Let’s get straight to it: it can be argued that the Mk1 Vauxhall Astra GTE was as significant as any (German) model that preceded it.
Why? A number of reasons. First, it was one of the first hot hatches to be produced by a British manufacturer.
Second, it was a very successful car, both commercially and with critics.
Third, it helped to position the Astra as desirable, reframing the ‘image’ of the car to a customer who could be excused for overlooking it.
Perhaps more crucially, it was also one of the first hot hatches to combine performance and style with value for money – the latter was not necessarily the case with rivals such as the Golf GTi. It was also fun to drive; pure, simple fun. Perhaps not as polished as the Golf, but it was light and agile, and the engine had plenty of torque – making it a fantastic all-rounder.
So what of its origin story? The Astra range initially launched with much smaller engines, and it wasn't until 1983 that the 1.8-litre Astra GTE made its entrance. The GTE moniker stood for ‘Grand Touring Einspritzmotor’, highlighting its fuel-injected engine. This powerplant, equipped with Bosch LE Jetronic injection, was a modified version of the Vauxhall/Opel 1.6-litre Family II engine with a larger bore.
Producing 115bhp and 111lb/ft torque, the Astra GTE could reach a top speed of 115mph and sprint from 0-60 mph in just 8.5 seconds. The car also featured uprated brakes, suspension, and a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox. In terms of spec, it was bang on the money compared with rivals.
The Astra GTE arrived on the scene just as the first-generation Astra was concluding its model cycle, which meant its production run was short-lived as Vauxhall transitioned to the second-generation Astra in 1984. Nevertheless, the Astra GTE blazed a trail that later GTE, GSi, and VXR models would follow, evolving and expanding on the legacy of Vauxhall’s hot hatch contender.
Today, the Mk1 Astra GTE is a classic example of a hot hatch from the golden era of the 1980s. It’s also a very rare car, with only a handful of examples still registered for use in the UK.
You’ll can see a fantastic example at the October Scramble from the manufacturer’s impressive heritage collection, along with three models. One of which, the 5HP, is the oldest known Vauxhall in the world.
