Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 Saloon 1975-81

2/4 door 5-seater saloon

F/R

1256/1584/1897/1979cc (S4 OHV)

Faced with soaring Cortina sales, Vauxhall’s FE range was fading fast, so the unheard-of front-engined, rear-drive Opel Ascona was given a new smooth nose, Vauxhall badges and a new name-Cavalier. Until FE production was finally wound down at Luton, the new model was built at GM’s Antwerp plant.  The first Vauxhall Cavalier to be assembled at Vauxhall's Luton plant was driven off the production line by Eric Fountain, Vauxhall's manufacturing director, on 26 August 1977, after which the 1256 cc version, assembled at Luton and using engine and transmission already familiar to Viva 1300 owners, broadened the range. At that stage the 1584 cc Cavalier and the 1897 cc which had joined it were still being imported from Belgium, but in due course these, too, started to emerge from the Luton production plant.  It was revised in 1978 as the 1.9 L became a 2.0 L engine and the 1.3 L OHV engine from the Vauxhall Viva  and Vauxhall Chevette was used to create the entry Cavalier 1.3 variant. All Cavaliers shared similar bodywork to the Opel Ascona but had the slanted nose of the Manta to give them the distinct "droop snoot" front end, while the coupé also had a front air dam. The Chevrolet Chevair in South Africa as a variant of this model, featuring the grille of the Opel Manta and different engine choices. Vauxhall, from 1978 until 1979, offered the Cavalier coupé in convertible format called the Centaur. Only 118 of these were made and fewer than 30 were believed to have survived by 2007. The cars were developed by Magraw Engineering and sold through Vauxhall dealerships on behalf of Crayford. The Centaur is basically a Cavalier GLS coupé 2-litre with the hard roof replaced with a soft top leaving a T-bar for strength. The floor pan was also strengthened.  The new Vauxhall Insignia’s roots come from this car.

Trim levels:

Vauxhall Cavalier Coupe/Sportshatch 1975-81

2-door 4-seater Coupe/Sportshatch

F/R

1584cc/1897cc/1979cc (S4 OHV)

Though called a Vauxhall this was basically a straight badge-engineering job on the Opel Manta.  Initially marketed as a notchback Coupe, with smaller cam-in-head Opel engines.  The Hatchback 2.0 Sportshatch, the best of the range was launched in 1978 (a 1.6 was also available as an option and is rare.)  It scored heavily over the Ford Capri, with a better image, more room and nicer handing.  Dropped in 1981 when new Front Wheel drive Cavalier introduced. 

Trim Levels: See above.

Vauxhall Cavalier 1981-89

4/5-door 5-seater Saloon/Hatchback/Estate/Convertible

F/F

1297/1598/1796/1998/cc (S4 OC)

1598cc diesel (S4 OC)

GM got the drop on Ford, with the new front-wheel drive Cavalier launched just months ahead of the Sierra.  Unlike the Ford, available as Saloon or Hatchback from the start. On its launch, it offered class-leading levels of fuel economy and performance which had previously been unthinkable for this sector of car. Australian build Estate from 1983 and Convertible  converted by Hammond and Thiede in Germany was offered from 1986.  It was Britain's second best selling car (behind theFord Escort) in 1984 and 1985, and at its peak, this version of the Cavalier came with the choice of 1.3 or 1.6 L engines derived from the smaller Vauxhall Asta (also sold as the Opel Kadett), while for 1983 a 1.8 L engine was launched, which had electronic fuel injection. A diesel 1.6 L was added about the same time, while the 1.8 L was supplemented by a 2.0 L in late 1986. Family I and II engines initially with complex Varajet II Carburetor, injection coming in 1985 with 1.8/115bhp models.  MacPherson strut front suspension with torsion beam at the rear meant good handling, with only the well equipped CDi, SRI 130 and the Special Cavalier Calibre (only 500 produced) getting power steering as standard. The last Cavalier Mark II to be produced was the Cavalier Calibre. Based on the SRi130 with styling from Aston Martin/Tickford and the bodykit, sports suspension and exhaust being produced by Irmscher, it was a limited production run of only 500 cars. The car came with a very high specification including a trip computer, recaro seats, power windows and power steering. It cost around £13,000 when released in 1987.

Trim levels

The "i" suffix stands for Fuel Injection.

Special editions (Some not all).

Vauxhall Cavalier 1988-1995

4/5-door 5-seater Saloon/Hatchback

F/F 1389/1598/1796/1998/1998 16v (S4 OC), 1699cc diesel (S4 OC),

2400 V6, 1998 Turbo.

‘The New Cavalier.’ ‘The Future. Now.’ went the TV ad in 1988/89 with launch of the New ‘Mk3’ Cavalier.  Vauxhall is said to have spent £10 million on the launch advertising campaign for the New Mk3 Cavalier.  With such an excellent engine range, the designers were able to make the new Cavalier even better.  Five-speed gearboxes became standard, plus option of new four-speed auto.  No major changes in size, trim levels (Standard, L, GL, CD, Diplomat, 4x4) but appeal was widened with more high-performance versions, SRi, GSi 16v, GSi 16v 4x4.  Although there was no major chassis changes handling was improved.  The Cavalier topped the large-medium family car sales charts in Britain in 1990, ahead of the Ford Serria, Rover 400 and Austin Montego. Its best year for sales was 1992, when it was Britain's second best selling car. It did not lose top spot in its sector until it was overtaken by the Ford Mondeo in 1994.  Range was revised in 1992/93 with changes to the external styling, new grill and wheel trim.  The interior was also revised and range was also re-aligned with new trim levels (Envoy, LS, Colorado, GLS, CD,  CDX, Diplomat, 4x4, Sri, Sri 16v and Turbo 4x4).  The engine range was also revised and a 2.0 Turbo with a 6 speed gear box and a 2.5 V6 were added.  Safety features like Air Bags. seatbelt pretensions and door beams were also incorporated.  Range was replaced in late-1995 by the Vauxhall Vectra though there are a few Cavaliers about on P-Plates.  Was a successful car for Vauxhall in the British Touring Car between 1990 and 1995 and came close to wining the Championship in 1992 with John Cleland and won the Championship in 1995 with John Cleland.  Other drivers to have driven the Vauxhall Cavalier in the BTCC are Jeff Allam, James Thompson, David Leslie, Harry Nuttall, Alex Portman, Chris Hodgetts, Chris Goodwin, Mike Briggs, Richard Kaye to name but a few.

Trim levels were:

1988–1992 range

1992-1995 range

Special editions (Some not all).