Vauxhall Calibra - The World's Most Aerodynamic Car

[@TheStobb50]

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

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

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

[@audraperkins3451]

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

[@THe9-3MAnIaC]

Saab models?

[@MCraigyboy7]

or in the UK Vauxhall Calibra ;-)

[@hughrobinson9978]

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!

[@peteryeadon946]

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]

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]

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

[@Bluefire397]

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

[@nygelmiller5293]

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]

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

[@nygelmiller5293]

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

[@Bluefire397]

@@nygelmiller5293 it's not my video?

[@davidhayes4814]

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]

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]

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

[@rob5944]

@@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?

[@qanon_qanon]

"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.

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

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]

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

[@rob5944]

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]

@@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]

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]

@@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.

[@breathtakingblue]

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

[@torresalex]

Hear, hear

[@fuzzynutter8344]

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!

[@richardcrossley5581]

Still looks good, even now.

[@DannoAviation]

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.

[@jfv65]

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]

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

[@davidpeters6536]

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.

[@lordmuntague]

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]

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.

[@rogerking7258]

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]

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.

[@peteryeadon946]

I hope you make some money out of these KZbin 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!

[@davesclassicgaragetours]

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

[@semird615]

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.

[@jonmilligan8069]

A genuinely brilliant looking car that still looks awesome today!

[@dawnharcom5817]

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

[@terribletelevision6980]

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.

[@uncinarynin]

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.

[@ssbN77]

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

[@bnipmnaa]

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.

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

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.

[@marshalllucky]

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 !

[@tomoxfford]

Is it withering away or being kept alive?

[@marshalllucky]

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

[@tomoxfford]

@@marshalllucky cool, which magazine?

[@paulmurray7365]

can i buy 😮😮😮

[@marshalllucky]

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

[@chomihai]

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

[@Bansidhe]

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

[@Andrewjg_89]

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.

[@video99couk]

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.

[@jfb3-Ret]

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.

[@TheHylianBatman]

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

[@slh950]

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

[@DavidRDHeath]

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

[@MalcolmCrabbe]

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]

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

[@1951GL]

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.

[@audraperkins3451]

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

[@thedarkknight1971]

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

[@aveedub7403]

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]

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

[@mcjdubpower]

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

[@MikeWooshy]

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.

[@mariemccann5895]

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]

I like the latest Peugeots and Astras though.

[@macjim]

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

[@newyorktwist]

I used to own a 1995 black Calibra 2.5 V6. I cried the day I sold it but it needed some work I couldn’t afford at the time. I traded in a Daewoo Matiz for the Calibra and I never stopped smiling until it had to go. RIP M11MPC

[@howardlake6178]

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]

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]

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)

[@marcel1463]

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

[@mastermindgaming4741]

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

[@vikramrao2797]

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]

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]

@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]

@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.

[@rayaspo4893]

Another fantastic video.

[@eezergoode8588]

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.

[@rtid7538]

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.

[@Stormb1azer]

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

[@badhippo]

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

[@c3gfboy7]

Which is based on the DTM if I’m right

[@johnnunn8688]

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]

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

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

@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]

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]

@@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.

[@RichardCorongiu]

One of the best looking cars...without even trying to look posh ...it just looked good...i remember them in Australia...striking and smart...it had a definite market but im surprised it didnt do better.

[@elgordo1148]

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.

[@simonhodgetts6530]

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.

[@biljancanin]

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

[@volvo480]

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]

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......

[@Low760]

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.

[@eftalanquest]

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]

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 😉

[@markplain2555]

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.

[@dylansmit3883]

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.

[@THX-C]

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

[@aveedub7403]

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!

[@craigymac5386]

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

[@ed4415]

I always liked the Calibre.

[@neilmustow368]

Great design was the Calibra 👌👌👌

[@BanjoLuke1]

The visual impact of the Calibra when it emerged was extraordinary. I saw my first one in the paddock parking area at Brands and it looked twenty times better than the launch pictures. Within two years they were everywhere and looked somehow tired and dull. I cannot think of another car whose ubiquity led to it falling so far, so fast. Maybe the UK record from "Wow!" to "Meh". A friend had one and HATED me referring to it as his Cavalier Coupé. But it was... a Cavalier Coupé. Lovely. Quite lovely until sales volumes made it look mundane. Compare to the first Manta in the UK... Equally striking when it emerged, it never lost that double-take allure. Rarity on UK roads made its cachet last.

[@craigsibley8161]

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

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

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

[@steven9562]

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

[@edwardburek1717]

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]

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

[@Zickcermacity]

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.

[@marciusmarciukas5467]

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

[@bullnukeoldman3794]

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]

i know the are a few calibras in the usa

[@darrenmitchell5262]

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.

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

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.

[@saintuk70]

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

[@backupintheday9710]

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.

[@KapiteinKrentebol]

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.

[@seanoturbo]

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]

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

[@robertsmith4830]

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.

[@GB-vn1tf]

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.

[@Astravan63]

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

[@scotthawkins1011]

Brilliant video!

[@baronvonjo1929]

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

[@comycomy88]

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

[@stevecooksley]

I liked the Calibra but loved the Monaro 🙂

[@patconway7402]

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

[@rooramblingon895]

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]

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

[@TheFatAndTheFurious]

Holy crudguards, the level of nerdistry in this vid is something else!

[@skylineXpert]

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

[@robertjackson5836]

Loved mine.

[@olegadodasguerras3795]

Nice vídeo awesome car

[@patrickskelton3610]

I hired one in 1977. Lovely car to drive, a 5 seater, handled well. took it to 115mph. 2.20hrs Durham to Hinckley. Then returned to the Bahamas & my '71 Maverick..

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

Hired what in 1977?

[@patrickskelton3610]

@@aston-martin-internationalist A Vauxhall Calibra of course. 1.9L

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

@@patrickskelton3610 firstly the Calibra never came with a 1.9L engine and secondly, production started 13 years after the date you suggested.

[@nygelmiller5293]

The Firenza , although you say it was supposed to COMPETE with the CAPRI ( later better known version) was in fact more a rival to the ORIGINAL Ford CAPRI, I.e. the coupe version of the Ford Classic saloon. Logical really, because the Firenza itself was, as you say, a coupe version of the Viva!

[@vintagebicyclenut5764]

So where is the mention of the 1992 Vauxhall Calibra?? And the 1991 Lotus Calibra 3.6L Twin Turbo????

[@vintagebicyclenut5764]

1992 Vauxhall Calibra Turbo Mention was missing