James B is after a set of center caps for the Vauxhall Nova 3 spoked alloy wheels fitted to the; GT/e, GTi, or SRi models.  He specifically needs the ones with the 2 slots in each spoke.

I can't help him, but perhaps you can? if so, please contact me and I will be glad to pass your details on.

Image of a Vauxhall Nova GSi rally car from a promotional post card
Vauxhall Nova GSi rally car




Darren W called today to collect a rear windscreen for his recently aquired Opel Manta A series project. He bought the car not realising just how difficult even the simplest parts can be to find now.

I was able to supply him with the right part, it even had the original rubber screen seal, although you wouldn't have wanted to re-use it, it was somewhat cracked and crusty. Screen seals used to be available through some of the German dealers for around £100, although even these may now be gone.

For the record, there are roughly three front and rear windscreens left in stock.

The Opel Manta A series, here in the UK at least, was supplied with these quite heavy duty engine sump guards as standard.

They are quite an unusual item to find fitted to a road car, but maybe the engineers at Opel thought it essential to protect the bottom of the engine and keep water from flooding into the alternator. Typically they are removed for servicing and don't get replaced. As they are made from regular mild steel and given the location where they are mounted, they are quite prone to rusting away.

This one I had powder coated in a silk black finish some years ago, it is out of my loft and is now up for grabs

Image of a restored Opel Manta A series sump guard
Opel Manta sump guard - the dips are spot welds

Image of a restored Opel Manta A series sump guard
Opel Manta sump guard - looking clean from above

Image of a restored Opel Manta A series sump guard
Opel Manta sump guard - some denting is inevitable

Image of a restored Opel Manta A series sump guard
Opel Manta sump guard - a few tiny rust pinholes


I have to confess that I have a sizable stash of "mystery parts", all unboxed, unlabelled and for applications  unknown. I worked on the principal that sooner or later they might prove useful to someone, if I could only work out what they fitted.

This bizarre air filter housing component is typical of such mystery parts. It has a few design features that the eagle eyed classic car fans might recognise. Note the ovoid mounting ring on the base, as far as I know this was a signature design feature on Solex carburettors.

Image of a Solex carburettor to air filter adapter
Ovoid mounting ring - a signature design feature on Solex carburettors


I made a test fit with a salvaged Solex DIDTA carburettor from an Opel Manta A series and the mounting ring was of the same dimensions. The adapter would have fitted completely, but for the secondary choke vacuum actuator fitted to this carburettor, as illustrated below.


Image of a Solex carburettor to air filter adapter
Test fit with a salvaged Solex DIDTA carburettor


The other noteworthy element is the provision of a captive nut, I recall that some Fords used an air filter housing with a single wing nut fastening to hold the lid in situ.


Image of a Solex carburettor to air filter adapter
Some Fords used a single wing nut fastening

Image of a Solex carburettor to air filter adapter
Could it be Opel or Ford? - do you know what it fits?


Now this quirky item has finally broken free of loft bound captivity, do you know what it fits? Could it be Opel or Ford?  Because if it doesn't find a new home soon, it will be going in the scrap bin.

Wow, it has been nearly 3 months since my last blog post! But, as so often happens around this time of year with the arrival of sunnier days, the e-mail enquiries arrive for parts. So it is time to dust off the cobwebs, take some pictures and do some blogging.

Tony, from the Midlands area of the UK has been in touch, he wants a set of genuine "4 slot" Rostyle wheels for his Opel Manta A series. He is hoping to have them ready for when the shell is finally rebuilt.
The wheels will need blasting and powder coating first though, I had some prepared this way many years ago and they still look good despite many winters outdoors.

These are the last of my stock, £20 each and they can be delivered within the UK by courier for £30.

For Sale - Opel Manta A series Rostyle Wheel #1

For Sale - Opel Manta A series Rostyle Wheel #2

For Sale - Opel Manta A series Rostyle Wheel #3

For Sale - Opel Manta A series Rostyle Wheel #4


UPDATES:

15/03/2013 - NOW SOLD AND COLLECTED - NO FURTHER STOCK

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