Hey, this is my first time posting, so hello everyone : ) My question is about buying a Manual Calais, it seems very hard to find one that is a turbo, with a few mods which is what im after. As most Calais are auto....But i really want a manual! And if i do find one, most likely it would have been thrashed like hell, being a turbo, with mods. So should i buy another model like a sl,berlina, etc and just ad Calais lights? as it should be easier to find a manual sl, berlina than a calais manual. Gear box conversions should cost a **** load more than what lights, trim would cost hey?

nah don't do that. wait and save for a calais manual. just be prepared to do some travelling as well

I would try to track down a genuine calais. A gearbox conversion will cost anywhere from $800&->. For a true calais you will, need front lights ($500&->) rear lights/middle panel ($200&->) interior ($800&->) power mirrors ($120&->) power windows ($300&->) instrument cluster ($50&->). And so on and so on.... But if you only want the calais look then just get lights, but a true calais feels like more of a car than a crappy SL will ever do. Cheers Mick

In total there were only 186 manual calais' that left the holden factory. There were no atmo manual calais' made from spetember 87 on. In series two there were apparently only 53 mnauels turbo and non turbos vls made. I'm not totally sure on this one though.... but the 186 is true... I did my research....

Gee, 186 only Just goes to show they are rare as rocking horse ****. Mick

I've got one! i did have a little trouble finding one, prob paid to much, but after i got it i saw what u want every time i checked the melb trading post! they're out there, don't give up, and don't buy an auto. you'll reget it. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I had one many years ago. Factory 5 Speed Calais Turbo, LSD, leather........until it got written off. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

186 manuals! , Geeez some1 at GMH should be shot!!! Manuals are way kew !!! :twisted:

Well cause I live in a remote area I had to settle for the only bloody calais in town and atmo auto 6 this was also made harder because I only wanted a series two ......... Next time (my g/f is buying one soon) I'm going to Brisbane!! I did think about selling my car to buy a series two turbo manual but then I would have to pull the fiberglassing around my monitor in the dash. My atmo is going turbo though...... my advice don't buy if its not exactly what you - want you'll regret it big time.

It's such a pity they didnt make more manual calais turbos, you think they would, being quite a sporty car and all There was a sweet looking car in the Auto supermarket magazine cople weeks back, does anyone know who brought it, what it was like etc? License plate was PHZ 917 It was white, turbo, 5 spd, reconditioned motor, LSD, 3 inch mandrel bent ex, VT SS rims, new tyres, boost gauge, CD etc not to shabby of ya ask me...

I got one!!!! All stock and as it left the factory. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

I bought my ser2 calais turbo auto for $8500 late last year coz i looked and waited for ages and there was no manual calais turbo's in perth anywhere.I spent another 2k on a complete manual conversion from my mate PSI_VL and did the conversion myself took a weekend to do it and would of cost the same if not less as buying a manual calaisturbo in pretty good nick.Only thing it is not a factory manual but i don't care. Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

Did Holden build the Manual CTs on order, or did they just build however many and whoever got in first, got them? I guess there so few of them cos Calais is really a cushy car and fat business people like their autos. If you wanted a sportier one you'd get a HDT or a berlina or something, as I expect they'd be lighter (guessing, don't know for sure). I'm suprised Holden didn't continue to build Calais with a different body (like they did with the VL) cos it makes them so much more desirable. Who really wants to fork out all that extra dough for a Calais these days, they look so similar to the normal VX? It would be good for business for holden to whip out a new cult car... I mean the Monaro is nice, but I can't really see it being the same as old Monaros are now in 30 years.

I personally would of liked to see GMH bring back a calais badge, the one on the front of vl calais, like exec/aclaim/berlina have one badge and calais have another but still, which one of us guys it going to want a new calais, forver live the VL GTFREAK

Would love a non-thrashed manual calais turbo!!! Some original photos have not been recovered yet.

If you people are looking for a series 2 manual VL calais turbo I might be putting my baby up for sale in the near future. I'm not sure if or when I'm going to sell it, it just depends. Mine is well looked after and it maybe just what you are looking for.

StockCalais The reason people put body kits on them, paint them in pearl colours etc etc is because they don't realise what they are doing and because the VLT offers bulk performance when boosted etc. Young guys expressing thenselves with wild paint jobs and noisy fast cars. the same thing has happened time after time to cars like Xu1 Toranas, plenty of Mustangs, Chargers etc etc. A stock car is the hardest one to find. Anyone can modify their car and 'think' that they are spending wisely but the truth is most are ruined from the point of originality and that's what matters down the track. I was at 'Chryslers on the Murray' recently and the rarest and most valuable cars were ones that had the history and were totally original. An intercooled, boosted and non factory 5 spd Calais won't be worth much in years to come but a totally stock one with the factory MX7 box on the plate will be worth heaps.

Stock Calais is right. I sure as hell didn't but a vl to leave it in a pussy state of tune. If I wanted a collectors I would have nabbed my grandmas model T ford she has. I bought a vl to make a car that I express my self in. Not one to worry about costs and resales. maybe we should start a poll. did you buy a vl for collectors value or to modify or to use a granny mobile. anyway I'm converting mine to manual with a box out of an r33 for a bit more strength than a vl manual. The only problem will be the speedo drive is electronic. If anyone has done this manual conversion please let me know.

I have a calais turbo series II manual. Took me 8 months to find and even then I had to go down south (WA) to get it. Im glad they didn't make more, as that makes them rarer and that little bit better in my opinion. Helps with resale value too.

I think aus880 is dead right! in years to come a dead stock ct manual will be worth 5hit loads!! i mean they're rarer than a walkinshaw! i'm not impressed theres only 186 made. if i knew that when i bought mine i would have cared for it more, not leave it stock, but do mods properly so they could be reversed. Not cut holes in inner gards ect. i feel bad now :cry: my poor calais! The worst thing is with all the stuff i've done and doing, by the end of the year there's not gonna be a thing left on my car that make's it special execpt the i.d. plate! i may as well have bought a n/a auto calais and done that up! mods - RB30DETT (not orig block), 300zx 4 spot front brakes, front susp changed, poss R33 GTS-t complete rear end (IRS), G/B possibly changing to 300zx (double sync on 2nd and 3rd). I'm gonna cry now.