the grey carpet and parcel shelf being in excellent condition. Under the carpet, the boot floor and spare wheel well is spotless, with no damage, no signs of corrosion and no evidence of repair. There is a full-size spare wheel, complete with a tyre in fine condition with lots of tread.
The Exterior
- Original Flame Red paintwork
- Original dealer plates
- Original 13” steel wheels with trims
- Original glass and security stickers
Finished in shining Flame Red, you can tell this car has been loved and kept garaged – the paintwork is in excellent condition, with no signs of lacquer peel, UV damage or significant wear. The original two-tone pinstripe is still perfectly intact down both flanks too. There are some minor blemishes and whirls, this is the original paintwork after all, but overall it is in excellent condition. With a machine polish and wax it should soon look every inch the show-stopper.
When examining the panels themselves, they appear straight, neatly gapped and with no signs of corrosion, ripples or damage. It’s highly unusual to find a Vauxhall of this vintage with such straight and clean metalwork. Even the underside, sills, inner arches and valances are in very good condition – they don’t even have signs of surface corrosion or bubbling.
One of the most charming aspects of the exterior is the fact that the original external plastic trims, rubber mud-flaps and wheel trims are still present. Usually, these items have long fallen by the wayside, or suffered with parking and UV damage, but the fact that the car has been kept garaged and carefully driven for the last 30 years has clearly preserved it beautifully.
The Mechanics
- 1.2i four-cylinder
- Four-speed manual transmission
- New rear section exhaust
Under the bonnet, the engine bay is extremely clean and tidy, with no signs of leaks or corrosion. The car has been cared for by a family friend since new and the work has clearly been carried out to a high standard. Used as a daily runabout from new, it starts and runs beautifully, driving incredibly well for a car of its age. Whenever any work has been required, the owner has always had it carried out immediately. They tell us that the car has no mechanical issues they are aware of and drives just as it should.
That sprightly little 1.2i engine may not seem like much, but the Nova is a light and fine-handling little car. So to drive it feels very keen indeed, with an almost ‘go kart’ like feel. The brakes perform well, the manual transmission shifts easily and a new rear section has recently been fitted to the exhaust.
The simplicity of the drivetrain is one of the car’s truly attractive features, if you’re after a daily that is easy to maintain, cheap to run and has a wealth of parts available, you’ll struggle to find anything better than this.
Summary
Once one of the most common sights on UK roads, the Nova is now quite a rare thing. With so many having been lost, and those that are left largely either modified or in the motorsport arena, to find such an original and well-preserved example is a bit of a unicorn moment.
It’s believed that there are fewer than 20 Nova ‘Fun’ models left on the road in the UK, so this is an incredibly rare car. And we can’t believe that many of those cars will be presented in the same sort of condition and originality that this one is. With an intriguing history, the car has a great story to tell too. It’s absolutely perfect as a modern retro-classic: genuinely usable as a daily, and ideal for all manner of shows and club meets.
The owner has cherished this car for 30 years, it’s genuinely a part of the family, but now it’s time for someone else to take it on and show it the same level of care. Charming, rare and an absolute joy to drive, this could well be one of the best cars we’ve seen in a long time.
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