VAUXHALL CALIBRA

The super-sleek leading act of GM Europe's 1990s revival now makes a usable modern classic

- MALCOLM MCKAY

TROUBLE SPOTS

4x4 SYSTEM Transfer boxes are weak; a matching set of equally worn tyres is essential

TURBO Seals, head gaskets and the six-speed gearbox all need watching

RUST Rarely severe, except on Turbos: check rear arches/quarters, bottom of front wings, front inner arches, behind plastic trims, edge of bonnet, spring mounts, boot floor, sills, floors, jacking points, door bottoms, sunroof corners, steering-rack mounts, rear brake backplates, fuel/brake/power-steering pipes

SUSPENSION Check strut-top mounts and for broken springs, soggy dampers, worn bushes, power-steering leaks, CV gaiters

ENGINE Look for 16v head cracks, gasket leaks and oil leaks, and for regular servicing

TRIM Seat bolsters wear, and headlining and door cards suffer from damp/condensation

Just a two-door Cavalier coupé? Clever engineering and styling made the Calibra feel so much more special. The world's most aerodynamic production car (an accolade it would hold for 10 years) with a Cd of just 0.26 in 8v form, 0.29 in other forms, its super-clean and handsome body was styled by Wayne Cherry and Erhard Schnell. Supported by a rev-happy ‘red top' 16v engine or a lower-powered but torquey 8v, with a slick-shifting close-ratio 'box, it was an appealing package.

Tiny 2.75in-high headlights helped achieve the low drag figures, but do disappoint when it comes to seeing the road at night; it was also very hot inside in summer due to the big glasshouse, without air-con (not even an option at first).