Vauxhall : Nova
1983–1993
Model Introduction
Launched in 1983 as Vauxhall’s version of the Opel Corsa A, the Nova sat on GM’s front-wheel-drive S-Car platform and quickly became a familiar sight on British roads. Designed by GM’s in-house styling teams under Wayne Cherry, it was offered in three- and five-door hatchback forms, plus two- and four-door saloons — the latter giving the small car an unexpectedly formal profile for its class. Trims ranged from the frugal 1.0-litre base model to the lively 1.3 SR and later the fuel-injected GTE. Light weight and simple mechanicals made it easy to drive, cheap to run, and straightforward to work on — qualities that helped it endure well beyond its official 1993 replacement by the Corsa B. In the UK, the Nova later gained cult status in the Max Power magazine era of the 1990s, when heavily modified examples with wide-arch kits, huge wheels, and booming sound systems became icons of the boy-racer scene. Today, unmolested survivors are far rarer and increasingly valued by enthusiasts who remember both its everyday dependability and its starring role in Britain’s car culture.
Magazine articles (7)
Magazine Articles
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Scoop! GM S-Car
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Vauxhall's Metro!
Here come the Luton men with a great new mini-car to upset Ford's and BL's applecart
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Corsa! GM Blitzes the minis
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Now it's Nova!
Vauxhall Director John Bagshaw has high hopes for his company's new supermini, the Nova, which went on sale this week. Those expectations include sales this year of 27,000 Novas with 50,000 sales the target for 1984. If achieved, these volumes will give GM's first supermini 6th or 7th place in the UK sales league and dramatically change the face of Britains's new-car market
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Newcomers : Baby Vauxhall lands at last
GM's sweet supermini, called Nova in Britain, is here. It's a mix of good looks and gremlins
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Giant Test
Daihatsu Charade v Austin Metro v Ford Fiesta v Vauxhall Nova v Citroen Visa v Volkswagen Polo v Peugeot 205 v Fiat Uno
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Road Test: Vauxhall Nova SR
Down at the small end of the market, Vauxhall has a very fine little machine in the Nova, and the SR is just the sort of car to attract young enthusiasts. The dust appears to have settled, for the time being at least, over the irritation of Luton’s workforce about the Nova being built in Spain, and its sales are already impressive. The Nova SR is certainly not in the same market area as the Chevette 2300 HS, but it is a highly credible rival to the MG Metro, and any little car which can exceed 100mph must be regarded as fairly sporty. At £5,199, the SR has a £50 advantage over the MG at the start of haggling in the showroom. The Peugeot 205 GT (£5,395) is an alternative worth considering, but most other competitors, such as the Renault S5STX (£5,250) look at bit dated by comparison. When the new and very cute-looking Honda Civics appear, that could be another story, and there will soon be a 1.3 Fiesta.
