Authentic Sport Restoration
So if you’re lucky enough to own a Nova Sport then you may want to get it looking as it did back in 1985/86 when it left the factory. Not everyone does, but if you do we can give you some pointers below to help you along the way, and make sure you get it looking as authentic and original as possible.
There are many areas to cover for a 100% period restoration, we have tried to cover the areas that the purists regard as important and are often overlooked when building and restoring a Sport.
Please feel free to contact us if you require any further information or if we can help in assisting you in any way with your restoration.
The Engine Bay
If you speak to anyone that even has a small amount of knowledge on a Nova Sport the engine will automatically spring to mind. The Sport came with the same 13SB engine that was fitted to the Nova SR available at the same time. But with the addition of the twin Weber carburetors.
The Sport originally came with the single Pierburg 2e3 carburetor from the factory but the Twin Weber carbs would have been fitted at PDI by the supplying dealer. The correct numbered carbs to fit for a 100% authentic restoration are the Weber 143 and 144. These carburetors are slightly unusual as they had a vacuum advance take off and manual choke cable fitted. You can find out more about the carburetors here.
The Irmscher UK Airbox is also an important feature of the Sport engine bay and even when not fitted to a Sport people instantly recognise it as a Sport engine feature. Although these are rare, they do come up on ebay from time to time.
The Sport Pack also benefited from an Irmscher Inlet manifold which is perhaps slightly less noticeable, but again a nice feature in any Sport engine bay.
*Note* – Irmscher Cam Cover was not part of the Nova Sport pack and is usually a change carried out by the current owner of the car. They would have left the dealer with the original metal type ‘OHC’ Cam Cover
Nova Sport engine bay as it left the Dealer when converted from 1.3 SR spec
The engine bay also has some other small details to consider such as the sticker on the suspension turret for the cold air feed. We hope to have these available in the shop soon for you to buy.
Engine Bay Cold Air feed sticker
The Interior
After the engine and twin carbs, the other thing that is instantly recognisable as being typically from a Sport is the brown interior and in particular the brown and yellow of the Daytona Seats. Originally fitted to a Nova SR, the Sport received the same interior treatment as its higher spec’d sister, but uniquely the Sport came with a solid rear bench and not the usual 60/40 split rear seat. Other interior details which are also worth considering are detailed below.
Daytona trim
Rear bench seat
The driver and passenger door cards are plain and not fitted with the usual door pockets, although it has come to our attention that some cars that are registered as Nova SR and not Nova Base seem to have a door pocket, but we are hoping to investigate this further with the help of information from owners. The grab handles would be solid black plastic type as opposed to the alternative brown/black foam type found in an SR.
The fan switch is only 2 speed as opposed to the 3 speed switch found in the SR.
2 Speed Fan Switch
On the dashboard when new, the car came with a small sticker relating to the first service of the carburetors after 2000 miles. These we assume would have been removed after this service had taken place, but we can’t be sure. We are hoping to be able to offer highly accurate replica versions of these in our shop eventually along with the cold air feed sticker mentioned above.
Dash Service Sticker
As the Sport was a “Base spec” car to keep costs down, all the usual refinement features were removed and blanked off. This included the clock and side vents for the heater blowers. Most people believe the Sport should also have come without a radio and that should be blanked off but it would appear a small number of cars were spec’d to come with a radio, although some owners have since removed them and fitted the radio blank.
Clock and Radio Blank
Heater Side Vent Blanks
One item that the Sport did have that was not in keeping with is base spec, and more in keeping with its rallying pedigree is the 6 dial clocks from an SR. The orange needles look fabulous and add a much needed splash of colour to the brown cockpit area.
6 Dial Clocks from a Nova SR
The Exterior
For some the exterior is the most important part. First impressions count and the Sports distinctive exterior is the first thing anyone will see. No Sport would be complete with out its decals. These have been reproduced a few times over the years to various different standards, they are currently available via DMB Graphics who copied them from an original set of graphics and they are able to offer them for both the early style doors and the later doors where the handle is in a slightly different place. To purchase a set of these visit our Shop.
Graphics transform what would just be a White Nova into a Sport
The Rear bumper on the Nova mk1 had an additional moulded line added to it sometime around 1987 and with the Sport being pre 87 it has the smoother rear bumper. Many have been changed though over the years in favour of a later style bumper, some owners preferring the new bumper.
Smoother Rear bumper fitted to B555 HVK
To give your car that true 1980’s look you may also like to consider items such as having a period dealer sticker made up, or dealer number plates. Although we don’t offer these in our shop we can have these made up for you on request.
Original Dealer Sticker
Dealer Number Plates
Less noticeable to some, but important to others are details like the Vauxhall Badge on the tailgate. On early tailgates the Vauxhall Badge has a flat bottom to the U and is longer than the regular Vauxhall badges found on later Novas.
Tailgate Badge
The Wheels and Trims
In recent years original trim has become very popular and owners have started to go back to the original “Aerodynamic wheel trims” that came with the car from factory. This is a great feature and really gives a true, straight from the brochure, look. The original steel wheels are 5×13″ et49 and are very rare so most people have opted for the 5.5″ version which are easier to find.
Wheel Trims
5×13″ Original Wheels
Tyres
From the factory, Nova Sport models came with 175/70/13 “Low Profile” tyres. They may not seem low profile now but at the time most cars were on 80 profile. The original tyres were Firestone S-211. The tread pattern is no longer serviced, but there are modern alternatives available. Firestone offer a multihawk tread pattern in a 175/70/13 profile which are a good alternative. These are not sporty by any means but they will give you a great driving experience like people would have had back in 1985, and are a nice finishing touch to an original Sport restoration.
Firestone Multihawk – 175/70/13
The Exhaust
Finally who could have a Sport and not have the red rear silencer? Still available from Ashley Exhausts it is the finishing touch on any original Sport.
Red Ashley Exhaust
If you feel we have missed anything we would love to hear from you or you have more information to add to the page please get in touch via the contact page.
