Used Vauxhall Cavalier Front Panel

The Cavalier ran across two main UK generations: the Mk2 (1981–1988) and the Mk3 (1988–1995), and front panels are generally shared across body styles within each generation. These two generations are quite different up front, so a Mk2 panel will not cross over to a Mk3. When searching for a used front panel, make sure you and the breaker both confirm which generation your car belongs to before ordering.

Both a 1989 and a 1992 Cavalier sit within the Mk3 generation (1988–1995), so in principle the front panel family is the same. The Mk3 did receive a facelift during its production run, and if your two cars fall either side of that boundary the front-end panels — including the grille surround and panel shape around the lights — may differ in detail, so confirm with the breaker against both registrations before buying. Front panels are shared across the saloon, hatchback and estate body styles within the same facelift period, so body style is not something you need to worry about.

The Mk3 Cavalier ran from 1988 to 1995, and there was a facelift within that generation that brought changes to the front-end styling. Whether a specific front panel from one side of that boundary will physically interchange with one from the other side is exactly the kind of detail you should confirm with the breaker against your registration, as panel edges, light apertures and mounting points can change at a facelift. Name both registration years clearly when you contact the breaker so they can cross-reference their stock accurately.

On the Cavalier, trim levels like GL, GLS, and CDi do not affect which front panel you need — the panel itself is shared across trims within the same generation and facelift period. You may notice cosmetic differences in what was attached to the panel on higher-spec cars, such as badge placement or additional grille detailing, but the panel itself is the same part. Confirm the generation and facelift period with the breaker, and trim level is one thing you can set aside.

No — the front panel on the Cavalier is not engine-specific, so whether your car has a 1.4, 1.6, 1.8, 2.0 or a diesel under the bonnet makes no difference to the panel that fits. What matters is the generation (Mk2 or Mk3) and which facelift period your car belongs to. Give the breaker your registration and they can confirm the right panel from their stock without needing to know your engine size.

Front panels on the Cavalier are shared across the different body styles within the same generation and facelift period, so a panel sourced from an estate or saloon will generally be the same item as one from a hatchback of the same era. The front-end structure does not change between body styles within a generation. As always, confirm the generation and facelift period with the breaker against both your registration and the donor car's registration to be sure.