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the 318 V8 Installation was new to me - according Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Cresta but no details - was not aware of that Yep De Luxe was here as so was the Viscount (In the UK found evidence that a Estate version of the Viscount was made - one turned up for sale in 1982 issue of practical Classic) it may off course been a good conversion? as for Wagon models avail here locally - Never seen one of any of the nz magazines i have documented during the 1960s. There of cause a Vauxhall PC Cresta that is a drag car Reg 2TURBO (NZ) raced by Graeme Bates - BIG block Chev powered I Believe and I think a Chev 350 conversion is quite a common conversion in the UK - a few have turned up for sale over there. Not first time a rivial manufacturer - Chrysler took over Rootes - for while to much embarrasment Sunbeam Tiger continued for short time with the Ford Engine - I understand they tried to re-power it with Chrysler power but it was unsuccessful Austin made a number of 3L (1967-1971) cars as prototypes with 3.5 Rover Power - all were later scrapped , told the managers liked this conversion - ran pretty smoothy Most amazing story concerned Daimler and Vauxhall getting together to produce a car based on the PA! - Daimler powered Of cause there Roll Royce and Farnia development based on originally a Wolseley 110 but project died but not completely- spin off of this was a Commercial RR engine 4.0 going into Vanden Plas 4.0R 1964-1968 where NZ got around 100-200 NZ new! And Bentley and Austin got together - Austin Sheerline - There was a proposal to make a cheaper Bentley called the Sterling of 1947 as one turned up for sale in Switzerland in 1978

Opps ..Sorry ....did not Release you dealt with Nik -and know about 2000 16v he is the son of one of senior salesmen at Karamu who sold most of the Opels in the North Island 1985-1991-so he have a wealth of info (I Used to run an Opel Club in CHCH) I did not realise this blue car had accident damage when i used to see it in Lower Hutt and later in Thorndon it was owned by owner of Software company and mint in condition - Nik reckons 100 were brought in to NZ - I remember arguing with him years ago one time i Reckon myself around 50 and could almost name were at least 15 were at any one time seem to come only in 4 colours - Maroon metallic (more brown looking - like mine there another in better condition in Wainuiomata -ones of Parts Managers of Brendan Foote owns it!) ; Blue metallic ; Light silver metallic and dark silver metallic all were manuals there was one private imported 4x4 Turbo version in Hawkes Bay and you could not get a 1990-1991 Opel 2000 16v from Japan as a used import as only later A version (Facelifted A opel badge on grill not bonnet) mainly i seen CD 8v versions each Gm dealer I believe had 1-2 2000 16v to sell and usually used as demos to sell the cheaper Vectras rather like Jensen build 300 odd Interceptor FF to sell the Interceptor They were very expensive cost new 1990 $53000 vs next below it the 2000GLS 8v at $37000 Some Reality the 2000 16v do not rust as much - They are German built - more quality job - the 2000GLS; GL ; 1800 L and 2000GT Liftback were made in England and were Vauxhalls - at the wharfs the logos changed to Opel! quality was not as good GM brought cars in batches of 50,100 and 150 I have a Manta 2.0GSI liftback 1 of 100 NZ new 1986-1988 - mines the 2nd to last imported although built 1987 registered as a 1988 car Interesting to note a Tony Haycock who was a travel agent then based in Fielding (seems to be same guy who writes for Classic Driver and Beaded Wheels) owned a white one and his kept breaking down - he used to ring me for advice! - Years later i found out his car was the Opel Manta GM Staff thrashed prior to it becoming available here!

There are not many of these left - Here in NZ there is probaby more left then in the UK - as Banger racers have destroyed most of them - it will be a pity to see it customised - Buick V6 as I stand it was a pretty good motor but I never head of PC Viscount been re-powered by one. Around 6 Humber Super Snipes were Chrysler V8 Powered as Prototypes 1 or 2 is in Australia and common re-power was a 245/6 Valiant engine into a Humber Cheers Julian

Wouldn t it be cheaper to find a real Opel Vectra A 2000 16v I have a 1990 car as my daily driver - I had it now for 6 years and its been a terrific car - after all the BTTC cars were based on that! It uses the same engine as in the 16v Calibra and I heard Lotus had a hand in develop the motor - the problem with these cars compared to lesser Vectras is they have independent rear suspension - a completely different rack and pinion - My got rebuilt late 2010 via Mendoza Mechanical here in Upper Hutt - there are not new ones!; Fog lamps at front there are 2 different types so you got to be careful what you order I use Andy Clears a Vauxhal Dealer in the UK - the car was fitted with ABS other A's were not and only 100 or so were NZ new 1990-1991 - mine is PP registered built 1990 but 1st registered 1991 and does appear to be a pre-production evaluation model and it was once owned by a GM manager as its first owner as its fitted with air conditioning unit from Dagerville..yee gods (thats never worked in 6 years i owned it) There was a Blue metallic one that was originally from the Hutt here and I heard around 2008 it was stripped for Dunlop Targa - It will be interesting to know where its gone? - maybe Kamaru the GM Dealer in Hawkes Bay may know There are probably less then Dozen Opel Vectra A 2000 16v's left and heard of 2 that were squashed in cube 3 months back!! Even rarer car is 6 or so pre -production cars called Vauxhall Opel Lotus Carltons - offically they were scrapped - 2 are in a CHCH lockup waiting for 20 years to be up and 1 is in Tasmania Australia Cheers Julian

Have you tried looking into into road tests of the real cars sometimes they discuss what they have done - Next time you are in Wellington look up the following magazine references of publications i have indexed from National Library of NZ on Molesworth St that is very near the Wellington Railway Station a block or two away (I indexed most of British publications to the late 80s and 90s) they are tests - April 1971 Motorsport (GB) page 338-339 25 Feb 1971 Autocar (GB) Page 28-30 18 April 1973 Page 20-22 Now I sure Practical Classics magazine (who would be a good contact via their forum) often do Engine tech & DIY Clinics on motors and I seem to remember one of the Ford 3.0 Essex Engine but i tried to find where i filed it unfer (database is that big..)-opps i have found it January 2002 Practical Classics (GB) Part 1 engine clinic (not documented y myself yet ...I inherited Weltec early collection a few years back that i still working through) and part 2 is Feb 2002 page 138-141 - -Practical Classics is held at Wellington Public Library main city one on Victoria Street - I seem to remember your Library ib CHCH may have them too let me know how you go Cheers Julian from carmagreviews.co.nz Otherwise i would suggest Fast Ford Magazine of the UK The now defunct and hard to find (no Library in NZ got it) Feb 1970 Car & Car Conversions (GB) did a preview and tech analysis of the car and its engine (sorry i do no have a copy myself in my collection of rare mags)

Great to see -that cars don't have to be pristine - May just turn up in few months sounds like my type of gathering Cool Cheers Julian from carmagreviews