Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Some things just can't be placed elsewhere. Have you been speeding and got fined? Or spotted a nice new Volvo on the web somewhere? All non-480 messages can be posted in this part of the board.

Moderators: jifflemon, coyote1980, Rachel

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Fri Aug 07, 2020 5:18 pm

Couldn't really get a straight answer elsewhere on the Internet, but does anyone know from personal experience what a Mk1 Cavalier is like to drive or drive? With trying to sell the 220, I've been on the lookout for a 70s car, to use regularly in conjunction with the blessed(hopefully :lol: ) Wedge, and the Cavalier appears to be a fairly useable car from
that era


Any one have any tips? I have asked HubNut and he has said they are great cars, but a little under geared

Many thanks
Ben
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Norm57
Can tell where the 480 was built
Posts: 362
Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2015 5:08 pm
Location: Knaresborough

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Norm57 » Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:51 pm

They are fairly nippy for their time but if you think a 480 rusts , you ain’t seen nothing yet! Used to own a mk1 it was four years old and riddled with it. Also the interiors were shoddy and fell apart.

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Fri Aug 07, 2020 9:20 pm

Norm57 wrote:
Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:51 pm
They are fairly nippy for their time but if you think a 480 rusts , you ain’t seen nothing yet! Used to own a mk1 it was four years old and riddled with it. Also the interiors were shoddy and fell apart.
Ah ok, thanks for the heads up, I suppose it all depends on what I get for the Rover, but I'll see what I can get for the money, don't think I'm ready for another 480 :lol:

A Scimitar may be nice but I may have missed the boat for a running one for 2.5k...
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

jifflemon
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 2464
Joined: Sat Dec 17, 2016 11:03 am

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by jifflemon » Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:10 pm

Does it have to be 70's?

I maintain that the mid 80's early 90's were the peak of motoring; Enough improvements to make cars reliable, but not enough to warrant a trip to the computer to be scanned and told a bulb has failed...

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Sat Aug 08, 2020 8:33 am

jifflemon wrote:
Fri Aug 07, 2020 10:10 pm
Does it have to be 70's?

I maintain that the mid 80's early 90's were the peak of motoring; Enough improvements to make cars reliable, but not enough to warrant a trip to the computer to be scanned and told a bulb has failed...
Funnily enough that is my view exactly, you never got a better combination of character, performance and reliability than the 80s and 90s. That being said, I often hold around 1973 generally as the cut off for most cars being able to be used daily on modern roads, though there are exceptions on either side of that. Basically I want a 70s car as I have got the Volvo to represent the 80s at the moment (though I intend to always have the 480, as a cornerstone of my future collection), and I have had the Rover for the 90s experience, it seems natural that the 70s is where I aim next.



But then if an affordable Audi 80 Quattro B2/3 comes up, all that goes out the window until we get it or it eludes us :lol:


As is typical for me, I've just rediscovered this, and it has me thinking: https://classics.honestjohn.co.uk/revie ... v-da1-da4/

Still would like a 70s car, if nothing to have something that goes with my eclectic collection of Blazers and Ties
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
Van
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 833
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2007 8:27 am
Location: Ich bin ein Berliner!

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Van » Sat Aug 08, 2020 10:11 am

Frankly I've never driven a Cavalier, but many times the Opel version of it. If you like rear-wheel drive cars they are good and fun to drive. Make sure to have one with a bigger engine though.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

User avatar
brinkie
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 857
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by brinkie » Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:49 pm

I've driven Opel Ascona B (the LHD version of the Mk1 Cavalier with different grille and headlights) when they were still abundant, in the late 80s, early 90s. Found them surprisingly nippy with their 1.9 litre engine, but then again, EVERYTHING was nippy compared to my dad's Mk3 Escort 1.1 Laser. They were very basic so there was nothing what really go wrong. This is why Opel was so popular in rural areas of the Netherlands. But yes, they rust and rust even more, then they rust; there are almost none left.
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Sat Aug 08, 2020 4:12 pm

brinkie wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 3:49 pm
I've driven Opel Ascona B (the LHD version of the Mk1 Cavalier with different grille and headlights) when they were still abundant, in the late 80s, early 90s. Found them surprisingly nippy with their 1.9 litre engine, but then again, EVERYTHING was nippy compared to my dad's Mk3 Escort 1.1 Laser. They were very basic so there was nothing what really go wrong. This is why Opel was so popular in rural areas of the Netherlands. But yes, they rust and rust even more, then they rust; there are almost none left.
Interesting to hear, I imagine everything of that era does really. I adore old cars, and my father says I need to experience what they are really like, but so far the 480, Quattro and Rover have all been brilliant, so he's yet to be proven right at this point. I'm also curious to own an allegro and Marina at some point, as I'm sure they can't be that bad :?
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
brinkie
480 Connoisseur
Posts: 857
Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2014 11:20 am
Location: The Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by brinkie » Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:24 pm

There are many YouTube videos on how the Allegros and Marinas are. They have become virtually extinct, especially in LHD countries, so I'm following quite a lot of channels on 1970s and 1980s British cars...
https://twitter.com/idriveaclassic/stat ... 3898962947
Robert.

Present cars: 1994 Volvo 480 GT 2.0i, 1999 Volvo S70 2.5 Europa, 2010 Volvo V70 2.0F Momentum

User avatar
dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1584
Joined: Sat Dec 18, 2010 10:38 am
Location: Norfolk

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm

The least said about Allegros the better - mine was AWFUL. And as for the Scimitar Al bought, complete and utter rust bucket.
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Alan 480 » Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:38 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm
and as for the Scimitar Al bought, complete and utter rust bucket.
depends on vintage, type four seat or two seat, SS1, Se5 , Se6, GTC etc

early SS1 were 'mild steel' chassis, later 87? onwards galvanised.

Se5, Se6, GTC etc then any metal WILL be needing a little TLC as they are > 30 years old!!!

up side is that chassi on ALL types is all weldable with some care even with GRP body in -situ.

for fun Se5a with V6 is loads of grunt, but you need a deep pocket to keep it running, Se6 got teh 2.8 EFi.

SS1 then anything from 1300 CVH to 1800 ti, and with a Ti approx 180BHP is easy to achieve, getting it to stay on a the straight & narrow, well that's different :-) i think some guys have 'tweaked' to > 240BHP, in a 800kg car :hopping:

ask if you are serious, or check out the Scimweb ( http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/ )
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:21 pm

Alan 480 wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 3:38 pm
dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm
and as for the Scimitar Al bought, complete and utter rust bucket.
depends on vintage, type four seat or two seat, SS1, Se5 , Se6, GTC etc

early SS1 were 'mild steel' chassis, later 87? onwards galvanised.

Se5, Se6, GTC etc then any metal WILL be needing a little TLC as they are > 30 years old!!!

up side is that chassi on ALL types is all weldable with some care even with GRP body in -situ.

for fun Se5a with V6 is loads of grunt, but you need a deep pocket to keep it running, Se6 got teh 2.8 EFi.

SS1 then anything from 1300 CVH to 1800 ti, and with a Ti approx 180BHP is easy to achieve, getting it to stay on a the straight & narrow, well that's different :-) i think some guys have 'tweaked' to > 240BHP, in a 800kg car :hopping:

ask if you are serious, or check out the Scimweb ( http://www.scimitarweb.co.uk/ )
Incidentally the GTE is a car I've always fancied, and having spied that early 1969 one up for auction, fancy very much, though I doubt my budget will stretch to that
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Alan 480 » Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:39 pm

MisterH wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:21 pm
Incidentally the GTE is a car I've always fancied, and having spied that early 1969 one up for auction, fancy very much, though I doubt my budget will stretch to that
My first Scim was an SE5A, 1973 vintage, then led me to the 480.

avoid auction, go and check out those for sale on ScimWeb :wink:

generally a friendly bunch and they will keep you right, cars appear for sale there BEFORE in public, and usually for a 'better' price :D

I think if I had spac then torn between the Se5A as it bit more 'nimble' or the advantages of the Cologne engine in later versions. Essex engine is 'old skool'
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:16 pm

Alan 480 wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 6:39 pm
MisterH wrote:
Sun Aug 09, 2020 4:21 pm
Incidentally the GTE is a car I've always fancied, and having spied that early 1969 one up for auction, fancy very much, though I doubt my budget will stretch to that
My first Scim was an SE5A, 1973 vintage, then led me to the 480.

avoid auction, go and check out those for sale on ScimWeb :wink:

generally a friendly bunch and they will keep you right, cars appear for sale there BEFORE in public, and usually for a 'better' price :D

I think if I had spac then torn between the Se5A as it bit more 'nimble' or the advantages of the Cologne engine in later versions. Essex engine is 'old skool'
Ok thank you for the advice. The fact of the matter is I'm hesitant to actually move too fast, for fear of 1 of my two current aspirational cars (Audi 80 Quattro B2 or Isuzu Piazza Manual) come up soon after making a purchase of something else as if just to tease me :badmood:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by dcwalker » Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:28 am

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm
The least said about Allegros the better - mine was AWFUL. And as for the Scimitar Al bought, complete and utter rust bucket.
:lol: my first car was a 1975 Allegro in poor condition - written off in a crash after 6 months. OK, it got me started in car ownership but that's about all I'll give the old girl.

On Ben's original question, if you want my view on Mk 1 Cavaliers I'd simply say "think again"...

My second car was a Mk5 Cortina - now there's a car I wish I still had!

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Tue Aug 11, 2020 9:52 am

dcwalker wrote:
Tue Aug 11, 2020 8:28 am
dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 6:16 pm
The least said about Allegros the better - mine was AWFUL. And as for the Scimitar Al bought, complete and utter rust bucket.
:lol: my first car was a 1975 Allegro in poor condition - written off in a crash after 6 months. OK, it got me started in car ownership but that's about all I'll give the old girl.

On Ben's original question, if you want my view on Mk 1 Cavaliers I'd simply say "think again"...

My second car was a Mk5 Cortina - now there's a car I wish I still had!

David
First car I had was a Ginetta G26, on a Cortina running gear with a Sierra gearbox, that was actually a nice drive, although I never drove it on the road:
Image

Of course I do have a soft spot for the MkV 'Tina, however I would never feel comfortable using it, as in my mind Ford = Getting nicked if you leave it for 5 minutes, especially with that model, however would like a Sierra Ghia, pre facelift, with pepperpots (yes my ebay saved searches list is a classic car directory in itself). I am always one for quirky cars, as such I see the Cav as a left field alternative that is just as good to drive, if not better, and has 'underdog' status for being not in the Cult of Ford, after all, the 480 is an 'underdog' and I think it's a very fine car, so popular opinion is often unfairly shaped :-|

Of course, it's all subjective, I haven't had my car for that long and It may just be a good one, though it hasn't been trouble free...
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

User avatar
dcwalker
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1522
Joined: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:30 pm
Location: York

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by dcwalker » Tue Aug 11, 2020 10:03 am

Given the other thread we are chatting on as well, I'd certainly agree that the Cavalier falls into the same box as the 440/460 - worthy enough, did their job, but never "loved". Good point about nicking Fords, but somehow even though it was the ultimate "rep-mobile" the Cortina was also loved...

When I was very young (early 20s) I had the opportunity of buying a Sierra XR4x4 - lovely car and drove so so well; I simply couldn't afford the insurance :lol:

Thinking "rep-mobile" but coming up slightly newer, I had a couple of Rover 600s back in the day (one after the other, not at the same time - I didn't collect cars up then!) and they were very nice cars indeed. I was not alone in believing that when BMW took over Rover the reason that the 600 was the model they killed off almost immediately was because it was the one model Rover had that offered some genuine competition for the 3 & 5 series.

Ah, happy days... :wink:

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Tue Aug 11, 2020 10:10 am

brinkie wrote:
Sat Aug 08, 2020 5:24 pm
There are many YouTube videos on how the Allegros and Marinas are. They have become virtually extinct, especially in LHD countries, so I'm following quite a lot of channels on 1970s and 1980s British cars...
https://twitter.com/idriveaclassic/stat ... 3898962947
I saw in a magazine article, that a family in Switzerland uses Marinas on a daily basis, one for each member of the family, all year round. In the summer they take them to Skegness for sand and fish and chips apparently, and the Marinas are perfect for their use, indeed the guy was saying his job involves driving all around Switzerland. They have other cars, but all old British tat
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1489
Joined: Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:03 am
Location: Aberdeen

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Alan 480 » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:33 pm

and why did you not keep the Ginetta?

GRP, sturdy chassis, cheap mechanicals, unusual, all the boxes ticked :hopping:
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

User avatar
MisterH
480 Is my middle name
Posts: 1161
Joined: Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:15 pm
Location: Stockbridge

Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:49 pm

Alan 480 wrote:
Wed Aug 12, 2020 3:33 pm
and why did you not keep the Ginetta?

GRP, sturdy chassis, cheap mechanicals, unusual, all the boxes ticked :hopping:
...pourous bodyshell, incomplete and mouldy interior, lack of PAS and general safety: What more could I want? (turns out a 480) :rofl:
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

Post Reply