Opel Ascona B spotted in Shell Burswood Dr Auckland

[072 Dinesh]

As mentioned to my surprise, a white Lhd Ascona B saloon, first time seeing one in person. Was probably imported in 83 or 84 as it was registered L*****. Never thought there were any around here. Must have been a sports model as it had a spoiler, i think 2.0. Was too late to speak to the owner and ask if he was an Opelfroums member as he drove away as i was driving in. Though when i was close to the service station i thought it was a Rover/MG/Austin Montego at first till i spotted the Opel Badge.

[001 Neville]

Definitely not on the Forum, Dinesh!


Are you sure it was an Ascona B?

I've been meaning to design something that members can print out to leave on Opel windscreens, or use to talk to or leave with prospective members.......

[072 Dinesh]

Actually maybe it was an Ascona C because i dont think the Ascona B would have had a factory rubber spoiler would it? I was racing to talk to the owner but was too late, must have been a German import.

[001 Neville]

More likely to be a C, as there are a few over here prior to them being rebadged as Vectra As. Well spotted anyway, and I will produce something.... but not in the next couple of weeks!

[020 Brad]

Ascona C's aren't Vectra A's, they are more similar in appearance to Camiras I thought. Similar to the Vauxhall Cavalier in Mk2 form, rather than the Cavalier Mk3 that we call the Holden/Opel Vectra A.

Ok that was confusing. In summary, it was likely to be an Ascona C unfortunately, rather than a B but it would be very interesting if it does in fact turn out to be a B!

[028 Sean]

Actually maybe it was an Ascona C because i dont think the Ascona B would have had a factory rubber spoiler would it? I was racing to talk to the owner but was too late, must have been a German import.

You sure Dinesh??



Ascona B's also had the option of an Irmscher rubber duck-tail spoiler Dinesh....And there was indeed an "Irmscher Sport" model available (with the fuel injected 2.0i 8v CIH engine) which had chevrons and the word "Sport" incorperated in this decal which ran alongside both sides and the rear bootlid of the vehicle!



As you can see....Thanks to its 5 spoke ATS alloy wheels and 400 mirrors the Ascona B Sport looked very similar to the Ascona 400 at first glance to the untrained eye!



If it definately had the word "Sport" written on it.....My money says it was indeed an Ascona B because LHD Irmscher Ascona C's were very boxy looking and know as Sprints instead!

[072 Dinesh]

Im sure now after looking at those pics in detail that it was a C because it did not have that tail light setup.

[028 Sean]

Im sure now after looking at those pics in detail that it was a C because it did not have that tail light setup.

Bugger!

Oh well, I got all excited there for a minute as i got a really big soft-spot for the Opel Ascona B Sport!

[004 Jim]

GM brought somewhere between 20 and 30 or so Ascona 'c' models in tothe country about 1986 or 87. I have been told by a former GM employee that most were 2.0i GT versions.
He had owned one found in a wreckers yard in Christchurch and now owned by me. His name was on a Hire firm invoice under the back seat!

[028 Sean]

GM brought somewhere between 20 and 30 or so Ascona 'c' models in tothe country about 1986 or 87. I have been told by a former GM employee that most were 2.0i GT versions.

As mentioned to my surprise, a white Lhd Ascona B saloon, first time seeing one in person.

But Dinesh said the white car he saw was LHD....Surely all the official Opel imports were RHD Jim??

[072 Dinesh]

Yes it may well have been a 2.0 gt but it was a personal import as it was Lhd and it surely was registered in the country between 1983 and 1984.

[020 Brad]

The Ascona C was launched in August 1981, so that would suggest that the Ascona will be a C rather than a B.