A well-preserved example of the Vauxhall Astra GTE from 1983 was auctioned in the UK for a cool £22,250, nearly matching the entry price point of the brand-new 2022 Vauxhall Astra which currently starts from £24,315.
The car auctioned by Car & Classic is one of the six GTE models remaining on the UK roads. It is a single-owner car, with 74,000 miles (119,091 km) on the clock and remains in stock condition following a “comprehensive restoration process”. Indeed, the GTE-specific body-coloured bodykit that was only available in Polar White cars, and the matching wheels, remain in pristine condition, as is the case with the interior and the underpinnings.
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Introduced in 1983, the GTE variant of the first-generation Astra (Opel Kadett D) was listed among the hot hatches of its time. Under the bonnet lies a naturally aspirated 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 113 hp (85 kW / 115 PS) and 151 Nm (111 lb-ft) of torque back in the day. While this sounds similar to the 108 hp (81 kW / 110 PS) of today’s base-spec Astra with the 1.2-liter Puretech engine, the GTE from the ’80s is a considerably lighter vehicle tipping the scales at 925 kg (2,039 pounds), compared to the 1,257 kg (2,771 pounds) of the current model.
The Astra GTE has been fitted with an OEM spec stainless-steel exhaust system which is the only non-standard component. Finding a 40-year-old hot hatch that hasn’t been modified is quite a rarity, since owners of this kind of models were keen on aftermarket add-ons.
According to Car & Classic, Astra GTE values are ranging from below £3,000 for vehicles that require work, to over £20,000 for spotless examples. Still, the £22,250 price tag is a record for this rare hatchback and another proof that well-preserved youngtimers can fetch a lot of money to their respectful owners.
