Luke's VN Calais

[Smallies]

Hey Guys,
I bought this calais a few weeks ago for $2,400.

I've wanted one for a while so im pretty stoked.

The previous owner owned it for 15 years and he's the owner of a local upholstery business. He's pretty meticulous so it really is tidy as.

I got the whole "I've owned it for almost its whole life - please look after it" speech lol.

Basically completely stock - 174,000kms

New air conditioner, Tinted windows, 4 new tyres, Exhaust system replaced with a new stock one, Lowered on pedders low's, Complete service history

Paint looked a bit faded when i bought it - but gave it a cut and polish and it came up like new.

If anyone likes the look of it I'll chuck some more pics up soon. Cheers.

[GAMBLR]

not usually a fan luke but damn that looks really tidy. gotta love cars with a well known history
gna have 2 check it out at some stage m8

[Smallies]

Haha, yeah thanks mate. It had a bit of a "classic" appeal to it for me. It's been well looked after, and with the original mudflaps and stuff it looked really original. I don't intend to do anything to it - its just a good round town or highway car

[GAMBLR]

very nice a second car would be nice but nowhere to store mine so i'll wait.
finding something that old in that condition is a mission in itself lol good onya m8

PS. we'll see how long you last with it as is

[88GreenVN]

Very good looking example of the VN Calais - Good pickup hey.

[Morton]

One in a million. That is absolutely gorgeous You lucky man!

[vn calais manual]

my vn calais motor and box, and ur shell = win :P

[Leebo]

Nice dude better the full service history than the mystery buy.

[sk8n8]

nice n clean vn

[Smallies]

Thanks guys

Ill get some more pics of it for yas - when lachie is willing to drive it to the car wash so i can wash it. (I'm having a six month forced break from driving for speeding and not having my licence on me)...meh.

[Smallies]

Okay, so ive got my ass into gear finally.

This may sound odd - but im trying to sell my caprice (still) and dedicating more to the calais. Havent driven it in over two months due to no licence atm.

I've just ordered a full set of kings ultra lows, Still needa get an adjustable panhard rod.

Also ordered a rear venetian blind

Im not too bothered about increasing power - mainly just want a comfortable, cool looking daily driver.

so the plan for the next few months is -
Install springs
Install venetian
Darker tinted windows
some doof doof
A set of 18's (still deciding) - leaning towards shadow chrome WH Grange wheels.
a suttle, yet tougher sounding exhaust

and just a couple other things such as CAI, Lukey filter and a service.

[GAMBLR]

Told ya u wouldn't leave it alone
nah sounds like good plans bud, good luck wiv it. Especially like the sound of chrome WH Grange wheels

[Smallies]

PS. we'll see how long you last with it as is

Lol. You we're right there.

[kniever]

very neat calais mate, def put in the venetians, they look great on the vn and get up some more pics for us.

also is it a 6 or 8?

[VNexecutive]

i second kniever.

god two tone vn calais' are sexy.

sooo clean. good pickup mate

[Smallies]

Kniever - Its a 6, and im not that disappointed about that right now - it does the job lol.

I was also looking at the rear quater window venetians too, just to top it off.

Might do that soon once i pay some of the ol' credit card off.

And yeah - More pics soon, i keep forgetting.

[vn calais manual]

lol that didnt take you long to update :P.

if you want subs you can buy my two sony xplode 12"s int he carpeted box for $80 if ya want. i dont want them. to heavy

[Smallies]

Deal. lol. when i have money again

[Smallies]

Okay, so you have probably all seen one of these before, but i thought i'd post it anyway cos i love it!

My venetian came yesterday - its alot stronger and heavier than i though it would be.

Should look alright once i get my car back and put it on.

Ill get some pics when its installed soon and post them up too. It certainly should add the to coolness factor a bit.

[Smallies]

Update.

You mighta read in the pub section that it got broken into.

But currently:

Venetian is in.

Ultra-lows going in in the next few days.

Cut and polish next few days

Foam tune next couple of weeks.

Currently bidding on adj. panhard rod and steering column covers (which were stolen)

Just needa find a calais interior light cover to suit ones with map lights.....(also stolen)

Upgrade of sound system, window tint, spool and some other goodies within next 2 months hopefully.

More pics up once its clean.

[Smallies]

Some new pics of it washed. New head unit currently going in. New springs in soon. pics Taken with phone.

[freddie142]

That looks clean as....

If your just using it as a daily why bother witha spool?

Shame to hear that it was broken into.....

[Smallies]

The spool is just a curiosity thing.

Ill try it out to see if i enjoy it as much as everyone else does.

If its too annoying ill take it out...

[Smallies]

Got my Licence back yesterday so I was out cruising last night. Love it. 6 Months without driving was quite a struggle.

Putting the Ultra Lows in tonight

The car desperately needs a sound system upgrade. (only drivers side front speaker works lol)
Also needs a new rear door quater window.
Also needs the air-con vent issue fixed (air-con runs great but no air comes out the vents - probably a dash-apart issue. Im guessing a hose or something has come off when I installed the head unit, because heaps of air comes out through drivers foot-well)

But yes, It's back on the road and I'm happy. Time to start crossing things off the to-do list.

[Smallies]

Okay, Springs are in. Thanks to some help from Lachie (vn calais manual) and Matt (HSV 290).

Just like the how-to mentioned - beer was needed, and that ball joint on the front struts was a bastard - It is the reason my hammer arm is so sore today lol. Also the single nut on the top of the front struts had to be impact wrenched off and on. Luckily we had one of those in the shed otherwise we were going to have to come into work and do it.

It's safe to say the car is not to comfortable to drive anymore, but it definently looks better IMO.

Once the hydraulic trollley jack was let down on the rear, we had to jack up the car with a scissor jack in order to get the hydralic one out. - thats how low the rear is.

Pics up soon.