NOVA HISTORY - PAGE 2

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In-between October 1989 and November 1990, the Nova SR was rewarded with a new 1.4 litre engine as well as more styling goodies such as central locking, electric windows, tinted glass, electric front windows, sunroof etc as standard. The most dramatic change to hit the SR happened in 1991, as with all Novas the whole front end was given a more streamline ninety’s look, as was the interior, which has a more "curvy" dashboard. Vauxhall didn’t change the shape too much and the car was still very noticeable as a Nova.

With the new front came the SRi, this was simply a 1400 SR with a fuel injection system. At the same time the popular GTE was replaced with the GSi which had a revised 1600 injection engine. The GSi had vented discs, electric sunroof (optional on the GTE) and the trademark RECARO racing seats. Novas are very easy to modify which made them popular with boy racers and enthusiasts. They can easily be made to handle 200BHP and many have had a 2 litre turbo engine dropped in from a Calibra to send them supersonic. The Nova finally went out of production in 1992 and the last one left the factory at Bedford.

In an attempt to go more European the Nova was replaced with the Corsa (no Opel didn’t call theirs the Nova). Although the Corsa was released in a SRi model it was not quite the same as the Nova. Although the production of the Nova is no longer, they are still alive and kicking at cruises throughout the UK and you’ll be lucky not to find one in a copy of Max Power or REVS!

Here is a table that shows the performance for almost all the models. NOTE that all cars are front wheel drive and have 5-speed gearboxes apart from the 1.0 to 1.2i litre models that have 4-speed:

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