Looking at this page, some people might see an old hatchback that has somehow dodged the scrap yard. But what we have here is an endangered species: the humble Vauxhall Nova. At one point in the mid-1990s, it would have been one of nearly 450,000 on the roads. Now there are fewer than 60 still taxed.
This 1990 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Merit is in stunning condition, too. Belonging to Vauxhall’s heritage fleet, it had covered less than 20,000 miles when we drove it. Showing all the signs of the archetypal elderly owner, it’s no exaggeration to describe this example as ‘like new’.
The number of rivals for today’s Vauxhall Corsa has started to dwindle, but there was no shortage of supermini alternatives to the Nova back in the day.
The Ford Fiesta was the arch-enemy, while the British-built Austin Metro was getting outdated by the time this 1990 Nova was sold. Car manufacturers all across Europe were competing in this market, with vehicles such as the Fiat Uno, Renault 5, Peugeot 205 and Volkswagen Polo.
This Nova tested here has the most popular 1.2-litre petrol engine. It produces a heady 55hp and makes the little Vauxhall capable of 94.5mph (because that extra 0.5mph really matters).
Other engines available included an entry-level 1.0-litre petrol and the sporty 1.6 used in the Nova GTE hot hatchback – as well as an economical 1.5-litre Isuzu diesel.
Intimidating. Not in a mid-engined supercar kind of way – but in a ‘that Audi Q7 could drive over me and barely notice’ kind of way. At 3,632mm long, the Nova is 428mm shorter than the equivalent Corsa today – and a whopping 420mm narrower as well.
Despite this, the interior feels spacious – not unlike the Austin Metro that has previously been subjected to our Retro Road Test.
It feels more modern than a Metro, though. The five-speed gearbox (optional with the 1.2-litre engine) is easy to operate and the unassisted steering is surprisingly light once the car is rolling. At around 800kg, the Nova doesn’t weigh much by today’s standards, meaning it feels very sprightly for its 55hp.
Around town, a tight turning circle and excellent visibility make the Nova a pleasure to drive. On rural roads, it’s not as fun as rivals of its time (the Metro, Fiesta and 205 were all sweet handlers), but it’s still a far more analogue experience than modern cars.
Buy a looked-after Nova and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be pretty reliable. As with any 34-year-old vehicle, it’d be wise to invest in breakdown cover and keep on top of maintenance, but this is a fairly simple machine.
Car insurance should be cheap, too – classic policies will cover it, and it certainly won’t be a gas guzzler.
Look at it this way – 30 years ago, everyone drove cars like this every day. Sure, a Nova will need a little more maintenance than a new Corsa, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy a retro runabout for a quarter of the price of a modern alternative.
It’s a typical case of buy as much as you can afford – spending a five grand on a low-mileage Nova might sound like a mad idea to some, but the number of cars has dwindled and the best examples now command strong money.
Still, find the cash up front and you can enjoy a characterful retro car that shouldn’t throw up any big bills.
Tidy, unmolested Novas such as the one we’ve tried are desirable. Avoid badly modified examples (or any modified examples, for that matter), and be wary of any that haven’t covered many miles in recent years. If the car has been sitting around, things could go wrong as it is shocked back into use.
Also, be very cautious of rust – like most superminis of this era, you can practically hear the Nova fizzing if it’s not kept clear of road salt and grime.
Not everyone will understand the appeal of a 1.2-litre Nova. But as a relatively affordable, cheap-to-run classic car, it has a lot going for it. There’s an uncomplicated pleasure to pootling around in a simple supermini like this one.
Please just take better care of it than you might have done as a 17-year-old in the 1990s.
Colin McRae is better associated with driving blue and gold Subaru Imprezas. However, the late Scottish rally champion actually made his WRC debut in a humble Vauxhall Nova.
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