Last time, I looked at the Fiat Coupe, and discussed how cars from one’s childhood elicit such affectionate memories as the years go by. The theme of this piece is very similar but, instead of a glamorous two-door Italian, the focus this time is on an Eighties Vauxhall hatchback. But don’t go, because the little Nova is something a bit special.
Launched in 1983 and badged as the Opel Corsa in mainland Europe, the Nova was GM’s answer to the growing front-wheel-drive supermini segment, a riposte to the Volkswagen Polo, Peugeot 205 and Ford Fiesta. Unlike many, though, the Nova was also offered as both a five-door hatch and a four-door saloon, the latter resembling a ‘regular’ five-door with a football pitch stuck on the back (World Cup, footie reference, etc).
The Nova enjoyed plenty of success in Britain throughout its ten-year lifespan. Around half a million examples found homes here during that time and in 1989, sales peaked at around 70,000, making it the seventh best seller that year.
A competent car with no real vices, the Nova nevertheless failed to bring anything new to the table in terms of technical prowess. What it did do, however, was capture the hearts and minds of the ‘modder’ scene - in the 1990s, the Nova was one of the most revered cars in boy racer-dom. A combination of simple mechanicals and (by then) bargain-basement prices lended the Nova well to tuning, and the ensuing spectacle of a souped-up, body-kitted Nova terrorising a housing estate before exiting backwards through a hedge on two wheels gave the model something of a reputation.
There were a number of sporting Novas, including the fabled GSi and the SRi. The former held the mantle of ‘fastest Nova’, thanks to a 1.6-litre fuel-injected four-pot touting around 100bhp, with a top speed of 116mph. The engine mapping was done by Opel tuning specialist Irmscher.
As we’ve touched on, many owners didn’t stop there, cranking up the power and performance before adding an equally potent aftermarket stereo system (invariably of greater value than the car itself), an exhaust of such loudness it could be heard from outer space, and the obligatory blonde pinup in the passenger seat. Ah, the days of Max Power. How I miss them… Not!
These days, finding an original, unmolested GSi or a lesser-powered SRi is difficult, the Nova’s attrition rate being truly shocking. It’s well worth persevering, mind. Whereas its contemporaries the 205 GTi and VW Golf GTI have, in many cases, reached stratospheric heights in terms of value, the Vauxhall is an overlooked and underrated member of the 80s hot hatch class, its image not helped by the boy racer antics which sent many to the crusher. Thus, they can be had for sensible money.
I look back on the Nova with fondness. Memories of neighbours hammering away in their sheds at their SRis in the late Nineties; copies of Max Power showing hilariously modified cars; and ‘ordinary’ variants being as much a part of street furniture as Fiestas and Metros. I sincerely hope there are some properly cherished cars out there; the big-hearted Nova deserves nothing less.
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