Vauxhall Cavalier

This article is about a Vauxhall car manufactured from 1975-1995. For the Chevrolet sedan, see Chevrolet Cavalier.

Not to be confused with AMC Cavalier.

Vauxhall Cavalier

Manufacturer	Opel
Production	1975–1995
Predecessor	Vauxhall Victor
Successor	Vauxhall Vectra
Class	Large family car

The Vauxhall Cavalier is a large family car sold primarily in the UK by Vauxhall Motors, the British division of General Motors (GM), from 1975 to 1995. It was based on a succession of Opel designs throughout its production life, during which it was built in three incarnations.

The first generation of Cavalier, launched in 1975 and produced until 1981, was based on the existing Opel Ascona with a few minor visual differences.

The second generation of Cavalier, launched in 1981 and produced until 1988, was launched simultaneously with the identical new generation of Opel Ascona.

The third and final generation of Cavalier, launched in 1988 and produced until 1995, was based on the first generation of Opel Vectra with the same production span.

Mark I (1975–81)

Mark I Cavalier

Production	1975–1981
Body style	2-door coupé 2-door saloon 3-door hatchback 4-door saloon
Layout	FR layout[1]
Engine	1.3 L I4 1.6 L I4 1.9 L I4 2.0 L I4
Transmission	4-speed all-synchromeshmanual 3-speed automatic optional[1]
Length	175 in (4,445 mm)[1]
Width	65 in (1,651 mm)[1]
Height	54.5 in (1,384 mm)
Related	Opel Ascona B Opel Manta B

Launched with a 1,584 cc engine as a 1976 model in November 1975,^[2] the Cavalier was a restyled version of the German Opel Ascona, produced initially at the Opel plant in Antwerp, Belgium.^[3] The Ascona/Cavalier were built on what GM called the U-car platform, and the Cavalier was originally intended to have its own bodywork and Van, Pick-up and Estate version's were also on the drawing board^[4]. In the end to keep costs down different nose, designed by Wayne Cherry, was the only thing which set the Vauxhall apart.^[5] 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,^[6] after which the 1,256 cc version, assembled at Luton and using engine and transmission already familiar to Viva 1300 owners,^[7] broadened the range. At that stage the 1,584 cc Cavalier and the 1,897 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.^[3]

In Vauxhall's line-up the Cavalier initially complemented and then replaced the slightly larger Victor, which by this time was falling a long way behind the Ford Cortina in the British car sales charts, and was being overtaken by the Morris Marina and Austin Maxi.

The timing of the Cavalier's UK launch was well judged. The UK tax system meant that sales to company car fleets comprised a larger proportion of the overall market - especially for middle-weight saloons - than elsewhere in Europe: the Ford Cortina Mk II had been replaced by the Ford Cortina Mk III in 1970, but in the eyes of the all important company car fleet managers the newer Cortina never quite matched the earlier car for reliability, notably in respect of problems with its cable clutch and with camshaft wear in the 1.6 and 2.0 litre ohc units.^[8] The traditionally very conservative fleet market was therefore particularly receptive to Vauxhall's new Cortina challenger.

The original Cavaliers were available as two and four-door saloons, and with a two-door booted (three-box) coupé body as used for the Opel Manta. The cars came with a choice of 1.6 and 1.9 L inline four cylinder engines in the saloon: only the 1.9 L engine was available in the coupé.

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 level Cavalier 1.3 variant. At the same time, a three-door hatchback known as the Sports hatch (also seen on the Manta) was added to the range.

Vauxhall Cavalier Sports hatch (Opel Manta B)

All Cavalier saloons shared most of their bodywork with the Opel Ascona but had the slanted nose of the Manta to give them the distinct "droop snoot" front end. The coupé also had a front air dam. The Chevrolet Chevair in South Africa was 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 ultimate Cavalier Mk1 is the design concept by Wayne Cherry called Silver Aero. “Silver Aero” was a one off Prototype build in 1980 based on the Cavalier MK1 Sportshatch. The car was displayed at the International Car Show at the NEC in October 1980. The plan was to offer existing Sportshatch owners and buyers to upgrade there car to the Silver Aero spec. The car has a 2.4 litre turbocharged engine which produces 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS). Orders were taken but not enough to warrant production, and the car remains a one off.

Despite being the same car mechanically, the Opel Ascona was sold alongside the Cavalier in the UK until 24 July 1981, when GM decided to phase out duplicated models with the Opel brand in the UK, and merge remaining dealerships with those of Vauxhall. The Opel Manta (and Monza) remained available, giving the Opel brand a "sports" position. That the Manta was sold alongside the Mark 2 Cavalier in the 1980s gave rise to the curiosity that the previous generation Ascona/Cavalier was effectively being sold concurrently with its successor, since a coupe/sports hatch version of the Ascona C/Cavalier Mark 2 was never engineered.

The original Cavalier was a strong seller in Britain, even though it never quite matched the runaway sales success of the Ford Cortina. Nearly 250,000 were sold, though by December 2009 just 373 remained.

Trim levels:

• L
• LS
• GL
• GLS

Special Edition:

• Command Performance
• Silver Special

Mark II (1981–88)

Mark II Cavalier

Production	1981–1988
Body style	2-door convertible 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 5-door estate 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout
Platform	J-body
Engine	1.3 L I4 1.6 L I4 1.6 L diesel I4 1.8 L I4 2.0 L I4
Related	Chevrolet Cavalier Daewoo Espero Holden Camira Isuzu Aska Opel Ascona C

A new front-wheel drive car was introduced on 26 August 1981,^[9] again using the same underpinnings as the Opel Ascona - this time the Ascona C. On its launch, it offered class-leading levels of fuel economy and performance which had previously been unthinkable for this sector of car. Sales began towards the end of September.^[10]

This model was part of GM's family of compact "J-cars", along with the Ascona, the Australian Holden Camira, the Brazilian Chevrolet Monza, the Japanese Isuzu Aska, and the North American Chevrolet Cavalier, Pontiac Sunbird, Buick Skyhawk, Oldsmobile Firenza, and Cadillac Cimarron. In the UK, the new Cavalier was a huge success and challenged the supremacy of the Ford Cortina as the company car of choice.

An early Mark II

Following the British public's reluctance to embrace the Ford Sierra's radical styling in 1982, the Cavalier overtook the Sierra in sales and outsold the Sierra in 1984 and again in 1985. The Sierra narrowly outsold it in 1986, and a facelift for the Sierra in 1987 helped Ford maintain its regained place at the top of the large family car sector as nearly 140,000 Sierras were sold that year, while Cavalier sales fell below 100,000. By the time the second generation Cavalier was discontinued to make way for the third generation model in October 1988, the Sierra was almost twice as popular.^[11]

It was Britain's second best selling car (behind the Ford 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 Astra (also sold as the (Opel Kadett), while for 1983 a 1.8 L engine was launched, which had electronic fuel injection. A diesel of 1.6 L was added about the same time, while the 1.8 L was supplemented by a 2.0 L for the 1987 model year.

It was narrowly beaten to the European Car of the Year award by the Renault 9.

This model was produced as a four-door saloon and five-door hatchback. An estate version (based on the Holden Camira wagon with rear body panels imported CKD from Australia) became available in October 1983, but proved a slow seller.^[12] The two-door saloon was soon dropped from the Cavalier range, although remained part of the Ascona range in other markets. A convertible, based on the two-door and converted by Hammond and Thiede in Germany, was subsequently offered.

1985 facelifted GLS model.

The estate version employed rear body panels supplied by GM's Australian subsidiary.

The Cavalier Cabriolet was never a big seller.

The second generation Vauxhall Cavalier was a version of the third generation Opel Ascona C shown here.

The Thatcher government in the UK created a tax break at 1.8 L, with any company car having a larger engine than this attracting higher personal benefit taxes, thus effectively giving the Cavalier an advantage over its rivals soon after its launch.

Over the course of the model's lifetime, there were two facelifts mirroring changes made to the Ascona - firstly for the 1985 model year which saw revised grilles, modified rear lamp clusters, new steering wheels, upgraded equipment, new upholstery options and different instrument graphics - some of these changes came direct from the recently introduced Kadett E/Astra Mark 2. A further update in 1987 saw the grilles and rear lamp clusters revised again in a style similar to the larger Senator model together with further improvements to equipment levels.^[12] A new 2.0L engine option became available on CD, SRi and GLS trim, whilst the availability of the fuel injected 1.8L unit was extended down to L trim.

By the end of its life cycle, the top of the range version was the powerful 2.0 SRi130, which had 130 hp (97 kW) and could exceed 120 mph (193 km/h). This had the same engine as the Astra GTE 8v (20SEH), though it was more powerful owing to a better exhaust route.

For the first time, Vauxhall began exporting cars in left-hand drive to other European countries, badged as Opels, which was a boost to GM's confidence in its once-troubled British division. In November 1987, the then head of Vauxhall, John Bagshaw, told Car magazine that the Asconas built in the UK were considered of equivalent quality to those built elsewhere in Europe, adding that "they can't tell them from the German ones". When the Cavalier was first introduced, the cars were built at Opel's plant in Belgium, but production quickly moved to Luton. The estate version's panels were built by Holden in Australia.

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.

Vauxhall sold 807,624 examples of the second generation Cavalier between 1981 and 1988. By December 1989, it was the third most common car on British roads.^[13]

In August 2006, Auto Express magazine named it as the country's sixth most scrapped car of the last 30 years, with just 6,343 still in working order. The only car to cease production after the Cavalier Mark II, and which disappeared at a greater rate, was the Skoda Estelle (which was withdrawn from sale in 1990). By December 2009, that figure had fallen to a mere 1,289.^[14]

A factor which helped make this the case was the fact that the MK2 Cavalier was one of the most stolen cars of the 1980s and early 1990s and were particularly popular with joyriders because of their better than average performance for a car of its type and the fact it was easy to break into and start forcibly, which brought about the early demise of some. Other factors resulting in demise included corrosion and premature camshaft wear.

Trim levels

• Base (1.3 petrol, 1.6 petrol)
• L (1.3 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel)
• Li (1.8i petrol)
• LX (1.6 petrol)
• LXi (1.8i petrol)
• GL (1.3 petrol, 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel)
• GLi (1.8i petrol)
• GLS (1.6 petrol)
• GLSi (1.8i petrol, 2.0i 114 bhp (85 kW; 116 PS) petrol)
• SR (1.6 petrol)
• SRi (1.8i petrol, 2.0i petrol 114 bhp (85 kW; 116 PS))
• SRi 130 (2.0i 128 bhp (95 kW; 130 PS) petrol)
• CDi (1.8i petrol, 2.0i 114 bhp (85 kW; 116 PS) petrol)
• Convertible (1.8i petrol)
• Estate (1.6 petrol)
• Estate L (1.6 petrol, 1.6 Diesel)
• Estate GL (1.6 petrol, 1.6 Diesel)

The "i" suffix stands for Fuel Injection.

Special editions

• Commander (1.6 petrol)
• Antibes (1.6 petrol)
• Club (1.6 petrol)
• Calibre (Same 2.0 fuel injection engine of the SRi 130)

Mark III (1988–95)

Mark III Cavalier

Production	1988–1995 (Pre 1992 facelift)
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door hatchback
Layout	FF layout/AWD
Platform	GM2900
Related	Opel Calibra Opel Vectra Saab 900

1990 Vauxhall Cavalier III Hatchback

The last Cavalier was introduced in October 1988 for the 1989 model year, being Vauxhall's version of the Opel Vectra "A", again available as a saloon and hatchback. There was no estate version in the Opel line-up, and as the Vectra was not going to be sold in Australia, there was no prospect of Vauxhall turning to Holden for a replacement. The Vectra name was not adopted at this model change as Vauxhall feared reviving memories of the much-maligned Vauxhall Victor. Early Victors had been viewed in some quarters as excessively corrosion prone, but the Victor was becoming a very distant memory by this stage: the Vectra name would eventually appear on a Vauxhall in 1995, with the Cavalier Mark III's replacement.

In place of the Mark II Cavalier's angular exterior was a more rounded appearance. There was also a new economical 1.4 L petrol engine. The biggest changes to the range were the addition of 2.0 L 16-valve engines, better known as the "red top" or XE. This was fitted to the GSi 2000 and later SRis. Also made available was a four wheel drive system, fitted to a 2.0iL model (8 valve SRi spec) and on a version of the GSi 2000. There were two diesels available: a 1.7 L, 60 hp (45 kW) from launch, and a lightly blown 82 hp (61 kW) 1.7 Isuzu-engined turbodiesel from 1992. The early SRis were fitted with the splendid 2.0 8-valve engine from the previous Cavalier model, which produced 130 hp (97 kW).

Despite the lack of an estate body style, the Cavalier topped the large-medium family car sales charts in Britain in 1990, ahead of the Ford Sierra, Rover 400 and Rover Montego. Its best year for sales was 1992, when it was Britain's second best selling car behind the Ford Escort. It did not lose top spot in its sector until it was overtaken by the Ford Mondeo in 1994.

Vauxhall came up with a new coupé, the Calibra, developed from the Cavalier Mark III, to replace the discontinued Opel Manta. The Calibra was well received, notably for its sporty although cramped interior (largely based on the interior of the Cavalier) and its streamlined styling which in turn, enabled the Calibra to have the lowest drag coefficient of the period at 0.26 for the 8v model (0.29 for the rest).^{[citation needed]} A few variants were made: the doughty 2.0 litre 8-valve, 2.0 L 16-valve (a splendid unit, the same engine found in the proven Cavalier Gsi2000), the turbo version (again, the same engine used in the very successful Cavalier Turbo), the lusty 2.5 L V6 and finally the 2.0 L 16-valve "Ecotec".

A facelift in the autumn of 1992 saw the Cavalier's weak 1.4 L engine dropped and the gregarious 172 hp (128 kW) 2.5 L V6 added to the range. At this time the GSi 2000 was replaced by a new four-wheel drive version badged simply "Cavalier Turbo" with a turbocharged version of the 16-valve engine producing over 200 hp (150 kW). Most of the range now had airbags and anti-lock brakes as standard (the first car in its class to do so)and all models were fitted with side impact beams (providing additional longitudinal load paths). The exterior design was also freshened up, with a new-look grille, headlights,rear lights and bumper mouldings. There was a increase in the amount of sound insulation, especially in GLS and higher models making the cavalier an enviably quiet place to do business. In late 1994, the new 2.0L Ecotec engine was launched replacing the previous 16-valve "redtop" engine, with a reduced power output down to 136 hp (101 kW), compared to the 150 hp (112 kW) of the previous engine.

Production of the Cavalier ceased in late 1995 when it was replaced by the Vectra, though stocks continued for about one year afterwards and several P-registered versions (August 1996 to July 1997 period) were sold.

The third and final incarnation of the Cavalier was a big improvement over its predecessors (and most earlier Vauxhalls) in terms of durability, with the rust problems that had plagued Vauxhall for years finally being conquered. This was reflected by the fact that tidy Mark III Cavaliers are still a very common sight on Britain's roads more than 16 years after the end of production.

The passing of the Cavalier marked a significant moment for Vauxhall, as it was the last car to be completely named by the Luton-based company. All future Vauxhalls would be simply rebadged Opels, or in the case of the 2004 Vauxhall Monaro, a rebadged Holden.

This version of the Cavalier shared its mechanicals with the Saab 900 that was produced from 1993 until 1998, and continued until 2002 as the Saab 9-3.

Trim levels were:

1988–1992 range

• Base (1.4, 1.6 petrol)
• L (1.4, 1.6, 1.6i, 1.8, 1.8i, 2.0i 8v petrol, 1.7 diesel, 1.7 turbodiesel)
• GL (1.6, 1.6i, 1.8, 1.8i, 2.0i 8v petrol, 1.7 diesel, 1.7 turbodiesel)
• CD (2.0i 8v petrol)
• SRi (2.0i 8v petrol 130 bhp)
• GSi (2.0i 16v petrol)

1992-1995 range

• Envoy (1.6i petrol, 1.7 diesel, 1.7 turbodiesel)
• LS (1.6i, 1.8i, 2.0i 8v, 2.0 16v petrol, 1.7 diesel, 1.7 turbodiesel)
• Colorado (1.8i Petrol)
• GLS (1.6i, 1.8i, 2.0i 8v 2.0i 16v 2.5 V6 petrol, 1.7 turbo diesel)
• V6 (2.5i V6 petrol)
• CD (2.0i (C20NE)
• CDX (2.0i (X20XEV), 2.5 V6 petrol(C25XE), 1.7 turbodiesel)
• Diplomat (2.0 8v,2.5 V6 Petrol, 1.7 turbodiesel)
• SRi (2.0i (C20XE 1992-1994, X20XEV 1994-1995) petrol)
• Cesaro (2.5 V6 petrol)
• Turbo (2.0 16v 4x4 petrol 6 speed Turbocharged (C20LET)

Popularity

A total of more than 1,800,000 Cavaliers were sold in three generations and a 20-year production run, making it the fifth most popular car ever sold in Britain.^[15]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Giant Test: Chrysler Hunter, Leyland Marina, Vauxhall Cavalier". Car: Pages 42–49. date July 1976. 
2. ^ "Vauxhall Cavalier Mk1 Coupe Fact File - The Opel Manta Owners Club". Mantaclub.org. http://www.mantaclub.org/archive/cavalier_coupe.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "Long Term Report: Vauxhall Cavalier 1600 GL (36,000 miles)". Autocar 147 (nbr 4225): pages 28–32. date 29 October 1977. 
4. ^ "Vauxhall Cavalier Information". Cavalier and Chevette Club. http://www.cavalierandchevetteclub.co.uk/proto-types.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-20. 
5. ^ "Vauxhall Cavalier Information". Cavalier and Chevette Club. http://www.cavalierandchevetteclub.co.uk/aboutme.htm. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
6. ^ "News: First UK built Cavalier". Autocar 147 (nbr 4217): page 16. date 3 September 1977. 
7. ^ "News: Luton Cavaliers". Autocar 147 (nbr 4223): page 17. date 15 October 1977. 
8. ^ "The toughest test: Fleet managers have the chance to review several - sometimes hundred [of cars]. How are they finding recent models?". Autocar 145 (nbr 4172): pages 97–98. date 23 October 1976. 
9. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fu5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lKcMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2182,4909029&dq=new-cavalier&hl=en
10. ^ http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9SI-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=skoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4917,4198752&dq=vauxhall-cavalier&hl=en
11. ^ Name * (1995-10-09). "big two ready for trial of strength — Motor Trader". Motortrader.com. http://www.motortrader.com/industry-news/12743-big-two-ready-for-trial-of-strength.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
12. ^ ^{a b} Adams, Keith. "Vauxhall Cavalier Mk2". AROnline. http://www.aronline.co.uk/index.htm?jcarstoryf.htm. 
13. ^ "Car theft in England and Wales: the Home Office car theft index" (PDF). http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/prgpdfs/fcpu33.pdf. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 
14. ^ "Survival Rate". Cavalierandchevetteclub.co.uk. http://www.cavalierandchevetteclub.co.uk/survival_rate.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-04. 
15. ^ "icLiverpool - Recession-proof wise-buys revealed". Icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk. 2009-03-17. http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/motors/advice/tm_headline=recession-proof-wise-buys-revealed&method=full&objectid=23171460&siteid=63127-name_page.html. Retrieved 2010-12-07. 

External links

• Vauxhall Cavalier at the Open Directory Project