Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

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Alan 480
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Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by Alan 480 » Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:07 pm

MisterH wrote:
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:
wimp, real men don't need PAS, try an Se5a, 3litre of Essex cast iron up-front :-)

OK for safety you'd better look away then, try an SS1 where eye level is about the wheel studs of a truck :wink:
Alan

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

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MisterH
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Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:31 pm

Alan 480 wrote:
Thu Aug 13, 2020 3:07 pm
MisterH wrote:
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:
wimp, real men don't need PAS, try an Se5a, 3litre of Essex cast iron up-front :-)

OK for safety you'd better look away then, try an SS1 where eye level is about the wheel studs of a truck :wink:
I assume the 480 is an upgrade in terms of safety?
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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brinkie
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Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by brinkie » Wed Aug 19, 2020 11:41 am

The same could be said about my Matra Murena! I've kept it for 14 years, and it ticked many boxes:
GRP with galvanised chassis so there was NO rust, unusual and eye-catching design, pop-up headlights, plush interior, mid-engined, simple mechanics (the only electronics being the ignition, so no breaker points that wear out), nice exhaust grunt, specialist garage only 30 minutes away and even accessible by train, so that's all good
but there was a LONG list of faults, many of them "by design":
horrible leaks, poor heating and ventilation (in cold and damp weather you couldn't see out the first 10 minutes or so, in summer you had to drive with the windows down all the time), VERY poor parts supply (if you think the situation around the 480 is bad, it can be an order of magnitude worse) and needed high octane fuel (RON 98) which is very hard to find around here
No PAS wasn't a big deal as the engine was in the back, but safety features weren't really implemented by the French in 1980, and the engine needed a costly rebuild (see situation around parts supply), so out went the Matra and in came the 480 with PAS, ABS and airconditioning!
Robert.

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

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MisterH
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Re: Anyone had experience with Mk1 Cavaliers?

Post by MisterH » Wed Aug 19, 2020 1:30 pm

Yes I am fond of all Matras, I found a Bagheera for sale by the side of a road in France once, but wisely left it be...

Shame TG ruined that UK Spec one: https://petrolblog.com/2019/06/top-gear ... -bagheera/
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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