Table of contents for August - September 2018 in Performance Vauxhall

Have you ever stopped to think about the greatest Vauxhalls never made? The manufacturer’s aborted Omega V8.com project had the potential to knock stuffing out of the luxury German car market, but what about the game-changers you’ve imagined during conversations with your mates over a pint in the pub? Y’know, cars Vauxhall’s design department didn’t think of. Perhaps you’ve fantasised about a C20LET-powered Mk3 Astra GSi with four-wheel drive capabilities? How about a Tigra making use of a 3.2-litre V6? What about a supercharged Signum? Inspired by these discussions, the chances are many of you returned to your garages and workshops and had a bash at bringing your ideas to life. This is certainly true of serial Carlton and VXR8 owner, David Brown, who admits he’s never been able to…

Vauxhall news registering on our radar The rumour mill regarding PSA Group’s plans for Vauxhall’s popular Heritage Centre has been working overtime these past few weeks (not helped by some in the motoring press misrepresenting the facts), so let’s set the record straight. FACT PSA is moving the Heritage Centre to a new site in Luton following the company’s decision to relocate Vauxhall staff from Griffin House to a more modern facility. Griffin House is an old building which costs a huge amount to heat and maintain. Furthermore, the property is currently underutilised due to being only part-occupied by Vauxhall staff. FICTION PSA is selling the contents of the Vauxhall Heritage Centre. FACT There will be no forced redundancies as a consequence of the changes taking place. FICTION PSA is…

Many who were in attendance at the recent Performance Vauxhall Show (PVS) have subsequently talked about the high standard of cars on display at what was the year’s biggest celebration of potent Griffins. We’re not going to argue. It was clear we were in the presence of Vauxhalls, Opels and HSV-derived models (plus the occasional Bedford!) meeting a higher standard of presentation than we’ve seen at the show in years. The Performance Vauxhall magazine stand led the charge with a fine selection of past, present and future feature cars, including our own Vectra VXR project, which was revealed complete with its new 3M 1080 Gloss Flip Deep Space wrap expertly applied by BTCC supplier and 3M approved vinyl wrapper, Joyce Design. Read all about the multi-coloured flip – and the…

Vauxhall has a long and fruitful history of motorsport success, not least of all in rallying and the modern BTCC, where our favourite car maker reigns as the most successful manufacturer thanks to a dizzying number of race wins and an impressively high number of constructor titles. These achievements are well known, but take a closer look at the influence Vauxhall has on the racing world and you’ll find many of today’s top drivers and engineers use an Astra SRi when it comes to perfecting technique and understanding vehicle dynamics. Yes, you read that correctly. An Astra SRi. Surprised? Admittedly, Kimi Räikkönen is unlikely to be the first person you bring to mind when prompted to picture the driver of a 1.4-litre five-door hatchback wearing a Griffin badge, but the…

Visitors to the last Vauxhall Bedford Opel Association (VBOA) National Rally to be held at Billing Aquadrome will remember the gorgeous Imperial Green Carlton estate driven to the event by serial Griffin modifier, David Brown. Fresh from its long journey all the way from the electrician’s home near Edinburgh, the custom cargo carrier was wearing a modified Lotus Carlton body kit, the legendary model’s wheels and the bulk of its interior. The wicked wagon was finished to such a high standard it would have convinced those less familiar with Vauxhall’s output they were looking at a genuine Lotus Carlton tourer until David opened the bonnet to reveal a naturally aspirated three-litre inline-six. “The car was originally a red two-litre Diamond estate on a K-plate. I bought it in as a…

Tell Dave Green whatever modification he has in mind isn’t possible, and he’s going to prove you wrong. “Friends told me I’d never be able to tune my Corsa B’s naturally aspirated X20XEV engine past 170bhp,” he recalls. “I was determined to succeed, which I did with a final power figure of 226bhp!” Likewise, when everyone he spoke to told him he’d be unable to fit a 2.2-litre engine and supercharger beneath the bonnet of his radiant red Corsa C, he did exactly that, resulting in the force-fed SRi we’ve come to check out near his home in green and pleasant Oxfordshire. Dave is no stranger to Performance Vauxhall. Seasoned subscribers may recall the Corsa B he’s just mentioned from its starring role in the magazine in 2005. Back then,…

As Vauxhall engine management has continued to expand in complexity, diagnostic tools have proved to be an invaluable way of troubleshooting. This is true for both the enthusiastic home mechanic and the professional technician, where helpful electronic diagnostic devices have saved hours in head-scratching – not to mention labour costs – by fault finding where once guesswork reigned supreme. With a focus on official Vauxhall equipment, we paid a visit to VXR sales and tuning specialist, MW Performance, in order to examine the devices most often used to scan, identify faults and program your Griffin’s ECU and its supporting electrical systems. We’ve also taken a look at some of the most popular aftermarket devices available to help you care for your car. OPCOM An OPCOM (Opel Communications) scanning device is…

The last time you heard from us, we were back at the workshop after a disappointing weekend of racing at Oulton Park. We were preparing for the fifth outing of this year’s BTCC, which was held at Croft Circuit. You’ll be pleased to hear we fared far better at the famous North Yorkshire motorsport venue, although it wasn’t all plain sailing… Our time at Croft took place right in the middle of the recent heatwave (weather which appears to have turned the British Isles into barren wasteland!). As always, Saturday provided us with the usual format of Free Practice (FP1) followed by a second practice session (FP2) preceding a forty-five minute qualifying session ending with the starting order for the first race of the following day. FP1 saw our driver,…

Many of us have experienced the regret of letting a favourite car pass to a new owner. Often, personal circumstances (space, time, family, money) dictate the need to part with whatever Vauxhall or Opel we’re so fond of. “I wish I’d never sold it,” is the inevitable phrase which passes our lips later down the line, swiftly followed by a scan of the government’s handy vehicle enquiry website to see if the Griffin in question has been spared from a one way trip to the great scrapyard in the sky. “I’d love to buy it back,” we can be heard muttering. “If only I knew where the car was being kept today.” If you’re lucky, you might encounter your former steed on display at one of the summer shows, where…

facebook.com/PerformanceVauxhallMag @PerformanceVaux Fancy seeing your Vauxhall in our Hall of Fame? It doesn’t matter if you’ve modified the latest VXR or a classic retro ride, we want to see your cool creation! Email a brief spec, a few pics and a bit about yourself to pv.ed@kelsey.co.uk. We’ll get back to you ASAP.…

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ALLOYGATOR WHEEL PROTECTION SYSTEM AlloyGator Limited is the global market leader in the design and manufacture of alloy wheel protection systems. The family-run firm from Worcestershire launched its award-winning products to market during 2010 following many years of research and development. Initially satisfying those who wanted to prevent kerb damage to new rims, the company caught the attention of modifiers and the motoring press who saw the potential for AlloyGators to enhance the appearance of wheels whilst simultaneously protecting them from damage. Today, AlloyGators are sold by main dealers, body shops and automotive styling firms worldwide. Popular with owners of sports cars, these wicked wheel protectors are available to buy in a choice of thirteen different colours (from jet black to radiant red) and can even be ordered…

Big brake conversions, increased engine fuelling demands and high-performance transmission upgrades are just a few features of modified motors which push the limits of standard specification rubber fluid transfer hoses and their accompanying factory fittings. The solution is to fit steel braided hoses, perhaps adding Airforce Navy (AN) fixings for good measure. Not only will braided lines withstand higher pressures, they’ll dissipate heat far more effectively. They’ll also allow for strong hose ends to be fitted, removed and refitted several times without risk of fraying, damaging or weakening of parts. They look great too. Improved function and enhanced form? What’s not to love?! Hoses Two basic braided hose types exist. The primary type is rubber (or synthetic rubber) tube with an inner half-braid covering matched with a full-braid outer stainless…

Many of you are Vauxhall brand loyalists, sticking to the output of our favourite manufacturer time after time. There are also those of you who’ve ventured away from the Griffin scene, only to be drawn back into the fold after the Volkswagen, BMW, Audi or whatever else you’ve flirted with hasn’t lived up to expectation. In a minority, however, are those of you like mechanic, Kieran Johns, who has not only stuck with Vauxhalls for the entire time he’s been able to drive, but he’s only ever owned Corsa Bs. “They’re great cars!” he smiles. The petrolhead from Devon has owned three different Corsa Bs to date, but it’s fair to say the first two weren’t treated as well as the jaw-droppingly good Sport he’s recently finished building. “I wrote…

What is it that first drew you to Vauxhalls? For Astra owner, Callan Ackerman, it was the noise! “I must admit, I wasn’t overly impressed with the Mk5 VXR before a mate took me out for a spin in his lightly tuned example. Up until that point in time, I’d been modifying cars from the stables of a variety of different manufacturers. A Renault Megane R26, a Seat Leon Cupra R, a BMW E36 drop-top and even a 530D were just some of the cars I’d bought and tuned. I’d heard horror stories about the VXR’s engine and transmission reliability when subjected to a significant hike in horsepower, but the pops and bangs my friend’s car was making, not to mention how quick it felt, convinced me I needed to…

“WHEN AN ST200 DOES COME UP FOR SALE, BE PREPARED TO DIG DEEP” The Cavalier GSi2000 represented a huge step forward for Vauxhall in the late 1980s. Making use of the same C20XE ‘Red Top’ engine which propelled the Mk2 Astra GTE 16V to greatness, the GSi2000 featured independent rear suspension and a cool styling package seen by millions witnessing works drivers, John Cleland and Jeff Allam (not to mention an ever changing cast of supporting drivers), punish the model in the BTCC. Cleland won the championship with the GTE in 1989 and went on to do the same again with the Cavalier in 1995, but by that time, the Vectra B had replaced the mighty Mk3 in dealer showrooms. While the Vectra never matched the Cavalier’s achievements on the…