Cheap Vauxhall Cavalier Rear Panel

The Cavalier ran through two main UK generations: the Mk2 (1981–1988) and the Mk3 (1988–1995), and rear panels are not interchangeable between them as the bodyshell is completely different. Within each generation there were facelift updates, and whether pressing changes affect a specific rear panel is something you should confirm with the breaker against your registration. Always tell the breaker which generation and body style you have before agreeing a price.

No – the hatchback, saloon, and estate all have completely different rear panel pressings, so body style is the first thing to establish before sourcing a used panel. A Mk3 hatchback rear panel will not transfer to a Mk3 saloon or estate even though they share the same platform. Always specify your exact body style to the breaker.

No, the Mk2 (1981–1988) and Mk3 (1988–1995) are entirely different platforms with different bodyshells, so rear panels from one generation will not fit the other. The Mk3 was a completely new car when it launched in 1988, and the rear metalwork shares nothing with its predecessor. Confirm the generation with your breaker before proceeding.

Engine size makes no difference at all to rear panel fitment – the metalwork is identical across engine variants within the same generation and body style. What does matter is whether you have a hatchback, saloon, or estate, and which generation your car belongs to. Focus on body style and generation when speaking to the breaker, and ignore engine size entirely.

Trim level – whether L, GL, GLS, CDX, or SRi – does not affect rear panel fitment, as the metal pressing is the same across the range for a given generation and body style. You may find cosmetically different finishes, badges, or spoiler mounting holes on panels pulled from higher-spec cars, so check those details with the breaker if a clean finish matters to you. The fit itself will not be affected by trim.

The Mk3 ran from 1988 to 1995, and while the generation is the same throughout, there may have been mid-production pressing changes over that period that affect whether an early and late Mk3 panel are a direct swap. Naming the exact boundary of any such change is something to confirm with the breaker against your specific registration rather than assume. Give the breaker your full reg and body style so they can cross-reference from their own dismantled stock.