We love the ’80s at Free Car Mag and we reckon the perfect way tp get back there would be this wonderful Astra GTE convertible at Car and Classic https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1989-vauxhall-astra-gte-convertible-8bvKo8
If you buy it let us know so we can come and drive it…
Here is some background… A trend started by the original VW Golf GTi, the hot hatchback put driving thrills within the reach of those who couldn’t afford a supercar. Launched in 1983, Vauxhall’s entry to the hot-hatch party, the Astra GTE, entered an already crowded market but the car was every bit as good as its more established rivals. It was a good all-rounder, with strong performance and a surprisingly comfortable ride. The Mk.II Astra GTE started life with the same 1.8-litre engine as in the Mk.I but this was soon dropped in favour of a 2-litre unit that gave superior performance.
Designed and made by Bertone, the cabriolet version of the GTE was intended to rival similar cars in VW’s and Ford’s ranges. Some 6,784 convertibles were made in total between 1987 and 1993, but very few remain, making this example a rare and desirable car.
The car comes with a really comprehensive folder of paperwork, with invoices and MoT certificates going back many years. It also has the original Vauxhall plastic wallet and the owner’s manual, radio manual and other booklets. The original service book is present and between this and the accompanying invoices the entire service history of the car is documented.
The vendor bought the car in July 2020 and then had the car partially restored in February 2021; he’s selling because he has other cars and storage is an issue. The car’s current MoT certificate expires in July 2023 but the vendor intends to secure a new MoT before sale.
https://www.carandclassic.com/auctions/1989-vauxhall-astra-gte-convertible-8bvKo8
