Vauxhall Calibra - The World's Most Aerodynamic Car

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

Hello everyone! :D
While Vauxhall often gets a bad wrap in the motoring community, there is one car in their repertoire that is seen with almost universal acclaim, the Calibra, a long-delayed attempt by the company to create a dedicated sports coupe, but one that went the extra mile in that it integrated into its design simple underpinnings from the regular Cavalier MkIII saloon married to the most optomised bodyshell ever put on a production car at that time, giving it a drag co-efficient that was truly unrivaled and making it the most aerodynamic car ever built.
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References:
- Vauxpedia.net (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

Пікірлер: 226

  • @Bluefire397
    @Bluefire397 Жыл бұрын

    Genuinely one of the best looking mass market cars ever made in my opinion

  • @nygelmiller5293

    @nygelmiller5293

    Жыл бұрын

    ONE OVERSIGHT my friend - you say it was the most aerodynamic car ' yet don't actually quote what it's co- efficient of drag was!

  • @Bluefire397

    @Bluefire397

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nygelmiller5293 at what point did I say that in my comment

  • @nygelmiller5293

    @nygelmiller5293

    Жыл бұрын

    @@Bluefire397 actually, the title of the video is "Vauxhall Calibre- The World's Most Aerodynamic Car"

  • @Bluefire397

    @Bluefire397

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nygelmiller5293 it's not my video?

  • @TheStobb50
    @TheStobb50 Жыл бұрын

    The Vauxhall Opel Calibra, one of the most beautiful cars that GM ever came out with

  • @wearetomorrowspast.5617

    @wearetomorrowspast.5617

    Жыл бұрын

    When i was a kid, a chap in the village had a purple Manta. Looked like a spaceship.

  • @audraperkins3451

    @audraperkins3451

    Жыл бұрын

    I have a Calibra 2L 16v on my drive 😍 beautiful car

  • @THe9-3MAnIaC

    @THe9-3MAnIaC

    Жыл бұрын

    Saab models?

  • @MCraigyboy7

    @MCraigyboy7

    Жыл бұрын

    or in the UK Vauxhall Calibra ;-)

  • @hughrobinson9978
    @hughrobinson9978 Жыл бұрын

    I was the junior member of Erhard Schnell's design team and remember many trips to Stuttgart University's wind tunnel with Herr Emmelmann (who had previously worked for Audi on the C3 100) to carry out aero testing of the Calibra. We were very happy with the eventual results! The exterior styling was done by Miki Hattori and the interior by Carlos Barba, who you see sketching in the video. I later did many Kms in a Turbo 4x4 production version - great at high speeds on the Autobahn. Can't believe this was 35 years ago!

  • @davidhayes4814
    @davidhayes4814 Жыл бұрын

    I remember seeing some lovely coupes emerging on our roads in the very early 90s. One was the Calibra, another was the Prelude and another was the Corrado. The VW Corrado was, I guess rather more expensive. I was driving a Fiesta diesel at that time ….. hence why I noticed these lovely coupes.

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    I think the Probe was ok too, the Corrado being a bit of a misnomer (and not that good looking either in my opinion).

  • @nygelmiller5293

    @nygelmiller5293

    Жыл бұрын

    @@rob5944 the Corrado did, though, come into it's own, when I saw one in a plum colour, with black leather interior!

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    @@nygelmiller5293 yes, of course it's subjective. Some actually grow on me. Also I like the unusual, ones that only a mother could love lol. For instance I've a Sc430, fuggly, but its got the features I was looking for (see what I did there). The bigger Corrados were great performers I gather?

  • @richardcrossley5581
    @richardcrossley5581 Жыл бұрын

    Still looks good, even now.

  • @peteryeadon946
    @peteryeadon946 Жыл бұрын

    I worked for Vauxhall in the 1990's. I drove many Calibre's. A superb car ahead of its time in looks and tech. The V6 was truly phenomenal. The 4x4 turbo Christ it was quick. If I could get one now I would. I ended up with a MSD 2.5 Phase 2 Vectra V6. Knock it or like it, great cars, well done yet again Ruaridh, brilliant, well researched video. 10/10.

  • @feedingravens

    @feedingravens

    Жыл бұрын

    I did. 1994 V6 with 140,000 km (80,000 miles). Finnish body, very little rust. I hope I can keep it for a while, got its garage place and will be spared winters. Back in the 90s, I did not dare to buy the Calibra, bought a Vectra instead. Loved it, but now the Cali is my after-midlife-crisis car.

  • @AL-PAKA

    @AL-PAKA

    Жыл бұрын

    You mean calibra the calibre was a special edition of the MK2 cavalier

  • @aston-martin-internationalist
    @aston-martin-internationalist Жыл бұрын

    Great video! @ 16.19 (2.0 16v injection turbo V6) it wasn't a V6, that was the C25XE (2.5) which was naturally aspirated). The turbo was an inline-4 (C20LET). Always loved the shape of these. So many got broken for engines swaps that it makes them more desirable today than they were at launch. They still look great today and I think were the best looking coupe in their market segment by quite a margin. Sad to see the slew of drabness in Vauxhall's current lineup. Nothing remotely exiting or appealing with its dreary range of boring crossovers and rebodied Peugeots. Vauxhall were cool in 80s and 90s, they're now nothing more than a manufacturer of white goods.

  • @Low760

    @Low760

    Жыл бұрын

    GM just gave up on Holden so I guess there's that?

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    I quite like the latest Astra, and the GTE models of several years ago. I find that GM and Ford almost seem to take it in turns to be boring whilst the other produced better looking and more exiting models. Meanwhile the Japanese makers are always boring whilst the Germans are much superior, if only aesthetically. However things are finally starting to change there in my opinion.

  • @cooperised

    @cooperised

    Жыл бұрын

    @@rob5944 Had a GTE as a hire car a few years back. Fast, for sure, but not a fun drive IMO. Very light feel, not enough feedback, and torque steer from here to the moon.

  • @feedingravens

    @feedingravens

    Жыл бұрын

    I got an Opel Calibra V6, C25XE, in red. Practically original. seems it stood around the last 10 years. 140,000 km, finnish body, the fins are said to rust way less than the german bodys. I hope I will be able to keep it alive for quite a while.

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    @@cooperised to be honest I've never understood feedback and stuff. I just like something that really goes when you put your foot down. Hence I didn't really get my MX-5, not enough power though. So now I drive a 300hp Lexus V8 as a hobby car, unless there's something badly wrong they all drive pretty much the same to me.

  • @fuzzynutter8344
    @fuzzynutter8344 Жыл бұрын

    I remember seeing the Calibra for the first time in a car magazine and then seeing it in the flesh at the 1989 London Motorfair. It was jaw dropping!

  • @breathtakingblue
    @breathtakingblue Жыл бұрын

    Almost at a well deserved 100K Ruairidh! Thank you for another fantastic video. You never disappoint! 👍

  • @torresalex

    @torresalex

    Жыл бұрын

    Hear, hear

  • @qanon_qanon
    @qanon_qanon Жыл бұрын

    "Still looks good 32 years after the production line ended", and I have 2 of them, one electric converted , the other a turbo 8V everyday runner with 220hp..........design is everyhing, thankyou Herr Erhard Schnell........RIP.

  • @jfv65
    @jfv65 Жыл бұрын

    I remember the introduction of the Calibra very well. There was this clever promo thing where you could get a bumpersticker that would read: "my other car is a Calibra" It also had the Calibra side view silhouette on it. Great marketing!

  • @GavinByrneLand
    @GavinByrneLand Жыл бұрын

    Most enjoyable. The Calibra was always a favourite of mine when I was a kid, along with the Fiat Coupé.

  • @davidpeters6536

    @davidpeters6536

    Жыл бұрын

    The Fiat had an interesting engine but it looked like Quasimodo. VW was not pretty either but the Honda Prelude Mk2 was sleek 'n low, a true match for the Calibra.

  • @DannoAviation
    @DannoAviation Жыл бұрын

    Going for £20k+ the 4x4 Turbo Calibra’s nowadays… I remember they used to be £2-£4k second-hand when I was growing up in the 00’s! My dad had a 2.0 16v I absolutely loved it.

  • @rogerking7258
    @rogerking7258 Жыл бұрын

    It's sad to look back and see the elegance of many cars of this era. I seem to remember a quote about the Calibra, possibly from Gordon Murray, that "it looks like a concept car that they just decided to put into production". Today there seems to be a competition to see who can design the ugliest car possible (BMW XM anyone?) and the roads are full of pretend off roaders and so-called SUVs. The wheels will turn in time; one day people will look back at today's cars and shake their heads in disbelief.

  • @gregharvie3896

    @gregharvie3896

    Жыл бұрын

    From Sydney , Australia, here , here same thoughts as myself the new cars ?? are ugly stagecoaches with an engine upfront rather than some horses. SUV = stupendously ugly vehicle. Sadly the GM J-cars received a bit of bad reputation from the first Isuzu 1589cc engined JB Camira's here in OZ, overheated and had other issues as well. However, when we switched to the Melbourne, Aust' built engine there was a drastic improvement, my partner Georgina had a company car JD Camira with the Aussie multi-point efi system running leaded petrol and it had plenty of power for a 4 cylinder car and was reasonably built. As a comparison her own car was a Toyota Corona which had RUST REPAIRS IN ITS FIRST YEAR, & IT ONLY CAME WITH A 1year warranty. The Toyota had rust & leaks around the front screen, rust in rear left door rear drain hole area as there was NO PAINT JUST BARE METAL IN THAT DOOR and where the rear valance/back panel welds to the rear mudguards behind the lights, there was rust that meant a complete new valance panel at 11months of ownership, plus the water welling in the base of the boot had caused the spare wheel rim to blatantly rust so that had to be replaced as well. the Toyota dealer called her to say the car was repaired & ready to collect, so I drove her to the dealers, a biggish guy went to fetch it from their storage shed. I am 6foot 3inches tall, but this guy made me look like a midget, he needed to drive it about 100yards, we could see him walk to it, get in start it and drive it to the collection point, whilst he drove it 100 yards, he cracked the seat frame !!!! Obtaining a seat frame took near 2 weeks, I wanted to see the old one when the upholstery was removed & fitted to the new one, what a joke pathetically flimsy so we sold the 9,000kilometre 11month old Toyota Corona before something else went wrong with it after the 1 year warranty was up, she got all her money back. The Camira she kept for years, as the company she worked for swapped from more expensive GM Holdens to cheaper Toyotas & after bitter memories of her own Toyota she did not even want a free one as a company car. The Camira gave 195,000 kilometres of reliability from 1984 thru to 1991. it needed regular oil changes & radiator inhibitor to be replaced annually. Here in Australia people were spoiled with their traditional Holden 3.3 litre inline 6 cylinder engines where lazy people could almost never change the oil & the car still functioned fine, also the all steel nature of the engine & ancillaries gave no mixed metal electrolytic issues, along with gigantic brass factory radiators which would see the car operate & run cool on the hottest of days with just tap water in the system. So if one of those types of person bought a more high-tech Camira and did not change the oil or radiator fluids regularly there would be issues, but this was not the car engines fault, just lazy owners. In 1991 Georgina changed jobs/employer, where she could pick any car she chose to a dollar value and she ordered a new Calibra which had a bigger engine & a bit more punch, again serviced correctly it also was endlessly reliable.

  • @lordmuntague
    @lordmuntague Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Ruairidh, I've always loved Vauxhalls and seeing this is a rare pleasure. If I may suggest, Wayne Cherry is worth an entire video on his own, total genius.

  • @notmenotme614
    @notmenotme614 Жыл бұрын

    When I was in the RAF many years ago, I remember going to Wales on a course. When the local pub closed I was still up for a night out. So for twenty quid, a local guy drove me all the way to Cardiff in his nice looking Calibra and dropped me off in the centre if Cardiff…. Then I realised everywhere in Cardiff was also closed and I had to get a taxi back. It was a good road trip though. Thanks for the lift in the nice car.

  • @jonmilligan8069
    @jonmilligan8069 Жыл бұрын

    A genuinely brilliant looking car that still looks awesome today!

  • @ssbN77
    @ssbN77 Жыл бұрын

    These were one of my favourite cars back in the 90s.

  • @audraperkins3451
    @audraperkins3451 Жыл бұрын

    I have a 2L 16v Calibra on my drive , she's a beauty 😍

  • @semird615
    @semird615 Жыл бұрын

    I’m from Serbia and a Calibra was the coolest thing you could see on the road back when I was a kid. It has a cult following over here and is a staple of the 90’s. Calibras were mostly driven by gangsters and they have that certain stigma to them. A Calibra and a Corrado were my favorite cars back when I was a kid, even their names were cool sounding.

  • @davesclassicgaragetours
    @davesclassicgaragetours Жыл бұрын

    Unbelievable detail. Great video of one of the most iconic designs of the period.

  • @bnipmnaa
    @bnipmnaa Жыл бұрын

    I had to weld a small patch in the osf wheel arch of my 1994 V6 Calibra last year. It's the first time it's ever needed welding.

  • @DavidRDHeath
    @DavidRDHeath Жыл бұрын

    Saw a Holden Calibra not that long ago in Sydney and still thought it looked great in 2023.

  • @uncinarynin
    @uncinarynin Жыл бұрын

    It's a nicely timeless design. I like how they tried to get it as aerodynamic as they could instead of sticking on aggressive looking design details just to stand out. With the silver chromed V-line at the front the Vauxhall version looks a bit more refined than the Opel that just has a rectangular grille.

  • @user-tn1vc1xz5d
    @user-tn1vc1xz5d Жыл бұрын

    I had a 2nd gen Chevrolet Cavalier, same platform, but 2.2 litre engine only had 110bhp in US spec. Great car, although I had more like 95bhp due to altitude. Over 40 mpg on mid-grade fuel. Struggled to get 50mph when fully loaded going up to Eisenhower tunnel at 12,000 feet but did well considering it was making about 80bhp up there.

  • @peteryeadon946
    @peteryeadon946 Жыл бұрын

    I hope you make some money out of these KZread videos, you genuinely put alot of documentary TV channels to shame with your level of research. It must take alot of your time. It's very much appreciated!

  • @mcjdubpower
    @mcjdubpower Жыл бұрын

    I see, I click like, I watch. I am never disappointed.❤️👋🔥👊💪

  • @slh950
    @slh950 Жыл бұрын

    sold in Australia as a Holden Calibra ... they got a bad reputation for reliability and were seen as powerless compared to local GM cars

  • @1951GL
    @1951GL Жыл бұрын

    The actor Steve Coogan, through his comic character Alan Partridge, killed the Ford Probe in the UK by having Partridge drive one. The Vauxhall Calibra was a sound concept and very popular in the UK.

  • @Bansidhe
    @Bansidhe Жыл бұрын

    Just bought one on the same day this video was released!

  • @mariemccann5895
    @mariemccann5895 Жыл бұрын

    It's a pity Vauxhall seemed to lose their way, they had some excellent products with potential. I don't know what happened but all that is left now are some badge engineered Peugeots. Calibras were awesome for their day.

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    I like the latest Peugeots and Astras though.

  • @marshalllucky
    @marshalllucky Жыл бұрын

    my uncles has a brand new calibra in his barn , he used to run a vauxhall dealership that closed in the 90`s and some of the inventory was stored in his barn along with a few others including a nova gte and a carlton all still unregistered !

  • @anonimushbosh

    @anonimushbosh

    11 ай бұрын

    Is it withering away or being kept alive?

  • @marshalllucky

    @marshalllucky

    11 ай бұрын

    @@anonimushbosh all fluids were drained when they were stored so they are as new , a car magazine is about to do a feature on them.

  • @anonimushbosh

    @anonimushbosh

    11 ай бұрын

    @@marshalllucky cool, which magazine?

  • @paulmurray7365

    @paulmurray7365

    8 ай бұрын

    can i buy 😮😮😮

  • @marshalllucky

    @marshalllucky

    8 ай бұрын

    @@paulmurray7365 I will ask him , a car magazine have been in contact too!

  • @thedarkknight1971
    @thedarkknight1971 Жыл бұрын

    14:00 - Now THAT'S a GOOD LOOKING CALIBRA.... 👌👍😏 😎🇬🇧

  • @biljancanin
    @biljancaninАй бұрын

    It still is my most beloved car. I simply love it

  • @marcel1463
    @marcel1463 Жыл бұрын

    We call it Opel Calibra and i think it is still a very beautiful car.

  • @eezergoode8588
    @eezergoode8588 Жыл бұрын

    The factory in Luton may have been replaced by flats (although IBC Vehicles next door lived on...) but one of the blocks is Calibra House.

  • @AndrewG1989
    @AndrewG1989 Жыл бұрын

    I do remember those cars and my Dad and Grandad used to own a Vauxhall Calibra and they were so economical and reliable and didn’t break down all the time.

  • @terribletelevision6980
    @terribletelevision6980 Жыл бұрын

    I sent your channel to a friend yesterday after catching up, i reckon he got you over the 100k line! Keep up the amazing videos, my friend.

  • @dawnharcom5817
    @dawnharcom581711 ай бұрын

    Love my se8, I've driven her for 14years 😍

  • @chomihai
    @chomihai Жыл бұрын

    Your video are so relaxing to watch, it gives me nostalgia.

  • @jfbryant4300
    @jfbryant4300 Жыл бұрын

    I admired the Calibra for its styling and looks. While in the UK, I had previously owned a Vauxhall Cavalier mk2 and then mk3. Later after returning to the US, I would own Chevrolet Cavalier gen 3 (1999). Loved them all.

  • @THX-C
    @THX-C6 ай бұрын

    It’s a shame we never got to see the Calibra in the US. It still looks fresh today.

  • @MalcolmCrabbe
    @MalcolmCrabbe Жыл бұрын

    One thing that wasn't mentioned was the Viva E. The E was Vauxhall's answer to the Ford Popular being promotional as a two-door coupe at first, using surplus Firenza body shells, before becoming a permanent Viva model in two-door saloon form. It was the only Viva to still have the strip speedometer after this as the L and SL adopted the Firenza SL's two round dial set up. My brother had one of these and managed to transplant a 2.0l Cortina engine and gearbox (the engine fitted with twin DCO Webber carbs) into the body. I later purchased this from him, but being just 23 at the time and only holding a licence for 12 months I couldn't get insurance on the car so had to put back the 1256 engine and gearbox... so the car had all the looks but no go !!

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    I liked the Firenza and the Magmun too, preferring it over the Cavalier. But they were old by then.

  • @badhippo
    @badhippo Жыл бұрын

    The Vauxhall Opel Calibra LM Touring Car - one of the best cars to race in on Gran Turismo.

  • @c3gfboy7

    @c3gfboy7

    Жыл бұрын

    Which is based on the DTM if I’m right

  • @elgordo1148
    @elgordo11487 ай бұрын

    Used to enjoy watching the local car thieves blasting past my mums house in these when i was a boy. Calibra16v,Turbos, Cavalier GSI's and 4x4 Turbo cavaliers, my absolute favourite was seeing a Nissan 300zx, god those things in the early 90s were like spaceships. And fast aswell.

  • @neilmustow368
    @neilmustow368 Жыл бұрын

    Great design was the Calibra 👌👌👌

  • @TheHylianBatman
    @TheHylianBatman Жыл бұрын

    Very, very fascinating! It makes me want to get in my car and drive, just the videos of it seem so nice.

  • @rayaspo4893
    @rayaspo4893 Жыл бұрын

    Another fantastic video.

  • @johnnunn8688
    @johnnunn8688 Жыл бұрын

    I had the Holden version in Australia. Looked much better than the Vauxhall, as it didn’t have the V ruining the letterbox slot.

  • @aston-martin-internationalist

    @aston-martin-internationalist

    Жыл бұрын

    Only the mildly facelifted Calibras had the V grille, the early (pre-93) had the same letterbox grille as the Holden.

  • @aston-martin-internationalist

    @aston-martin-internationalist

    Жыл бұрын

    @UncleJoeMedia Calibra was not a crap chassis, unlike the base model Cavaliers, the Calibra shared the fully independent suspension of the GSi2000. Decent well proven chassis for its time.

  • @matthewknowles2607

    @matthewknowles2607

    Жыл бұрын

    I drove one at Sandown Racetrack Holden promo day with Tomas Mezera and John Harvey guest drivers. After letting my ambitions get ahead of my abilities through the witches hats, I can still hear Tomas saying “Out of f@#$ing control..”.

  • @bnipmnaa

    @bnipmnaa

    Жыл бұрын

    @@aston-martin-internationalist Pre-95... a mate and I both have 1994 V6 Calibras, mine from February & his from August... both are pre-facelift with the earlier front bumper, bonnet & tailgate badges.

  • @ed4415
    @ed4415 Жыл бұрын

    I always liked the Calibre.

  • @aveedub7403
    @aveedub7403 Жыл бұрын

    Hi I liked this video, I had a 1990 Calibra 16v, loved it to bits, alas so did rust! Opel / Vauxhall lost a lot in not developing the car more into the future!! I still love the look, but not the rust and later on the pretty much permanent dash warning lights falsely appearing at regular intervals! A missed opportunity

  • @TheRip72

    @TheRip72

    Жыл бұрын

    The later ones were galvanised. Dash lights were a problem made worse by inferior aftermarket sensors.

  • @volvo480
    @volvo480 Жыл бұрын

    I remember the Opel Calibra from when they were new. There was a telecom sales rep who had persuaded his boss to let him drive a Calibra instead of a Vectra, this was in 1996 so I guess they got a pretty good deal as production was about to end. I also remember players from a football team sponsored by Opel were driving Calibras. Sadly the image of the Calibra was that it was nothing more than a coupe bodied Vectra, with the same bland interior and not quite a sports car like handling. Second hand prices dropped quickly enough for the boy racer brigade to buy and subsequently wreck them, there are virtually none left in The Netherlands. 681 exist on paper but only 210 appear to be roadworthy. Never knew they were built at Valmet in Uusikaupunki, that surely must have contributed to good build quality as cars built there were generally better built than the ones in the original factory.

  • @qanon_qanon

    @qanon_qanon

    Жыл бұрын

    You are spot on, the Finland cars were better made, everything pre 94 corroded to hell. They were extremely modified by the racer brigade in the UK but when they could get a BMW on a lease they left the Calibra alone - and then I bought....3. one got totalled but I have the other 2, 1 of which is on the road. It still upsets people and also has admirers who were not even born when it was sold at dealers, the design is perfect and Eduard Schnell the designer, laughed at Opel as it was his last job before he retired and made an icon that opel and vauxhall cannot mention or use that name today......

  • @eftalanquest
    @eftalanquest Жыл бұрын

    i like how you made a video about a german car without acknowledging the fact that you made a video about a german car. it's almost like you don't like the fact that vauxhall's are just rebranded opels with the steering wheel on the wrong side

  • @rob5944

    @rob5944

    Жыл бұрын

    Well were, as I believe they're French now. anyway all of you drive on the wrong side. Before the car people rode on the left because if there was trouble coming the other way one could use a sword effectively. The same reason stairs in castles have a right hand twist as to give the advantage to the defender, and there's a reason we're speaking English right now my friend 😉

  • @mastermindgaming4741
    @mastermindgaming4741 Жыл бұрын

    Just continue to make great content in Motion History series :) Bravo!

  • @dylansmit3883
    @dylansmit388311 ай бұрын

    The shot of the 'racing Calibra' is not a DTM car, but a Group A rally version of the Turbo 4x4. It was produced by British firm MSD, but competed only briefly with little success. It had the 2.0L I4 turbo, while the much more extreme DTM cars (basically prototype racers) had a highly modified 12.000 rpm version of the 2.5 V6. That's why the DTM Edition and Keke Rosberg Edition (he won the 1996 DTM title) were based on the Calibra V6 model.

  • @Low760
    @Low760 Жыл бұрын

    Interesting the rear end in the 4x4 is the same as the Carlton, therefore in Australia, The same rear as the IRS Commodores. The 4x4 turbo was the one I always wanted back then.

  • @scotthawkins1011
    @scotthawkins1011 Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant video!

  • @vikramrao2797
    @vikramrao2797 Жыл бұрын

    Another masterpiece friend. The worst part of watching this is wondering why we in America got the shit GM gave us when they had a product like the Calibra. Granted it would have been more expensive than the shit they peddled stateside. By 1992 it's US competition would have been the 2nd gen Ford Probe and the 2nd geb Ford Taurus SHO (had 2 of em, excellent cars)

  • @aston-martin-internationalist

    @aston-martin-internationalist

    Жыл бұрын

    We had the Vectra (B) though and all the nice RWD cars got canned. Having said that, I had a rental Chevrolet Malibu in around 2005 which was based on the Vectra C and that was miserable. Ugly thing it was. Vectra B wasn't as bad as the press made out. We also has crap like the Vauxhall Meriva, Zafira and Agila, it wasn't all plain sailing this side of the pond either. Chevy Cobalt SS was pretty cool. I had a Cobalt LT as a rental in LA once and it just felt like a much cheaper made version of the MK4 Astra (which essentially it was).

  • @vikramrao2797

    @vikramrao2797

    Жыл бұрын

    @Simon Parsons American cars were never unreliable, they were just miserable to drive and be in. Sometimes they got it right, I've had 2 Ford Taurus SHO's ( 92 and 93) and to me, one of the most comfortable cars I've ever owned. Now I drive old Saabs and a Smart.

  • @vikramrao2797

    @vikramrao2797

    Жыл бұрын

    @Simon Parsons as bad a reputation for boring cars Vauxhall has. The Calibra and the Lotus Carlton are timesless and exciting. That's what I wish Americans had access to, instead of the miserable, coma inducing domestics.

  • @markplain2555
    @markplain2555 Жыл бұрын

    Chasis and drive train (J*() was actually designed and built by SAAB, This car was a fraction of the cost of the SAAB and good looking. I so desperately tried to buy a second hand one, . The nose of the Opel version is so much nicer than the Vauxhaul version.

  • @craigymac5386
    @craigymac5386 Жыл бұрын

    Great cars. I have two of them. A 16v and a v6. The 16v I've owned for 24 years.

  • @steven9562
    @steven95624 ай бұрын

    A long while ago top gear did a full episode on vauxhall cars and it showed a calibra driving off into the sunset

  • @craigsibley8161
    @craigsibley8161 Жыл бұрын

    Good job 👍👍👍 nice looking car in its day...

  • @MikeWooshy
    @MikeWooshy Жыл бұрын

    I believe you have made a mistake at the 16:20 mark. Regarding the Calibra Turbo Limited Edition. I Think it was a 2.0 16v turbo, four pot. Not a V6, otherwise it would have been 24 valve, for a V6.

  • @rtid7538
    @rtid7538 Жыл бұрын

    I was working at a dealer when the first SE came out. They built the ones we received with all Opel badges on, by accident you'd assume, and they all had to be changed to Vauxhall before sale.

  • @video99couk
    @video99couk Жыл бұрын

    I was in the market for a 3 or 4 year old coupe in 1998, having been driving a MK2 Cavalier for several years. I considered the Calibra, Celica, Probe, Fiat Coupe and MX6. Alas the looks of the Calibra didn't quite do it for me, perhaps just the ones I saw were a bit unexciting. I bought a 1994 Toyota Celica GT. How did that work out? Not a bad choice at it happens, since I still drive it 25 years later.

  • @olegadodasguerras3795
    @olegadodasguerras3795 Жыл бұрын

    Nice vídeo awesome car

  • @Zickcermacity
    @Zickcermacity Жыл бұрын

    The Calibra has a drag coefficient of .26 - low for the 1990s. Saying it is the world's most aerodynamic car is like saying Titanic is the world's largest ship.

  • @Stormb1azer
    @Stormb1azer Жыл бұрын

    16:24 it's a turbo I4, otherwise the 16 valves would be hard to do with a V6

  • @macjim
    @macjim Жыл бұрын

    I’ve never been a fan of the Vauxhall brand or their car designs, but the Calibra was a good looker.

  • @johnnunn8688
    @johnnunn8688 Жыл бұрын

    Designed in under a week, by a bloke called Schnell 🤣😂.

  • @robertjackson5836
    @robertjackson5836 Жыл бұрын

    Loved mine.

  • @marciusmarciukas5467
    @marciusmarciukas5467 Жыл бұрын

    I remember Calibra being called "Poor man's Ferrari" 🤣🤣

  • @YukariAkiyamaTanks
    @YukariAkiyamaTanks Жыл бұрын

    Could you possibly do a video on BRs monorail? Great video man!

  • @simonhodgetts6530
    @simonhodgetts6530 Жыл бұрын

    One of Wayne Cherry’s team’s finest creations - I remember these, and the mk3 Cavalier being launched - they were a clear step ahead of anything on offer from Ford (with the exception perhaps of the Mk3 Granada). Calibra was stunning - the only thing imho letting it down being the stock Cavalier dashboard - it would have been nice if it could have been a bit more special inside.

  • @howardlake6178
    @howardlake6178 Жыл бұрын

    Brilliant video! I think I drove one 25 years ago. Our National Sales Manager had a slightly odd colour combo, of a British Racing Green like exterior, and cream leather 😳It was a bit…..’pimp’ 😂one of the best looking cars ever, in my opinion, and definitely one for the lottery win hangar full of cars 😀

  • @EdgyNumber1
    @EdgyNumber1 Жыл бұрын

    Great video Ruairidh. Lusted after these as a youngster, until many were so very badly modified. But of course, we must the common question everyone has on the end of their tongue: "Where are they all now?"

  • @feedingravens

    @feedingravens

    Жыл бұрын

    One V6 stands in my garage. Except the Ronald 16 inch wheels all is original. In 3 weeks it gets on the road again - and here in Germany we still have some unlimited autobahns so that you can make use of the aerodynamics - 140 mph with 24 mpg (210 kph mit 10 l/100km)

  • @aveedub7403
    @aveedub7403 Жыл бұрын

    Ohh going in front what I said before, the blue/black cloth trim i had on mine was a nightmare to keep spotless, it would get water stained from rain or washing. Eventually swooped out for a full leather trim from a Turbo. Instant peace and more luxury! I think the early cars would have benefitted from aircon too, mine far too hot in summer months despite slide tilt sunroof! The rear twin exhaust pipe was also fake, it was only a single disguised as a twin, got rid for a stainless steel proper twin pipe!

  • @KapiteinKrentebol
    @KapiteinKrentebol Жыл бұрын

    Like with most Opels of that era, you saw one on every street. Personally I prefer the 1st gen Manta though or even the Opel GT.

  • @a11csc
    @a11csc Жыл бұрын

    great vid

  • @patconway7402
    @patconway7402 Жыл бұрын

    First car I remember seeing available as a 6 speed in the brochure.

  • @edwardburek1717
    @edwardburek1717 Жыл бұрын

    Never mind that it was derided by some to be a Cavalier in drag, the Calibra is still a wonderful looking car. Tied for fourth-best car to have a Vauxhall badge on it.

  • @bnipmnaa

    @bnipmnaa

    Жыл бұрын

    The Manta was essentially an Ascona / Cavalier in drag too, so it's not a big deal.

  • @saintuk70
    @saintuk70 Жыл бұрын

    Nice video, used to think the Calibra was a decent looking car too, back then.

  • @spud912
    @spud9126 ай бұрын

    I owned an H plate 16v redtop in 1994 ,but had to sell it for a deposit on my first house. I said to myself id buy another one one day .i did ,but 20 odd years later in 2017 a 97 16v eco ,i still have it ,but hardly use it now so will be selling it soon

  • @darrenmitchell5262
    @darrenmitchell5262 Жыл бұрын

    Great looking car and a spiritual successor to the Manta maybe. Being based on Vectra underpinnings meant it wasn’t a great handling car though.

  • @alexmilne2842
    @alexmilne2842 Жыл бұрын

    nowadays ... the headlights are inspired ... stunning ...,

  • @seanoturbo
    @seanoturbo Жыл бұрын

    The Calibra didn’t adopt the transfer box from the Cavalier. The Calibra turbo came before the Cavalier turbo. The non turbo had a different less capable version of the transfer box. Which was only in the N/A calibra 4x4.

  • @AndyK.1

    @AndyK.1

    8 ай бұрын

    As well as the NA cavalier GSi2000 4x4 and a small number of cavalier base model 2.0 8 valve 4x4

  • @juanjosegurrieri2569
    @juanjosegurrieri2569 Жыл бұрын

    The best epoque to Astra !!!

  • @comycomy58
    @comycomy589 ай бұрын

    Number 1 car in my heart, I own 4 Opel calibra, 2 turbo C20let , 1 C20xe, 1 c20ne

  • @bullnukeoldman3794
    @bullnukeoldman3794 Жыл бұрын

    The Calibra appears very similar in appearance to the USDM Chevrolet Cavalier's, three 2004 models of which I and two of my children owned. We had two-door coupes with the 2.2l and 5MT. Great styling, dependable, and reasonable performers but would readily corrode under the doors (sad face). Considered "cockroach" vehicles in the US as they were everywhere, I believe them, as well as the Calibra, very good looking vehicles. Good video.

  • @hendryloffeld1341

    @hendryloffeld1341

    Жыл бұрын

    i know the are a few calibras in the usa

  • @robertsmith4830
    @robertsmith4830 Жыл бұрын

    I remember watching a highly modified Calibra race in South Africa in the mid-1990s. The bodywork was so extreme it was pretty hard to tell what the under-lying car was.

  • @stevecooksley
    @stevecooksley Жыл бұрын

    I liked the Calibra but loved the Monaro 🙂

  • @wearetomorrowspast.5617
    @wearetomorrowspast.5617 Жыл бұрын

    That is a cool looking machine. I had a boss in the mid 80's who would send me to get stuff for him (legal) and let me drive his Mk 1 Astra. Later on I was going to buy an Astra but they were used in a lot of crime, mainly the ram-raiding of ATMs. Bad press kept me from ownership. And yes, I have kicked my own arse quite a few times since then.

  • @backupintheday9710
    @backupintheday9710 Жыл бұрын

    Cavalier Coupe is all they were really. It helped that the Mk3 Cavalier was a pretty good car to begin with. The Calibra Turbo 4x4 was obviously the one that stood out from the rest.

  • @GB-vn1tf
    @GB-vn1tf Жыл бұрын

    As a former GM Vauxhall spray painter I had just left working for GM as the MkIII Cavalier and Calibra were launched, IMHO at that time GM Europe were building better cars than Ford Europe, then they launched the Mondeo which left GM struggling in drivability and once they came to launching the Focus GM had lost the advantages they had in build quality.

  • @Rotterdam93
    @Rotterdam938 ай бұрын

    Womderful Opel / Vauxhall Calibra

  • @stuartsinclair6269
    @stuartsinclair626924 күн бұрын

    Vauxhall should make an updated version

  • @rscosworthfan
    @rscosworthfan Жыл бұрын

    8v was the most aerodynamic but the 16v wasnt due to bigger intakes

  • @skylineXpert
    @skylineXpert Жыл бұрын

    The drivetrain the Vectra OPC should have had. If you remember the famous Top Gear clip with lots of understeer.

  • @baronvonjo1929
    @baronvonjo1929 Жыл бұрын

    As a relatively young guy. I always found it so weird how their use to be a time where people would buy a less practical 2 door model in mass. If it's not a sports car what's the point? But saying that I am looking to buy a Scion tC lol

  • @rooramblingon895
    @rooramblingon895 Жыл бұрын

    I am sorry, but I was there and this was a Cavalier in a skirt. The turbo had what was supposed to be a new turbo layout with the impeller melded to the manifold (theoretically reducing lag), but gave no discernible benefit (according to Car Magazine and all the other mags of the time). The chassis was awful, just like the Mk3 Cavalier. In fact just like all the Opel designed cars, which were never made for the bumpy British roads. The V6 had handling to be expected from a very front-heavy FWD car with a terrible chassis. The key phrase is "Vauxhall claimed..."! It was pretty...that's it.

  • @hannahtimson2526

    @hannahtimson2526

    Жыл бұрын

    I remember how smooth the ride was in my dads vaux senator 24v,,, that thing would eat the motorway for breakfast,, he always said the speedo was in kms so im not really going 120

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