Our compacts

Compact page

1987 Chevy Cavalier Wagon 2.0 Litre

Here's the next car to be run. Our local fair is having a one heat winner take all mini feature this year. This is the first year the 4 bangers will run here.

I bought this car when the clutch went out of my regular driver. Paid a whopping $50. Drove it to work for a month and when the license ran out put the parts it needed on it and got it ready This should be the biggest "little" car there as I'm right at the max wheelbase for our derby.

Derby is Sunday the 22nd so the after pictures will follow soon!

I took the back bumper off and changed the front bumper to the one off of my old 79 Volare wagon.

The car that ran like crap for a daily driver wouldn't die! After the first hit one back tire was crushed into the body and never moved again. It was me, an 86 Spectrum hatchback, a Celebrity and a Somerset. The Spectrum went out quick, the Somerset had a fire and the Celebrity just plain quit. This car had no competition so it was a real easy win. We took it to a season ending derby in Roscoe and a different Celebrity and a Dodge Shadow were going to be my competition. After a bit of a rain delay the other 2 guys chickened out and didn't want to run their cars anymore. I

SO once again I get to save a car for next year. We jacked the frame rails out some so the back clears the tires (for now). I guess next year we strengthen the front and go for another trophy.

before

This was before the first derby. I wasn't very optimistic of running it, but just wanted to go have some fun. Bought the car on Wednesday, ran it on Saturday. I bought it running with no brakes and this being the first fuel injected car and first compact it was like starting all over. Ended up putting HUGE mud grippers on the front. BAD IDEA!! The axles cant hold the torque so after a couple hits my front axle snapped, end of day.

after #2

Changed the axle and put some welds on the car and it was ready for another go. Got rid of the super grips and put on regular street tires. Got there and there was me and 2 other compacts, one of which was my buddy. Since I sold him the car we weren't gonna battle it out until the end. We got in the ring and after a couple love taps we drove toward each other and we caught each others front wheels. His axle snapped and he was out.

my victim

Then it was down to an 87 Century and me. Almost identical cars. Too bad mine was built better. I knew the front was better then the rear on this car so that's how I went after him. Caught him square in the trunk and put it in the dirt for him. Then we went nose to nose. Bent his front tire over and he couldn't turn very good. I took him in the nose and ended up breaking the cable off the starter for him and he was done. On the last hit my fuel line broke and I was done too.

my victim #2

At the very start I drove out of bounds, but being only 3 cars there they let me back in (darn brakes). A minute or so later me and my buddy pushed the Century out of bounds and the same thing-- they let him back in. When it was all said and done they said all 3 of us had been counted out at one time or another so we split the pot 3 ways. I didn't care it was still fun to trash the other cars out there. Mine will run again, my buddy had to spend as much on the new axle as he paid for the car, but the other car is headed to the crusher.

tucked back before

another picture of the rear

After the derby

another after picture

Well, after the last run the front end was broken and bent to where we knew it wasn't going to hold up using it as much so we had to try something different. We tucked the trunk lid and used the rear for this derby. Ended up winning the feature and coming in 2nd for the dash for cash. It would've helped if I had any belts on for the dash. The car ended up breaking all motor and tranny mounts except the dog bone in the front that I reinforced. The front drivers side frame broke and bent up, one bolt holding the gas tank in broke and the battery box hold down broke. We're getting a pair of cars ready for the next derby. I'll be a marked driver out there. After this derby it's been 5 in a row that I've won so now I have people trying to take me out.