01-01-04, 06:37 GMT+10#1
Nathan's VL Calais Turbo
This is Nathan's '86 series 1 VL Calais Turbo. It is a factory 5-speed manual. It had a few small modifications done to it before he purchased the car in July '02. The car has all the factory options; power windows, mirrors, electric aerial, cruise control and leather interior. Some of the modifications included a Nizpro stage 3 front mount intercooler and a stage 3 blow off valve.
In the cabin there is a high-low switch. On high, the beast can churn out 14 psi, giving it an estimated 185kw at the rear wheels. When he get the chance Nathan is going to put it on the dyno to get some concrete figures. There was a boost gauge, but the car was stolen and returned without one.
The calais also has LSD, which Nathan says is a heap of fun� especially in the wet when the back end ever so slightly slips out, and then with a small correction glides back into shape. To keep the air flowing through the system at high speed is a 3" exhaust, with 4" tip, it has a beautiful note and goes a lot harder than the standard turbo exhaust system which was on the car before it was stolen.
The stereo is standard, and waiting for Nathan to have some more cash before updating the whole system. The alloy wheels are also original, with plans to get some nice looking 17's in the future.
For Christmas, he got a wood grain 3 spoke steering wheel with boss kit, and the car feels and looks much better. Also to be fitted as a Christmas present is a Viper alarm and immobilizer. This will hopefully stop any would be thieves in their tracks in the future!
Plans for the car in the future include tinting the windows, racing bucket seats, slightly lowering the beast, fitting 5 spoke 17" alloys and installing a nice sound system with good speakers and sub's. If other funds become available after that Nathan wants to do something to the interior, either re-do it from scratch or just revamp it.
As mentioned, unfortunately when the car was stolen it was vandalised a little.
The boost gauge had to be replaced, interior light replaced the turbo badge off the boot has to be replaced, the Century heavy duty battery was replaced the fifth alloy wheel that they destroyed replaced and the HSV seatbelt sash they took.
Nathan was obviously shattered as you can imagine� because they say that after the dog, a man's next best friend is his car! He is determined to rebound back with the car, as it is his pride and joy. Nathan says it is an absolute pleasure to drive and thrills him to no end every time he clicks the seatbelt into its holder and turns the key!
(c) 2003 www.calaisturbo.com (http://www.calaisturbo.com) Pics and written by Nathan. Edited by sin.
Some original photos have not been recovered yet.
0 likes