UK’s rarest cars: 1982 Vauxhall Cavalier SR, one of only four left on British roads
On 23 September 1981, Vauxhall introduced a new model that instantly made the Ford Cortina Mk5 look dated and the Morris Ital positively prehistoric. Three years later, the new Cavalier Mk2 was the UK’s second bestselling car, but today there are a mere four examples of the sportier SR version on the road.
Work on Project J82 began in 1977 with development undertaken by Vauxhall’s owner General Motors at home in Detroit and under fellow European GM brand Opel in Rüsselsheim, Germany. UK production commenced on 17 August 1981, while dealers prepared for the second front-wheel-drive car to bear Vauxhall’s griffin-head badge, the first being the Mk1 Astra in 1979.
At that time, the Cortina still dominated the UK’s pre-eminent fleet market while the Cavalier Mk2’s only front-drive British rivals were the not overly successful Talbot Alpine and Solara.
Prior to the launch date, Vauxhall’s HQ at Luton was understandably concerned that potential customers might be too conservative for a front-driven Vauxhall with a transverse engine. The press handouts emphasised the Mk2’s space efficiency, while a not overly subtle advertisement highlighted the layout’s merits. This 42-second drama also a) made a passing dig at the Ford Transit and b) hinted that Cavalier ownership bestowed magical powers of charisma upon the owner.
Unlike its predecessor, the new Cavalier’s Opel Ascona counterpart was unavailable in the UK to maximise the Vauxhall’s opportunities. Car magazine thought it set standards “which are bound to challenge every rival designer and engineer”. By 1983, Motor noted the Mk2 was the first car in its class “to put a significant dent in the Ford Cortina’s British sales figures”.
Vauxhall offered 15 versions of the second-generation Cavalier, including two-, four- and five-door options plus a choice of 1.3 and 1.6-litre overhead-camshaft engines. The entry-level two-door 1300S offered a “colour-keyed carpet” and not a lot else, while the larger-engined SR was, according to the sales release, “sporty” and with a “dash of luxury”.
The cost of SR motoring was £5,577.59 but the keen owner (probably an estate agent near Crawley) found it was worth every penny. For one, it boasted modified suspension, alloy wheels, low-profile tyres and more figure-hugging seats from rally specialist Recaro. There was also distinctive “Highland Check” upholstery and, most notably, a choice of distinctive two-tone paint finishes, with the lower half of the body in Anthracite Metallic
SR production lasted only until October 1982 and the introduction of the 1.8-litre SRi. The Cavalier Mk3 succeeded the Mk2 in 1988 and today Martin Hughes’s example is believed to be the last Jamaica Yellow model in the UK. His Vauxhall has covered a mere 16,500 miles from new and looks so smart it is difficult to believe it languished in a coal yard for several years.
Hughes says: “It is lovely to drive, but it has a four-speed gearbox and no power steering. As an ex-master Vauxhall technician, the SR is a perfect car for me as it is very easy to work on; I can fix the clutch in only 20 minutes.
“The Cavalier always receives comments from the public, such as ‘I haven’t seen one of those for a long time’, ‘Is it for sale?’, ‘How long have you had it?’ and ‘My dad had one of those’.”
Today, the yellow and grey Cavalier is more than a reminder of the days when a remote-control driver’s mirror was a talking point. The motoring historian Keith Adams argues that the Mk2 was “responsible for Vauxhall’s initial huge growth in the UK between 1980 and 1983 and took the company to number two behind Ford”.
The SR is a prime example of the right car launched at the right time – and at the right price. In addition to featuring a “sports steering wheel” as standard.
Thanks to: Martin Hughes, aronline.co.uk and the Cavalier and Chevette Club.
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