1998 Vauxhall Corsa 1.6i Sport

Lot details
Registration No: R817VLL
Chassis No: W0L0SBF08W4126610
Mot Expiry: None

The Opel Corsa was launched in 1982 and Spanish built for the European market. Though, here in the UK ours were badged as Vauxhall Novas. The squared-off shape, reliability and choice of engines made the car an instant hit with the thrifty and the young. Rallying success boosted sales still further, and the 1.6 litre GTE and GSi variants made a name for themselves as a perky hot-hatch in the mould of the old Mini Cooper. After a very long run for a GM car, the Corsa B was introduced in 1993 with our right-hand drive ones carrying the same name as the rest of Europe. The first-generation Vauxhall Corsa did sterling service in many a driving school, and this endeared it to the youth market, where the cars began to be modified, abetted by GM's ability to be parts-bin engineered.

The Sport 1.6i version offered here is enhanced with many of the items a youthful car enthusiast would use to personalise his or her Corsa. Indeed, the `Bad Boy' name applied to many current modified cars stems from the days when Corsas began to be altered. The look is helped with a four lamp conversion and smoothed and debadged colour-coded bodywork. Rear lamps are tinted using a solid dark lacquer. A single wiper conversion effectively sticks a digit straight up the windscreen, and DTM mirrors are always a must-have item for their lean look. Riding on 17-inch alloys shod with low-profile tyres, the Vauxhall also boasts a K&N induction kit, Sebring exhaust, strut brace, Momo Apache steering wheel / pedal set, Spax suspension, grooved brake discs, Corbeau buckets and Sparco harnesses etc. Featured on the front cover of `Extreme Vauxhall Corsa, the definitive guide to modifying', the hatchback does without a back seat and has been on static display for six years. Although `R817 VLL' looks to be highly presentable, the Museum advises that it must not be used on the road without being fully recommissioned and subjected to all the safety checks associated with a MOT test etc. This car literally `wrote the book' for the model, and so has street cred amongst modified and tuning fans. Darryl Starbird, George Barris and Boyd Coddington all built cars referenced now for their prescient insight into youth subculture. A mid `90s Corsa with Bad Boy styling is Britain's alternative.

PLEASE NOTE: Haynes Museum requires that the successful buyer signs a disclaimer, a copy of which is available to inspect in the documents office.