Barn Find 80s Turbo Conversion Fast 4 door - rarer than a Lotus Carlton. Not driven in decades!

[@noisysprings]

Great to meet you guys and Phil and I had a great day filming this. Eyebrows and beard have grown back now as well! Cheers, Steven.

[@jeremyturner4327]

Are you going to get it back on the road

[@noisysprings]

@@jeremyturner4327 Unfortunately no as Phil has too many projects on the go. Hopefully the right person will take it on.

[@patreekotime4578]

Thank you for your sacrifice! 😅

[@TekNeil]

Took one for the team there mate lol, well played!

[@FF-gg1bm]

Class , one of my favourite barn finds let me know if it comes up for sale thanks

[@Ash-ky8jo]

I've been sent out to buy gravy. I'm sat in the carpark outside of the shop watching this. Mrs is gonna be asking questions. 😂

[@Klutch58Customs]

Mine expects it now. Last barn find I spent an hour "lighting the BBQ"

[@AntonHoward-mx9sb]

Worth the bollocking chap

[@thebigbowler]

Took the bins and recycling out ♻️ out 😂

[@harveytr7106]

#hero

[@alanpassmore2574]

Who buys gravy? I make my own..

[@CourtenaySportLtd]

Hello Jonny what a great piece thank you. Lovely to see the car again along with Phil the owner and also that old invoice with my scruffy writing! Best regards Jon Shield.

[@patrickbruijsten2831]

They did a great job on it so far, would be an awesome story if that car would be running someday, and driven back for a service at you guys.

[@robin_marriott]

Great find, and props to Jon at Courtenay for taking the time to talk to you about something they built all those years ago.

[@kamidphish]

As an Aussie that grew up on Holdens, my immediate reaction is "is that a narrow VN Commodore?" Top of the line Holdens even had Senator and Statesman monikers.

[@Low760]

Yes it is a narrow lwb vn. The omega is what Holden started with and modified for Australia.

[@MrTubeuser12]

I owned an '89 vn commodore and I thought the same thing when I saw the body,

[@CoreyjGrieve]

Yeah, all of the side glass,surrounds and door handles were used on the VN Commodore. I still own a VN SV5000 from Tom Walkinshaw's (TWR / HSV) stable, owned for 25 years.

[@mclouj]

Yep first thing I thought of. Classic shape.

[@AlanMCcormic]

Very similar to the VQ Holden Statesman 🇦🇺

[@barney3417]

As a retired traffic officer , you are correct, I loved driving the 24v Senator , 162 mph on Vascar!! Accurate!! Straight out of the box ❤❤❤

[@peterbalac1915]

I had a mate on traffic used to drive a 24 valve senator, he told me they used to get to 150mph coming off at junction 13 on the M1north bound , hardest part was getting it stopped because it was really heavy with all the kit they carried.

[@Ken_Dodds_Tickling_Stick]

Phil Thorpe.....a blast from the past. I remember Phil back in the day when I had my 1977 VX490 and Phil had a Swedish VX2300, which there's every possibility it's the blue one on the ramp. Phil was always a gentleman.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

That blue one on the ramp is from Sweden, yes!

[@paulmoor595]

We had a grey Senator 24v on Brentwood Traffic Unit covering the M25. This car was an absolute legend!. It was by far the car of choice, despite it getting old and becoming a proper beater. We kept it far longer than we ever should do. That car was single handedly responsible for more yuppy licences being taken than any other vehicle Essex Police ever had....including JK 😂. It was also like driving a tank in a TPAC...I remember smashing a stolen Fiesta through the front wall of a house in Gravesend. It only had bumper damage!!. Loved that car....

[@RaymondWormald]

@@paulmoor595 haha classss

[@paulelverstone8677]

If this was a plain wrapper then it might've been the same one that pulled me over in 1997 on the A12 Brentwood bypass! The copper was an absolute diamond. Followed me for 5 miles and averaged me out at 98mph on my VFR to avoid the 6 month ban. Got 3 points and £60 fine instead. Was forever grateful as it was my first 'big' bike and I'd only bought it the day before. Passed my IAM the next year. Was taught an attitude more than anything. Nearly 27yrs later and I still have that same motorbike...

[@RaymondWormald]

@@paulelverstone8677 story that 👍

[@cogboy302]

I'll bet the folk whose house you pushed the Fiesta into were pleased.

[@tpow5906]

Paul Moor, that’s brilliant

[@timlowe3081]

Bloke sounds like a top chap, what a workshop, love this show

[@TheManmoths]

This is LBS Barn Find gold! Super rare, cool, kinda underworld image… and two top chaps geeking out over it all. Speaking to Jon at Courtenay was the icing on the cake 🤌🏻

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you. Really chuffed you enjoyed this one.

[@GRfourfun]

What a gem! I had a white red top Mk3 Astra GSI 16v, on route back to Germany I came across a white Mk2 GTE 16v and I thought I’ll go past. As I tried it went away from me like I was stood still. I eventually caught back up to him and then saw the badge, Courteney turbo!

[@matthewc.419]

Lad I knew in the 90s had a 5 door mk3 Astra SRI , 130mph easily ...cracking motor

[@GRfourfun]

@@matthewc.419 I had a mate with one too, great cars.

[@syncro18t10]

I had a Dreg mk2 astra 5door 1.8 SRI Turbo Technics in metallic blue and was as rotten as a pear, swapped the running gear over into a Greg white SRI 5door but getting parts for it was a nightmare I managed to buy the last downpipe TT had in stock and they also told me they only built a handfull as they weren't popular but with a Garrett T3 on it went like f#$k, it was one of many cars I wish I'd kept😢

[@ferrumignis]

I had a 1989 dark grey metallic 16v GTE for quite a number of years and it was a really quick car for the time, and also very good on fuel if you resisted the urge to boot it everywhere. Despite the generally poor quality interior (though Recaro seats were nice) and middling handling it's one of a few cars I have owned that really stand out for me.

[@GRfourfun]

@@ferrumignis I’ll bet that was stunning, I always like the MK2. Lad on camp had one in that nice purple, although it was the Opel Kadett GSI 16v.

[@BlackNYella]

Johnny, for your knowledge, it’s a Kenwood Mask head unit. Its predecessor is called the Kenwood Stealth, it had a metal flip-over panel. The Mask had a screen that flipped-over. I was a car audio engineer in those days. Martin from Max Power ended up at the same Oxford firm as me. Happy days.

[@RustyBonnet]

I had a couple of them. Both got stolen lol. Went for the Alpine 7909 in the end with removable cage. Can't steals what's not there.

[@Cyberdyne-kg8ku]

You have really, really, really got to revisit these so we can see what happens to these cars once you uncover them. That'll be a series in itself.

[@kramer26]

LBS Barn Finds REVISITED

[@aarongraham7177]

As an old Vauxhall fan this is one of the best episodes I've seen. What a car and what a story!

[@mikerichards9196]

"I can smell your eyebrows"! What a line 😂

[@victorbox6289]

What a video! 1980's and 1990's Vauxhalls bring back so many happy memories. As a Cavalier guy it's so lovely to recognise all the features, trim and parts common to all the models😀

[@paulknight1332]

The trip computer was the same as the one in my 1991 Cavalier GSi - I miss that car 😥

[@stevehertfordshire1879]

I took my own GTE 16v to Courteney Turbo back in the day. It was later in my ownership featured in Revs magazine! G888 EJL. torque steer was interesting and in the wet it would just wheel spin everywhere!! Oh to be young again!!

[@brianiswrong]

As a man of a certain age Just seeing a senator with a boot spoiler gets my juices flowing🎉

[@alidaniels2487]

You me both mate. I saw that spoiler poking up as he was doing his intro and immediately knew the video would been about that. I was just thinking, I'm sure that's a senator when he said it! Great car

[@Damien-bi6ng]

Great video, Jonny! Vauxhall Senator was one of my favourite cars growing up. My dad had an ‘88 E plate Cartlon 1.8 GL (which he still swears was his best car he’s ever owned) & used to get it serviced at Green’s of Rainham (Kent). They had a black Senator in their show room - roushed leather & all!❤

[@RaymondWormald]

Same here they wer silky n kwik wernt they like a big saloon

[@samuelgarrod8327]

​@@RaymondWormaldThey were a big saloon.

[@RaymondWormald]

@@samuelgarrod8327 that’s what a more or less sed a think 🤔 a remember them well

[@wingcommanderdaltonwalton67]

Same ,I passed my test in it. 3 point turn was a doddle even though it was 75ft long it turned like a black cab!😂

[@kramer26]

Greens of Rainham! Was that the one bottom of Maidstone Road opposite the a Manor Farm pub?

[@ca9968]

Wow! Haven`t seen one of these in 40 years... My family emigrated to South Africa in the early 1980`s and my dad was given one as a company car, it was badged as the Chevrolet Senator there...my first road trip to the Natal coast from Johannesburg was taken in that car...good memories!

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

I didn't know they made Chevy badged versions.

[@ca9968]

@@TheLateBrakeShow I believe they were Chevy badged in SA until late 82, then they switched to an Opel badge, he later was also given a Chevy "Record" estate with Furniture City decals all over it (the company he came over from the UK to work for), he had that car for ages and liked it so much that he bought off the company for the family car when they decided to replace the fleet with Toyota Corolla`s...

[@TekNeil]

They did a turbo Manta too. My Dad had a black one, never seen another since! Must've been pretty rare. EDIT: Ah, I was only a couple minutes in when I commented, and then saw the Manta mentioned. Me and my Dad built the 1988 British MOD saloon championship winning Manta. So, nice to see another old series mentioned (Thunder saloons). Anyway, I'm yapping. Another great episode, another bit of inspiration to do something with my Corrado G60 and Mk1 Golf GTI. I miss and love you Dad, wish you could be watching this with me. My hero.

[@TekNeil]

4am in the UK watching this, crying my eyes out. Depression is a hell of an illness. Cars, just sat there, unable to even see em. (Never leave the house) Never mind get em back on the road. Just remembered I have a 2001 IS200 Sport Aero sat in a garage as well. Factory slippy diff, factory body kit etc. Just wish my Dad was here to spur me on...

[@dannyholder1359]

​@@TekNeilHey fella. Stick with it, people care. As my dad always used to say...onwards and upwards👍

[@timbarrington3607]

​@@TekNeilsorry to read your comment. My dad was my hero and engineering mentor. I try and make everyday count in my dad's memory. Many people on here have your back and as a community I am certain plenty of people would rally round if you needed help or someone to make tea and have banter with. Take care mate. From another dub head.

[@oldieman730]

The same body shell was used by Holden for the VN/VR/VS series Commodore in Australia.

[@EasyRhino2]

In the early 90s I worked for a funeral home. The fleet was a mix of Carlton 2.6l and Senator 3.0l. They were good, solid cars and felt fast to me as a new driver

[@Gmh6477]

When I was young the boss at my local Henley’s Vauxhall had a fully converted Imscher senator in dark green complete with the 4.0 engine conversion ! I would ride to the dealership in town on my bike into the car park just look at it because my parents had a senator at the time 😂

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

That would be such a retro tuner weapon by today's standards.

[@--Zook--]

I will say it every time. As a 49 year old car nut, this is my favorite car show. Love the passion for "everyday" cars. The people and the stories in this series are amazing!

[@philtucker1224]

(Jump ahead 25 years Zook ) - to nearer my age and you will also probably be one of these “old geezers” with a weird car collection of half a dozen or more old cars covered in dust and old house carpets ha ha! Live long and prosper mate! 😁

[@neildaniel8232]

Lovely to watch and also to hear that Phil is willing to let it go to the right person who can recommission it. He's made sure it survives and it's only right it's allowed to live again, either with him or a new owner. As soon as I saw the stereo I instantly yelled 'Kenwood MASK!', took me right back as I sold them in my Saturday job and had one in my Corsa 🤣

[@Galahadfairlight]

Love a Senator, sold my last one two years ago, a J reg 3.0 24v auto. Those Senators also have speed sensitive power steering, the faster it goes, the less the steering reacts to prevent too sharp a turn at speed.

[@alexbakermault4518]

I had that stereo and it was epic. Now, the car has and will always be a favourite of mine. A very underrated car and an awesome police car. Those who knew back in the day, knew it was a diamond in the rough. So nice to see one again and on barn find. This episode has been excellent. Thanks again Johnny for a quality show.

[@DaveLaw73]

Your record of every barnfind owner being an excellent person is still intact. Were those Denis Taylor spec glasses Phil was wearing at the beginning? The sign of a committed poolsman.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Yes, absolutely !

[@Ivc406]

Hi Jonny best one yet my best car was a vx Carlton 1.8 GL bought it for coppers had it a couple years car was minted but cos it was a yreg my wife wanted something newer and a bit smaller as she wanted to learn to drive, broke my heart ended up with a nissan bluebird, my grandson is into vxhalls he's got a few novas astras and corsas,he's trying his best to get me a senator, the Strathclyde Road Policing had a few senators they were rapid,ps my grandson trying to get me a Carlton not a senator keep them coming Jonny top man regards from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

The digital dash is awesome. Very funny to see Phil laughing his head off. Excellent effort.

[@alexanderheron1702]

Dad had a senator when I was 7 or 8. I absolutely loved the kickdown on the auto and the noise the big lump made

[@andyc9187]

Fair play! Awesome video Johnny! Brought back lots of memories. Passed my test in ‘85 and Vauxhalls were the car to have!

[@johnkilburn6923]

I used to travel from Ireland in the 80s and always impressed with the kit the British police had never ever seen in the republic, what a classic

[@mariom.9472]

I had this particular Radio in my Golf mark 2 in 99. In Germany we had a similar Turbo conversion i was called "Projekt Opel" an was based on the Omega (Carlton in GB) as far as i remember it was a 12 valve engine with a KKK Turbocharger with around (depending on source) 320-350Ps (315-345Bhp).

[@markopolo9559]

Can't believe how good the Senator looked after a clean, just imagine the paint after a full detail. A special car!

[@MdvK13979]

Great find/shout-out from Steve and Phil! The Senator in itself is already very rare. Even back in the day!

[@anthonyfernwood8093]

Always wanted a Senator but went for its competition so I bought a three year old Granada Scorpio that was 26years ago but glad to say I still have it in my garage and it still runs, love these old cars.

[@LordBass]

I'm American. I confess I had to enable the CC to understand the Scottish brogue. And dang what a unique car!

[@nikvandeneede1228]

I can understand them and English is my third language

[@nigelroberts557]

The guy from Courtney mentioned Barry McGuigans Vauxhall Carlton. He used to live locally and drove one with the registration BAX1T, altered to read BOX IT! Not sure if it was the turbo conversion, but it looked great it black.

[@jonathanshield533]

Yes that was the number plate on the one we Turbocharged, regards Jon Shield

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Is that car still around?

[@nigelroberts557]

@@TheLateBrakeShow I haven't seen it since Barry McGuigan owned it - 1987-88 ish

[@guyredshaw1422]

Wow! What a great history tour about the car and Courtenay. Another excellent find and (flash🤭) video production.👏👏

[@SurvivingTheApocalypse]

I remember my best mate showing me his brand new Kenwood Mask in his Corsa. Blew my mind.

[@neilhudson7099]

Still have mine in the garage, no idea if it works still!

[@idesignyou...9257]

Loved that stereo! I had one in my Cavalier SRI, saved the hassle of unclipping the facia and then having to carry it into a night club! lol

[@fusionfan6883]

My Dad had the Omega, which was a 2 door fast back version of the mark 1 Senator. It was built like a tank, had real presence and was a great cruiser. It’s heavy build quality also saved our lives in a nasty side on shunt. Great car🚗 I had a couple of great Vauxhalls including a mark 1 Astra GTE and Cavalier SRI, both surprisingly fast motors. Dad also had a mark 2 GTE and the digital dash was a real novelty, but I always preferred the mark 1 as it just looked more planted and aggressive.

[@kings3803]

What a cool car. I had a carlton gsi "back in the day" I loved that car. Used it for a 30 mile return journey everyday for 2 years. Comfortable and fast enough to make the drive a pleasure.

[@TerranBrown]

At 20ish I was lucky to own one. As you can imagine I got a rubbing from my peer group but really it was comfy and it was quick. Got me in to Vx and autos in a big way. Loved it and still miss to this day.

[@gmain1977]

Great find, did not know they about one of these. Its funny because Janspeed did same thing to the Ford Granada in in 1985ish ,that is very rare as well. Your channel is very honest and no faffing around.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Thank you for this feedback. We love hearing from folks who appreciate these stories.

[@damowilliams204]

Best car ever on Late Brake show! Fair doos to the guy from Courtney Turbo, very helpful. I never knew they were still going

[@davidf2281]

Another *magnificent* episode. Well done Jonny. And that digital dash is so Knight Rider, love it.

[@Nathan.Guthrie]

I think we all want to see a Eagle Quest turbo now...

[@JarrydJunkin]

an Eagle Quest turbo conversion by Courtenay workshop would be amazing

[@paulriggers1558]

senators were great for doing the newcastle to london run, main beam on + stay in the outside lane all the time at the time, all the cop cars were senators, nobody got in your way... 285 miles in 3hrs 15mins was or best time... no cameras, no ANPR, good old days...

[@KingLaudrup]

Loved this video - anything off the beaten track from the 80s/90s is like catnip for me!

[@AnagramAutoclassics]

My dad had a bronze-coloured VX2300 auto with a black vinyl roof and lovely ginger-coloured velour interior. It was gorgeous, and surprisingly quick too. He sold it, rather than letting me buy it from him. I still like old Vauxhalls, and hanker after an Omega.

[@craigs71]

I was on YTS back in 1988 - 1990 and worked in a VW/AUDI dealership in the bodyshop, I worked with a guy who's wife working at a Vauxhall dealership and he wanted a Lotus Carlton but they were rarer than hen's teeth. His wife went on to say that the Senator was the 'next best thing' and was selling quite well due to the inavailability of the Carlton.

[@robinfoster7597]

Another great show Jonny, well done. I have some affection for the Carlton - I had a Carlton estate and got almost an entire rave in it - 2 x turntables & mixer, 4 big speakers, massive tarp, even a generator! Happy days :)

[@samuelgarrod8327]

No, you need ravers for a rave pal. I assume you've never been to a real one.

[@robinfoster7597]

@@samuelgarrod8327 you can think what you like! Obviously you’re not going to get all the ravers in a single vehicle!

[@scatmancraig1974]

Earlier Senator B's with the 2.5 and 3.0 12v engine and Jetronic fuel injection had a horrible fuel rail set up with little tubular metal T-pieces connecting several rubber hoses, very prone to leaks. When the 24v came out, with Motronic injection, the 12v's were still available but also with the Motronic injection and a solid fuel rail. The late 3.0 12v engine was the one to have, as it also came with a big valve head compared to the earlier version. You can tell the difference straight away as they had a gold coloured rocker cover with red lettering.

[@AlanMCcormic]

Down here In Australia they were released with the 3.8 V6 or 4.9 304 V8 pretty quick cars back in the day

[@davidbradley-x9d]

I have a 12v gold top big valve engine in my Carlton with the Motronic injection. Shame I didn't know about the colour of the rocker cover as it had previously been painted and I had it powder coated black, having said that I do have a spare rocker cover.

[@GazzUnseen]

Great episode and a very cool car and collection. Brilliant story and a proper 80’s digital dash to top it off, beautiful!

[@davelawrence594]

WOW what an incredible find this old baby its still amazes me too this day what awesome cars are still out there waiting to be found & brought back to life!!👌🏻👍🏻

[@Levenstone132]

What a beauty.I'd love to see that '58 Victor back on the road.Super rare.

[@peterbowden2646]

Great vid jonny loved the vx2300 and victor FA estate all the vauxhalls in the late 70s / early 80s were stylish cars cavaliers,carltons,senators as were the opel equivalents mantas,monzas etc 😊

[@80gam]

Great video Jonny…such a joy watching you showcasing these classic cars…keep them coming 👍

[@idesignyou...9257]

Absolutely fantastic episode, had me in tears of laugher at poor Steven's eyebrows! The stereo also took me down memory lane, had exactly the same one in my Cavalier SRI back in the day!

[@n22pdf]

My dad was a Vauxhall dealer and I worked there in the holidays and drove a few Senators, GSEs, Monzas, uncle had a silver lotus Carlton.. dad had a few Carltons.. owned many Vauxhalls back in the day.. friend of mine had a GSI2000 turbo charged by Courtney man it was awesome 😊 great vid.. Pete

[@GTE_Channel]

As a kid I frequently went to visit the local Opel dealer. He allways let me sit in the Senator and the dash allways captivated me.

[@stuartleckie]

I was a young Vauxhall mechanic when these cars were brand new (not using the name to avoid spoilers) I had the privilege of delivering a couple to Strathclyde Police. 5 speed manual, definitely not standard, calibrated speedo. I’ll never forget how nimble they were for their size. This is a great find, and a great guy too!

[@markmanderson]

the local traffic police up here in tayside had a few senators back in the day, always looked so lovely in the jam jar paint setup.

[@robertstirzaker767]

I think you mean jam sandwich 😂

[@Daytonafox1]

I loved these cars when i was in the motor mechanics industry back then. What a beast.

[@edsterhunt]

My dad had one of these beasts when I was a kid the Digital dash use to blow my mind I don’t think I had ever seen any thing like that back then, it was a rocket to me

[@trevorclayton9180]

Good memories,I started my apprenticeship at a vauxhall main dealer in 1985 till1997 what memories, wish I could go back, senator 24v were the bees knees 👏👏

[@saveourplanet6051]

What a car , needs fully restoring and taken to shows for all to see

[@hozzer68]

In the early to mid 90’s I used to chauffeur the Deputy CC and the 2 Assistant CC of Lothian & Borders Police in an unmarked 3.0L Senator automatic, great car.

[@andrewsanderson2591]

The traffic lads down here in Teesside loved the 24 valve Senators - had to be the auto box,though,the manual used to lose traction too easily.

[@hozzer68]

@@andrewsanderson2591 yep, theTraffic cars were all manuals just the top brass cars were autos for us.

[@ianwatson3315]

Vx2300 ..brought back memories. 8 years old , 1972 going with my mum and dad to pick up a brand new yellow vx490 rosstyle wheels and over drive…that car took us all over Europe towing a caravan…very happy times!

[@StuartOliver83]

Stunning car I love that huge overhang over the back wheels

[@MEchanicAL_LSTAR]

This sounds like Courtney needs to get involved and help get this back on the road. I’m sure they could do some promotional shoots with it before a new owner puts some miles on it.

[@stevestibbons1789]

Courtney went out of business years ago, they were based in North Walsham in Norfolk, and were taken down by a rogue mechanic, handing out dodgy MOT’s

[@stephenarcher7162]

Courtenaysport are alive and well and still in North Walsham ​@@stevestibbons1789

[@ant2312]

@@stevestibbons1789 tripe

[@hendo337]

I live in the US, I am a huge Holden fanatic, I have had a '13 Chevrolet Caprice PPV 6L, '16 Chevrolet SS 6.2L and I have an '04 Pontiac GTO T-56 that is apart and I need to build an iron 6L I have up for it and install it. Right now I am in Brazil and they have the Chevrolet Omega A here that is like the Senator in this video but they came with a 4.1L EFI I6 here, they also have the Omega B which is a LHD Holden Commodore 3.8L SII Buick. I really want to import one of the Omegas back home so I can be the only guy who has one and dona V8 swap in it. I would probably rebuild the LS1 that cam out of my GTO or build an aluminum 5.3 and replace the 4L60E with an 80e or a manual like a T-56 or CD09. That would be really cool to have, even if I just did a T-5 manual swap from 4th Gen F-body to the 3800 and did a supercharger or turbo, cam and springs it woukd be pretty cool to be the only one with that generation LHD Holden Commodore in the USA. Love the big cars. When I was a teenager the '94-'96 Impala SS was my dream car and when those went out of production Car and Driver teased the fact that Australia still made the big Holdens and they were getting the LS1. Back when I was ypu I couldnt afford a GM B body with a 350 engine to buy or insure with my one money so I started buying '92+ Ford Crown Victorias and Grand Marquis with 4.6L 2V V8s, I had 6 or those before I eventually could afford an '05 Mustang GT, then a '10 and an '11 Coyote 5.0. Eventually in '14 I got a year old Caprice PPV with 800 miles that was a demonstrator car in Alto Grey it was my absolute favorite car I have ever had. The big GM cars are just wonderful. Great stuff, you got my sub for sure. Love these Carltons and Senators. I could have bought a Lotus Omega that was for sale in Texas a while back...I really wish I could have bought it, I also had a chance to import a 1st year HSV Clubsport 5L from Australia that had just fallen under the 25 year import threshold. Cool stuff.

[@BPF80MCar-vi1pg]

That SS will rip won't it. I'm an m3 driver and those things scare me

[@markarnold8160]

I had the Opel 3.0 CDE. This has just taken me back 27 years and now I'm looking for one or a Carlton GSi 3000.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Carlton 3000GSis have all but disappeared it seems.

[@markarnold8160]

@@TheLateBrakeShow I think someone in Beverley has one up for £100k 😵‍💫

[@duncanhamilton5841]

@@markarnold8160 For a GSi??!? Bloody hell. I supercharged my old 12v, and then swapped for an FZR-400 in bits :D

[@notmanynamesleft]

I sold a white 1990 G plate one around 2007 for £775 with full MOT and it was really clean, probably the car I regret selling most!

[@Stokie_Helen]

My grandad had a plain white 12v Senator manual with a black velour interior. Bought it second hand as an "ex-police car" - first time he took granny out in it some police officers saluted them 😂 D247 KKH. What a car. I loved it because it was cool, sounded nice, had seats like armchairs and didn't make little me carsick unlike the bloody Ambassador he had before!

[@ruleninetyone]

Love a Senator. My brother had one and we had 146MPH out of it (downhill) Great days ❤

[@sbv-zs7wz]

I'm running a rare GSI 24v Carlton from 1990 and so much of it seems inherited from here

[@rogervd666gamer]

" I can smell your eyebrows" hilarious line 😂. Great Opel/ Vauxhall, it's a shame only standing there.

[@dcallan812]

I used to love my Vauxhall Firenza's having owned more than a few, I lalso had an Opal Manta round about the same time period. All the Firenza's had modifications one to a 3.5 Rover V8 and Jag back axle. Great video 2x👍

[@chrisslater3174]

Great find, and it has certainly peaked the interest of many men of a certain age on here. As an 80's induced petrolhead myself, reared on the weird and wonderful back then, I never even knew it existed!

[@minioner5080]

The Vauxhall senator 24valve was one of my favourite late 80s cars 👌🏻 as for the turbo conversion 🤤

[@angusnz7910]

Got in my shed a 90 opel badged omega gsi (silver) with 34,000km (21,000 miles) , and a Vauxhall badged 91 gsi (met grey) 24valve with 141,000km (88,000 miles) and only change is full leather. Love them to bits and alternate every few years on the road then swap. These are an under rated car here in NZ and not worth much at all. Parked next to my B8 Passat they are tiny…it’s shocking how large our cars have become.

[@Wizards_Sleeve]

Unmarked Senators were popular with the Suffolk and Norfolk constabularies.... don't ask me how I know 🙄😁 I knew about the Senator and always lusted after a Courtney kit for my Manta 🙂 The picture of the Thunder Saloons pace car at Snetterton brought back good memories of going there with my dad ❤

[@AlanMCcormic]

Popular with Aussie cop's aswell hear em coming miles away Holden slipped a 304 V8 under the bonnet

[@Faza_M]

I think every people who ever life in 80s are very lucky especially for car enthusiast. you guys had many unique car tuning companies, countless aftermarket car accessories, great motorsport champions , and much more.

[@AlanMCcormic]

It was a hugely successful touring car down here in Australia

[@Faza_M]

@@AlanMCcormic Holden are quite popular in my country and some model are build locally, but sadly last holden being sold in my country are calais VL, VN series are planned but never came. and in 80s my grandfather had brown Statesman HJ.

[@thesolidsnakealpha]

Consistently the best show on YT by far Carrying on the legacy of top gear and getting complete novices like myself into cars young and old God bless 🙏

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

Many thanks. That is kind 👌🏾

[@EmilysDadd]

I had 2 Senators ... a 12 valve & then later a 24 valve. I still miss my Senators!

[@martintownley5803]

I had a 12v 3.0 too. Digital dash and velour seats. Loved that car!

[@dominicbarne5218]

Ahhhh the old jam sandwich and with the added bonus of a turbski, i’m an old skool bmw fan but this is still up there with the best.

[@adamcampbell-jones7621]

My Dad had 2 Carltons,he used them 4 cab work.Steve wasn't trying to save the president, he was trying to save the Senator !

[@StuartOliver83]

Stunning car I love that huge overhang over the back wheels..

[@swackerle]

Is that L Jetronic by chance? If it is, it won't run unless there is air being pulled through the MAF by the filter. The L stands for "Luft". It cuts the fuel if it doesn't sense air coming through. Learned it that hard way from a very stubborn Alfa Spider...

[@TheJensenInterceptor]

Very very interesting, brings so many memories back when I had Cavalier CDi in 1980's 3 times brand new company cars and my big boss blew up his Senator engine. I loved the Vauxhalls from the 1980;s I did hundreds of thousands of miles in my many new CDi cars.

[@StuartBursnoll]

great to see this car is still about, i converted several vaxuhalls for Chris the cavalier 4x4 with water injection was a real handful on the road as was the nova GTE

[@KangoV]

Absolutely awesome. This interrupted me tracking down a parasitic battery drain on my LR Discovery 3.0. I watched this waiting for it to go to sleep ;)

[@Locost59]

I went to 6th form in North Walsham and remember seeing the Courtney Cars dealership with sporty Astras and Novas. Once on the A47 in Norfolk coming out of a roundabout a back Vauxhall left me completely standing, it was one of the RWD saloons, assumed it would have been the Lotus but could have been one of these.

[@richcolour]

Very similar looking to my Carlton, same paint. Someone broke in one night and slept in it. Left their skiddy pants as a thank you gift.

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

What? Seriously?!

[@peterlisyak5396]

It’s called a hospital wash, ie: blanket bath. Great job Phil and Steve hope you continue the recommission, thanks Johnny keep the great work up.

[@SChapps]

Seeing the Courtenay badge was a nice surprise, my Hyundai i30N has been remapped by them. They’re still going here in Norfolk as Vauxhall tuning specialists as well as being the best in the country for tuning Hyundai N cars

[@djm9936]

Lovely car, deserves recommissioning and using, the mileage is already over 100k so definitely no harm it being a driver.

[@ehuiii]

About 28:40 that flame ball made the guy forget he was Scottish for a second 🤣 “that’s what I knew was gonna happen”… jolly good lol