Barn Find 80s Hot Hatch Survivor Classic Car - will it run?

Barn Find 80s Hot Hatch Survivor Classic Car - will it run? Welcome to a special barnfind episode, where Jonny Smith finds himself in Sussex to learn about how this 2.0-litre hot hatch Vauxhall Astra GTE was preserved by a family so beautifully. If you like digital dashes and NACA bonnet ducts, look no further!
Thanks for stopping by The Late Brake Show.
Thanks to Worx tools uk.worx.com/ for supporting this episode with their cordless DIY and garage products. In this video we used the 4-in-1 20v compressor unit uk.worx.com/high-pressure-inf...
Use Promotional code: latebrake10 for 10% off full price items. Offer or sale items are excluded.
Why not join our Patreon gang for early access to episodes and a regular blog from Jonny? / thelatebrakeshow
DO YOU KNOW OF A CAR THAT MIGHT BE WORTHY OF JONNY HELPING UNEARTH ON VIDEO? DO YOU OWN A CAR IN A BARN/HEDGE/GARAGE THAT MIGHT JUST RUN OR NEED A NEW HOME? Email (ideally with details, photos and location) the Late Brake Show via [e-mail]
Smith & Sniff is the UK's #1 automotive podcast, where Jonny and ex Top Gear and Grand Tour script editor Richard Porter chat absolute rubbish for an hour, periodically mentioning car related topics. Listen now:
Website: smithandsniff.com/index.html
Apple music: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...
Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/1vXayLs...
Amazon:
www.amazon.com/Smith-and-Snif...
KZbin: / @smithandsniff
***********
Merch shop: thelatebrakeshow.com/shop
******
Become a Patreon supporter: / thelatebrakeshow
******
Website: www.thelatebrakeshow.com
******
SUBSCRIBE for a broad-church of automotive appreciation spanning EV, classic, modified and future tech.
********
Filmed and Edited by: Phil Vaughan Pritchard www.philvfilms.com/
Thumbnail by: Matt Tarrant www.matttarantdesign.com
****************
Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98
Website: www.carpervert.com
Instagram: / jonnycarpervert
Twitter: / carpervert
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
#barnfind #survivorcar #garagefind #80shothatch #thelatebrakeshow #4k

[@rogerwredford]

As a man who passed his test in 1990 as a whey-faced 17 year old youth, this is the stuff dreams are made of…. great episode, Jonny! Absolute time warp car, and I shared your anticipation of the contents of the Vauxhall carrier bag… nostalgia, hey? It’s a heady brew…

[@rogerwredford]

My other half shook her head as I exclaimed “Mudflaps! Yes!”….

[@user-kf3nd9qd9g]

A lot memories right there. Had the 16v and even a few cavalier SRI’s before I went an put the red top in a Nova, pure joy

[@kevrobierts8235]

​@@user-kf3nd9qd9g Great Car 👍 😁 👍 Dad had MK2 Cab wIth blue GTE

[@Wiltshire-observer]

I owned a Nova GTE in early 90’s, bought from dealer with just 5,000 on the clock. It was the best car I ever had, the exhaust note, very firm ride and reasonable acceleration, was great as a youngster. Alas, more sensible cars came after, with a mortgage to pay.

[@supercarpaul_cs8147]

​@@user-kf3nd9qd9gcav Sri in white which was on a k and actually a hand me down and mine had factory hub caps aaaaarrrrrrrrrrreeeeeee factory hubs 🥴 I got that in 2001 just turned 20

[@6ettinold]

We did 888mph on the bypass in my mates GTE one evening. I did suspect the digital dash might've been on the blink though.😉

[@Surestick88]

If 88 mph let's you time travel imagine what 888 mph lets you do!

[@stevenlord782]

😂😂😂

[@jackdobson1992]

Lol 😂😂😂

[@georgehaynes394]

If it had a peco exhaust and k and n filter that speed was probably possible

[@daddymulk]

Standard Vauxhall then

[@mattp4806]

I think Johnny and Gareth have good on screen chemistry. Bring him along more often!

[@Arthurzeiro]

Right?! They looked like they worked together for a while

[@mitchymitch9789]

agreed - good chemistry!

[@johnmunro4952]

Came to say the same. A cross between Ed China and prof Brian Cox

[@lorddoosworth8175]

@@johnmunro4952 things can only get better, when i fix you! 😆

[@nevada3602]

That’s exactly what I thought !

[@nickmorgs]

Jonny, please keep doing those mini history segments. They really set the scene and remind us why we should care. Great video !

[@JMc.D]

What a peach of a car. Some money spent on a proper, proper detail, alloy refurb and you would have a serious, low mileage gem on your hands. What a humble family you can see in the b roll how excited they are to have it and many happy days to come.

[@Patriiiiick]

I don't think I even saw one in this good condition in the 90s. Maybe the most immaculate 'barn find' on the channel?

[@BigDangerousDan]

I had a 89 in about 95, put new arches and wings on it etc! Rot box haha spent a few grand on it and sold it for a grand!

[@kevincochrane]

Depends how they were treated.. We had a number of owners who ran MK2 GTEs for many years from new.. They looked after them and the cars looked tidy at every subsequent service.. 🏁

[@MrMarkeboy1234]

My red top GTE rotted through from the drivers front wing and rear passenger panel over the wheel arch. Shame. I had the wing replaced but car was so unreliable it spent most of its life in Vauxhall main dear in Stockport. I eventually sold it on. Still no way as fast as my S4 Abarth 595 Comp, which is like an 80s hot hatch, nice and raw.

[@danjones6279]

@Mrmarkeboy, Horns of Stockport? 😂

[@MrMarkeboy1234]

@@danjones6279 that’s the one yes. The car seemed to live there. My work mates use to call her S**tty chitty Bang Bang.

[@LennartMakinen]

The condition of that one is better than most were two years from new. Nice!

[@VirtualGuth]

As an American, I love videos like this one that focus on vehicles I am not very familiar with yet are very common to those of you in the car’s home market. I also have a bit of a soft spot for British made vehicles as my very first car was a ‘72 Triumph Spitfire that I purchased back in 1979

[@PeterStaniforth]

On the oposite side I'm British but love American cars. I have a 1991 Pontiac Firebird that I've had for 22 years. Loved them in the 80's as a teen watching Knight Rider and love them even more now in my 50's. 😊

[@VirtualGuth]

@@PeterStaniforth That’s great! I don’t know if there is any truth in it but I recently heard something about the Pontiac brand being resurrected. How challenging is it for you to find parts for your Firebird? In the end, I simply consider myself to be “a car guy” and I have owned a variety of different vehicles over the years. After the Spitfire I drove a 1977 Toyota Celica GT for a few years. That was followed by a 1967 Chevrolet Camaro convertible (which sadly was stolen). My first new car purchase was a 1987 Honda CRX Si, which was a blast. These days my fun car is a Honda S2000. (I still enjoy top-down motoring all these years later).

[@PeterStaniforth]

@@VirtualGuth I've not had to buy any expensive parts recently from the U.S. as I did most of the "rebuilding" of my car during the 2000s', but I can get parts quite readily if needed. It's the shipping that's gone through the roof though, often costing more than the part itself! The spitfire was a good little car, but I had a Mk3 GT-6 for a while which was a really lovely car, a true British classic. I'd hold onto that S2000 if I were you (especially if it hasn't been modified) as I think they'll really appreciate in value in the coming years.

[@VirtualGuth]

@@PeterStaniforth I can’t begin to imagine what parts shipping would cost given your situation these days. Here’s hoping that you can source as much as possible locally moving forward. Though I’m all for others doing as they wish with their own rides, I’ve never been really big on modifying my vehicles. I liked the S2000 just the way it came from Honda to begin with and so I searched for one that was all original, which is how I’ve kept it. Younger guys don’t often get it, but I’m old enough now that I am well aware of just how quickly original cars seemingly disappear from the roads. Naturally, the older original cars are always the ones I am drawn to first when around other’s vehicles.

[@FatNFurious]

Like you, I enjoy watching videos on vehicles that I'm not familiar with, I spend a lot of my time watching videos on old American cars (Vice Grip Garage being one of my favourite channels for this type of content). I have a 2013 Boss 302 Mustang here in the UK as well as a rare little Mercedes C43 Wagon. I simply love cars and bikes, rescuing the older stuff is a real passion for me, I don't like the 'comfortably numb' new stuff, you don't drive that, you simply operate it and that's no fun at all.

[@jammyone100]

Oh the memories. Even the Fruits of the forest air freshener by Holts hanging on the dash so 90's. Brilliant.

[@dubnutter]

Or the few orange traffic light air freshener

[@jammyone100]

@@dubnutter didn't see that one !

[@dubnutter]

@@jammyone100my bad, I thought you meant you had one with that air freshener… this video brings back so many memories for me.

[@besenzon1]

Someone saying “ Astra GTE” takes you back to when the roads were full of cool cars ❤️

[@mrc7478]

And Maestros

[@twobob8585]

@@mrc7478 😅

[@davewarrender2056]

Coolest I got was a Ford Mondeo 1.8 16v , in white with hydraulic timing , like sitting in a huge sofa. Didn't have the cash for the astra gte.

[@Reddsoldier]

Yeah. There are some cool cars still out there but they are not big sellers. Everyone goes for the aspirational but extremely boring and obvious choices and over time that's all we've been left with mostly.

[@johnharris6176]

Had the Sri. Then a 16v gte.great in a straight line . crap around bends

[@TVtwarn]

An electrically actuated garage door portal ! Barn finds have never known such decedent splendour

[@rafo6577]

Proper took me back this one. I was a Vauxhall Opel guy back in the day, and had Mk1, Mk2 Astras Kadetts and Mk2 Cavaliers. SR, SRI and GTE. This is an amazing survivor.

[@GavinByrneLand]

That generation of Astra/Kadett (I'm Irish, so I know it as an Opel) was, in my opinion, the best example of 1980's 'jelly mould' styling. It still looks fantastic.

[@MaxWeninger]

The rest of the world knows these as Opel 😀 just the weird Brits not 😁

[@Leepatrick3868]

@@MaxWeninger wish I still had my Opel Manta GTE coupe

[@module79l28]

Yes, the Kadett E. I had a '92 Astra F Caravan 1.4i (8V) and I was curious as to why the Corsas and the Vectras started with the letter A but the first Astra that I knew of was already on the letter F. Until I found out that Opel adopted the Astra name (introduced by Vauxhall) for their F series (and beyond) because it was launched after the fall of the Berlin Wall and keeping a military name like Kadett probably wouldn't go down well in countries that had been under the rule of the USSR for so many years. 🙂

[@Shane-zx4ps]

And they were the known as the Kadett Gsi in Ireland also

[@arthurdardalis]

Although I’m a Ford guy, always liked the GTE. The 80’s were the best decade ever, car manufacturers today need to take a few looks back in time… I used to live in Blackheath, Lewisham was close, I remember Penfold’s Loving the Autolok, the Japanese quality Pioneer’s, TDK D90 were the best quality cassettes, brilliant video!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@primafacie6442]

In 1991 I remember seeing a sustained and stable 130mph on the digital speedo (whilst watching for police in the rear view mirror) of an exact copy of that car on a motorway in Scotland. I bought it from a perfect car polishing anorak in Bristol who kept it under a rug in his garage, and most likely polished it more times than he went over 70moh.😂 I do wish you replace the engine oil and filter before starting the engine.😯

[@superflyguy4488]

An XR2 mk2 was the best I could do at 17, 40 years later and I have a 2021 Type R with 420bhp and a ton of mods, I'm living the teenage dream all over again.

[@kevincochrane]

I have many great memories of Astra GTEs, both 1 & 2.. I was a Vauxhall mechanic for 15 years, right through the hot hatch era.. We had a load of fun in these, moreso when the pre-cat 16v arrived.. Dead easy to work on.. I can fondly remember racing two 16v GTEs (on trade plates), dealer swaps, from Berwick to Morpeth, Northumberland.. And when early 90s car crime escalated, we had lines of these (and others) waiting for drop glasses, radio cassettes, lock kits, steering columns, wheels, etc.... Happy days indeed.. Another quality feature, Jonny.. Well Done 🏁

[@Theorangeman.]

When vauxhalls were good. Now look at them

[@zogzoogler]

peak Vauxhall! Nova, Astra, Cavalier, Senator. oh and the Astramax van that I could fit a full size pallet in the back.

[@kevincochrane]

And the early Nova TD which was faster than the Nova GTE​...

[@compostcorner5934]

What a great example of the iconic GTE. I have never owned one myself ,but have owned quite a few of which are now classics . Including a nova MK1 , cavalier MK3 ,Calibra 16v Redtop . I currently own my second Calibra that I purchased in 2017 as a bit of nostalgia,and my trusted super reliable Astra G van that iv owned since 2010 . Also owned most fords too including Capri ,Cortina ,and escorts all mk's .Happy days 😁

[@zogzoogler]

@@kevincochrane Courtesy of Izuzu👍🏻

[@01FozzyS]

What a gem of a car. Glad it's staying in the family.

[@MrAdopado]

I had one! 1988 E reg 2 litre GTE 8v ... memories flooding back! Yes, the engines are so solid. I had it for 120,000 miles during a period of driving that I must admit included some 3 figure speeds on virtually every drive! The 16v version of this engine got all the glory but these 8v 2 litres had tremendous torque spread and I recall reading "Fast Car" magazine stats that showed that at some speeds they had better in-gear acceleration ... the 16v excelled when revving through the gears to achieve great performance but the 8v pulled from lower in the rev range and was long legged and quick. Particularly easy to get off the line avoiding wheelspin because you didn't need revs and slip the clutch. A very underestimated car. (By the way the external grey plastics were easy to bring back to "as new" appearance using "Back to Black")

[@EvilEndz]

I love those tyres. Powerful front-wheel drive hot hatch with those tyres leaving you wondering, every time you go for a drive, what does Fate have in store for me today 🤣

[@russellmalone3532]

Oh gosh Jonny you are a lucky boy. My mate had several mk1s and a red 8v mk2. I had cavalier Sri’s. What a great period for Vauxhall if only they still made cars like them. ❤.

[@Lukey-jy4ez]

Wow Cavalier sri, I had forgotten about this car. God, reading the comments Opel made some great cars. Being honest, I cannot even name a special Opel made in the last 10-15 years

[@russellmalone3532]

I can add that having several XR’s (2 2i 3 & 3i’s) the Vauxhall also seemed faster. I don’t know exact figures so for all I know they may of been very similar but the Vauxhall memories had a higher top speed thinking back. Thank god there wasn’t many if any speed cameras about back then 😂

[@malcolmkeen7756]

Great memories. I had a Cavaler CDI, SRI, and an Astra SRI.

[@MikeLovesCars]

Had one of these back in the day (1990 2.0 16v GTE). Loved the digital dash. Mine was also on Koni adjustables and so had hammered rear arches to allow the wheels to fit inside without the chance of rubbing on them. In my 50's now and really miss those days of going out with the mates in our cars 😪👍

[@cobragaming7068]

This episode brings back so many memories for me and not just because of the iconic classic hot hatch the Vauxhall Astra GTE , I grew up in Lewisham South East London when this was new and I lived not far from where the guy owned this car new and it was sold at the Vauxhall dealership on Lee high road just up from Lewisham shopping centre , my uncle Charlie bought a Ford Cortina MKV brand new in Lewisham a gold 2.0 Ghia automatic, loved that car , thank you for the memories.

[@stevepoulton8826]

I used to deliver new vauxhalls there in the late 90s on, Quite an old fashioned dealership if I remember right.

[@ryantaggart5642]

What a great episode! I almost shed a tear at the thought of your Uncle getting his dream car and not having the time to enjoy it. I love the idea of you enjoying it. Please drive it and love it for him. It belongs on the road... with the mud flaps attached!

[@cogboy302]

Nah. Flog the mudflaps to some old duffer for his Belmont. They don't belong on a GTE. Plus they trap mud behind them which rots out the front wings and splash guards.

[@ricardoroberto7054]

Gareth was correct about pressing the clutch when starting up. Its what my dad taught me in the 80s. The starter motor isnt trying to turn the clutch unit and so reduces the load on the battery.

[@Laz_Arus]

Thus today, I would think all keyless starter systems will require you to depress the clutch as part of the process to start the engine.

[@ricardoroberto7054]

@@Laz_Arus 👍 yep

[@superseven7947]

Spot on👍

[@iandorling]

Still do it in my mk1 octavia vrs

[@rbmedia771]

In 1987 at the tender age of 20, I signed along the dotted line for a 2 year old GTE in red-$105 per month on finance and $100 per month on insurance, which sounds cheap but I was only earning $400 per month! A great car but massively understeery in the wet and although I hoped it would be a fantastic pulling machine, the car cost me so much that I could never afford to put fuel in it or go out! This episode has brought back so many memories.

[@andrewallan5090]

Of being skint?!

[@rbmedia771]

@@andrewallan5090 yep-skint and unable to pull a bird!

[@abc33944]

being skint and having car ownership dreams ... remember those days well!!!

[@vintagebicyclenut5764]

Had geat memories of my June 1988 Carmine Red GTE 16V. Early 20XE Engines were between 168 BHP and 175 BHP. Mine was 173.5 BHP Standard. The first 1200 COSCAST Head cars were in that power range then detuned to 156 BHP. This information came from a Luton Technical Training Engineer. My car had the same interior but with Leather Steering Wheel with 16V logo and a higher center console and shorter gear lever and leather gear knob. It was also equipped wih rear disk brakes and twin square black exhausts. Straight line performance was ballistic. True drivers car through the bends...... go in on easily and never back off then feed in the power with respect and enjoy. De-Locked mine in 1994 because of the Joy Riding Epidemic and had an alarm and immobiliser, steering lock and wheel clamp fitted. Blocked in by a Type 2 Camper Van in my Parents Drive in Oxford. Car is on SORN

[@CH-ju9hr]

I had 2 16v versions in my youth, made my heart race when you lifted the cover. What memories that has evoked.🎱

[@Lucan-ve6zc]

Twenty seconds in Jonny. An eighties hot hatch. A perfect Sunday.

[@ChrisBWelch]

I owned a MK2 GTE, G770WJM. The only car I've ever regretted selling.

[@freddysquirenaranjo4859]

Mine was a Black GTE G661 YHK..... what colour was yours?

[@ChrisBWelch]

@@freddysquirenaranjo4859 Aubergine.

[@philipgreensmith1694]

Aubergine was by far the best colour! Followed closely by the metallic dark blue 👌

[@dubnutter]

Mine ended up with a knackered head gasket and rusty fuel filler neck. Sold the car and it was wrapped round a lamppost by the new owner a week later 😢

[@SBIGDTSM]

That gte is stunning, I tried to buy a mk1 white gte from 452 motor company in 1989 but couldn’t get finance on it, I had a 1989 1.3 in 1990 then in 1997 I bought a 1991 Astra cdi, that was the closest I got to a gte.

[@Acquiesce77]

Was always an RS Turbo boy but these are fantastic and to have one in that condition is stunning and want to say thanks to them for keeping it like that!

[@calummacpherson7444]

My Dad had two of these as company cars, an 8v on a D plate and a 16v, F627 MND. He used to race a guy round the corner who had a Corrado G60 on the country roads near our house, happy days. I would love to drive one, fantastic little car.

[@hkmonaro8153]

80's digi dashes are soo cool..

[@MrAdopado]

I loved mine but they were much criticised by almost all the petrol heads at the time.

[@theloneranger2101]

Just Brilliant Jonny! Back in the 80's, Knight Rider hit our TV screens in the UK, and I'm sure GM thought, let's put Digital Dashboards like the Kitt car from the show in our cars, and driver's went YES! I'm having some of that in my next car. I think it was a master stroke of marketing by GM, and it worked, I could be wrong, but I don't think so. So great to see this GTE looked after by the owner, it was wonderful to see when the garage door was opened and that it had a proper fitted cover over the car, it makes so much difference. Knocked it out the Garage again Jonny with this video, and the history lesson, and the advertising footage from the time for this car. Love a happy ending. Well done Jonny and the family and the neighbour that helped get it running again. It made my Sunday.👍😃👍

[@TheLateBrakeShow]

🥃😉

[@alexirving1251]

Thats very WOW, and i was definatly in the Ford camp in that era, but a good friend of mine who also sadly passed away far too young had one of these and the memory of that has come flooding back, a week with a good detailer will see that car look like new.

[@Jay-B1750]

I think the smile on everyones face says it all, good luck with it Sophia & Joe, enjoy!! :)

[@neilhaslam4068]

Great to see the originality on this - even the period accessories, but uninstalled - perfect. Will be a great talking point at a few car shows etc, for its clean original condition. Great find - thanks for taking us all along!

[@vincenzodigrande2070]

I've still got the Kadett E GT as my daily, but with all the 16v stuff, the digidash, the redtop, all full option cable looms, board computer, check control, electric wing mirrors, Omega Cruise Control, Saab rear axle, calibra 288mm front brakes, stainless exhaust, and lots and lots more. Love these cars and in such condition is exceedingly rare.

[@mattkinsella9856]

During the 80s and 90s the Astra GTE didn't get anything like the love and respect it deserved. I was a fan of Ford and I also liked the 205 GTI. I had an Escort, my friends had Fiesta XR2s and Golf GTIs, nobody I knew had an Astra until around 1998 my housemate got an Astra GTE 16v. He lent it to me for a whole weekend in exchange for making myself scarce whilst he got acquainted with a new girlfriend and I had an absolute blast. It blew me away how fun it was and to this day I have no idea why they weren't more popular.

[@PAUL-MH]

I was born in the 80s i grew up with this car. I loved them i used to see them all the time growing up in the 80s. This one is a minter what a find!

[@cogboy302]

When the Mk2 Astra came out in 1984, it looked like a spaceship compared to the Mk1. I was driving tractors from age 10, and used to drive my Dad's company cars in fields, but the cars I learned to drive on the roads in (in '89) were a 1.2 Nova, a MK3 Cavalier 2.0 CD and a Mk2 Astra 1.2 Merit. The Mk2 Astra still looks good today.

[@MrG77]

When I was a young kid my neighbour bought the GTE in a green kind of colour and it had the electronic dash. It looked so good. 🙏

[@johnkelly4895]

Sweet sweet car, always wanted one of these, almost cried when lifted the front of the cover off.

[@dfgeek]

Love this. Now That's What I Call Music 10 was the last Now compilation I purchased. Thanks for the memories!

[@CrispysProjects]

It's the only tape I have in my '89 VW Corrado -daily driver 😅 period correct for emergency music only!

[@davidallen513]

I had a 5dr 1.3L D203XRG and had it fitted with GTE bumpers, Alloys and spoiler with an SRI interior. It was also fitted with a 5-speed gearbox and a performance exhaust. Absolutely loved it! I love watching the barn finds.

[@robmthe1st]

Great memories. I had the leather edition 16v. It was my pride and joy. A lot of them got stripped for the red top engines. Not many left now.

[@JR90.]

Wow - the connection a car can give a family across many generations is genuinely heart - warming. Growing up in the 90's, my dad owned a Vauxhall Cavalier (D reg) and this Astra just brought back all those memories, mainly due to the colour being the same as the Astra. What a family to have kept this gem stored in the dry and all the best to them getting back out on the road and making there own memories. Great video Jonny and TLBS team ❤

[@petesplaneta9340]

Wow. I always loved seeing those cars about and looked jealously at them driving about, whilst I was driving my Mums 1.2 Nova. What a great barn find episode. Really enjoyed watching and going on the journey of discovery with you.

[@V_Dubya]

Reminds me of my Nova SR. Bloody loved it. Had a brilliant time in it. It's a shame that Vauxhall became such a sack of crap after that era

[@timothyrogstad5577]

Imagine having that now. I haven't seen one since about mid 80's. Drove them when I worked at my local vauxhall garage. The handing was amazing.

[@iandorling]

I too had a SR Nova 1991 in red spax adjustable suspension and tarox brakes, drove like a rollerskate

[@twobadmice1690]

Makes me sad how many of these we broke to put parts in Novas, what a fantastic time warp and great to see your enthusiasm Jonny. One of my favourite cars on your channel

[@andrewrogers1484]

Great video, I worked for Vauxhall for more than 40 years and when I was promoted in the eighties to a management level I was allowed to get a company car. I went straight to the company car office and ordered a white Astra GTE identical to this one.

[@iainweller452]

What a stunning car lovely condition, I had a Nova Sport back in the day, loved that car, he’s a lucky guy having that car, great episode Jonny

[@markymark-r]

Heart touching story. I love my Vauxhall’s. I still own an unmodified Astra 8v GTE too, which you are more than happy to see Jonny.

[@PaulEnglish-cq4ms]

I used to own a Mk1 GTE in the day. What a car what an engine. My friend had many high revving Honda motorbikes and when I took him out in it he remarked on the smoothness of the engine and its almost inertia free willingness to rev. Had a Golf GTi before and that was just an awful experience what a rust bucket! It was always letting me down mechanically too, with misfires, clutch cable fraying. The brakes were appalling too. Final straw before I getting rid was structural issues on inner wings. Astra GTE plus my Honda civic Type-r really regret selling …. Happy days.

[@paulwilliams7070]

This has to one of the best gte mark 2 ever all originals in that condition huge credit to the previous owner for keeping this beautiful classic in its original condition ❤

[@markscrivener979]

Great nostalgia trip. I also had an 8v GTE in the late 80s. I used to live in Luton, the home of Vauxhall, so there were loads about. I remember racing my mate who had a 16v. My brakes caught fire…..almost all got stolen at some point as the security was hopeless. 😁

[@paulbinding7111]

Brilliant episode! The joy and excitement on Jonny's face and the overwhelming nostalgia of encountering such a trip down memory lane came through by the bucket load - fantastic... I fell into the Vauxhall camp with a Nova SR, a couple of Cavaliers, a Calibra and a few Opel Mantas thrown in.

[@Aldant432]

Had a couple of MK2 GTE’s and a MK1 SR. Rallied a MK2 1300. Worked at a Vauxhall dealers in the 80’s too. Best decade to be a young lad. 😀

[@Tenfx72]

I had a XR3i but secretly wanted a GTE because of the dash. Everyone needs a mate like Gareth. Enjoyed that, thank you.

[@MrAdopado]

It's quite interesting to read of the number of people who liked the dash because I seem to remember the motoring press at the time being quite sniffy about it! I would switch mine to km/h without passengers knowing ... that made for an impressive fake top speed! Great days.. GTi (several manufacturers), XR3i, XR2i, RS Turbos, 5 Turbo, GTE etc etc

[@ashleydey536]

Awesome cars my ultimate 80s hot hatch! And a presenter that actually knows something about Astra GTEs

[@The_BenboBaggins]

You can tell that car was really loved!

[@karlbailey5446]

When vauxhall were proper built and simple to maintain with plenty of power on tap! I started to work on vauxhalls 30 years ago and still are! these were my apprentiship and the 2.0 seh engine was massivly understood the power torque on these engines was quick and could easily bounce off the limiter in 5th nothing like the french Sxxxe we have to deal with now now well done keep it standard no messing with it nice one jonny🚙🚙

[@dankrafted]

my dad had two of these, both were part exchanges but he kept hold of them for as long as possible each, both red, one was an 8v and the other was 16v. the digital dash was the coolest thing in the world to a 9 year old me, loved those cars. and the 16v still holds the record for the school run when i was running late one day, 8 miles in 9mins on winding country roads. The cassette holder brought back some instant memories of the interior

[@TheHitmann069]

My second car was a Mk 1 Astra GTE and I still miss it and sometimes dream about it. A565PJL, Red, Recaros, smoked brown glass and an Alpine removable head unit and CD changer, which I still have. Peco full exhaust and manifold, K&N filter. I spent hours working on her and driving in her. Thanks for sharing. 💔

[@Rhyd]

Every time I see an 80/90s hatchback I notice just how compact they actually were compared to our new "small" cars. Can we go back to when cars didn't look like they were suffering from a bad allergic reaction?

[@adamweston4152]

Back in the 90s my dad had a small business doing dealer exchanges for a local Vauxhall dealership and a local Austin rover dealership and I got to drive many hot Vauxhall's including the astra gte, cavalier 4x4s , calibras and the turbo calibra and at the time I was a ford devotee and I was shocked at how good the Vauxhall's were, even the ordinary car's were quick, many happy memories of driving those hot Vauxhall's!.

[@MrAdopado]

You are so right. My partner had an MG Metro and she changed to a basic 1300 Astra that was quicker, smoother and would out perform 1600 Fords. As a result of that I subsequently bought a red GTE like in the video ... superb car.

[@adamweston4152]

@@MrAdopado totally true, the 1300 astra was quicker than most 1600s and would embarrass Ford's etc, a real wolf in sheep's clothing.

[@adrianfowler362]

I remember a mate having 3 2.0 liter 16 valve while I had a cav SRI 130 and what great fun we had racing each other around in them

[@thedarkknight1971]

My Uncle had a Mk2 GTE in that bright red colour, he now has a red Seat Leon K1 + proper tuning firm tune (320+BHP). It WAS in a tidy condition, he had same wheels and had paint matched the Vauxhall dragon logo red too to match the car colour. But... Alas, he left the GTE to fester in his garage letting mould grow in the interior (all over the steering wheel, roof liner, seats, bloody everywhere), I offered him good money for it, but he wouldn't sell, saying "I'll get around to doing it up" - he never did, in the end he just gave it away for parts 😒)... I was miffed off I can tell you! I hope I get a chance to obtain his K1 though!!! 😎🇬🇧

[@sebastiendesousa3378]

In South Africa we had the Kadett Superboss. I fondly remember them battering the competition at the illegal street races.

[@djbillye4943]

Oh yes.GSI.2.0.16v.great engine

[@JohnMcMahon.]

I absolutely loved these, I’m definitely a Vauxhall guy. These had huge torque under steer from the front wheels when pushed hard. Loved the digital dash. Wish this was a 16 valve but the 2.0i 8v was still extremely quick.

[@neilneilorangepeel]

I started my Vauxhall apprenticeship in 94 and the guy that taught me had one of these, still remember the reg G42 BNP. He took me Newquay in it in the summer of 95 and remember the digital speedo reading 137 on the M5, I thought it was the dogs danglies.

[@PB200559]

Cleanest barn find ever Jonny. Time capsule. Deserves to be properly re-commissioned, cleaned and used. Great stuff.

[@cgee3999]

Thank God you’ve finally got a compressor😅

[@fastEdCanuck]

What a cool little rig. Amazing survivor!

[@jimmyeatshoe]

I used to draw this car as a young teenager in the back of my exercise books at school, dreaming of hooning it down country lanes! Fabulous Jonny 🎉

[@matthewpovey2025]

Love Johnny’s enthusiasm for this car .

[@steven1917]

That was the Pontiac Lemans in the USA from 1988-1993.

[@TheGAZGUN]

The 80's, Hot Hatch, was the start of a lot dreams of fast motoring, for the working youngster. Great find.

[@stepheng8779]

What a beauty, what a gem ❤ Those seats took me right back to my Cav Sri & the tapes oh man I'm back to the good days 😂 Surprised at the manual windows, thought they'd be electric. What sold me my Cavalier apart from it's gorgeousnous? It's leccy aerial & windows I was king of road 🤣🤣

[@jeremywentworth1833]

As an ex owner and a brother who had 2 GTE's it's fantastic to see 1 wish I'd squirreled mine a way but in the 90s I didn't think like that.

[@Littlemosslad]

My best mate had a MK1 GTE and some scrote smashed the windows and burned it out believe it or not.. scandalous. He had put into it a MK2 dash as well. 😢

[@aarolecklin8627]

Opel Kadett here. Very popular in the 80's. Known as GSI here.

[@johnrussell5245]

I had one of these from new in the 1980s. It was silver and I had my mobile 'phone aerial bang in the centre of the roof. I did 140,000 miles in it before I sold it in 1988. Great car.

[@rexmundi9691]

omg, my first performance car. I got it in '99, drove it for 5 years. Loved every minute in it.

[@williamegler8771]

It is always interesting to hear British people reviewing Vauxhall vehicles as if Vauxhall was responsible for the design and engineering. The last Vauxhall design was the original Viva. All the subsequent models are market-specific rebadged Opels or from other GM divisions or partners.

[@ricardoroberto7054]

And now they are Peugeots.....

[@MyLifePixeled]

I miss car seat fabric like that.

[@MyLifePixeled]

I'm always sad when I realize the video is over, usually saying "ALREADY?!" I wish there was an active community for all of us Brakers to chat about cars in between, so Jonny and team can avoid filming 24/7 :)

[@ianashton1593]

Drove one of these (2 litre from memory) from London where I was based up to the companies headquarters in Burnley. It had been a company car, the chap that had use of it had been laid off. Left London during rush hour up to my home in Northamptonshire so didn’t really get chance to open the taps. Left for Burnley early morning the following day and it was thick fog until about half way through the journey. Was amazed at how quick it was when I finally got to put my foot down and really didn’t want to hand over the keys to the fleet manager when I arrived. Was picking up my new company car which was a 1.8 Sierra Laser while I was there and it was a slug compared with the GTE.

[@stevecox5012]

What a car. My Dad had a Belmont 1.8 back in the day. That interior, albeit without the digital dash, brought back so many memories. Thanks Jonny!

[@vivavideo-videofilmer]

Es ist ein Opel, ein Opel Kadett... wir sind die Jungs von der Opel Gaaaaaaang!!!!!!!

[@DieCastRestos]

Other than a white interior, could a white body with white wheels be any more 80s?

[@kevincochrane]

Of course the MK2 Astra Club did (almost - Very light grey) have white seats.. And carpets!

[@richardwallam2207]

Wow... I owned one of these in red. Exactly the same interior . All the memories are now flooding back, and that digital dashboard. There is a button which changes mph to kph. I used to swap it to scare my old grandma on how fast we were going when i would take her home.Thanks for the memories, Johnny.

[@AndrewGibson22]

My dad brought me home a GTE brochure in 1985. It was the FUTURE and I was amazed. He got a red 305 GLD company car instead. The future became bleak.

[@Alanjamessouthey]

Brings me back I was in my vw golf 16v My friend had the GTE Also an nova Sr Great days

[@stevie007]

Love the 80`s tone music on this one guys 👌 It sets the vibe tone perfectly 👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@garrymatthews4430]

Thaht has to be one of the best preserved barn finds ever, car I always wanted but could never afford. Lets hope they enjoy it as there uncle would have wanted to

[@matthewbessey681]

Brought back so many great memories for me, I had an F plate Astra CD in white, probably the nicest driving car I’ve ever owned, that GTE is in such awesome condition too !!

[@andrewseggie]

Learned to drive in a Mk2 Astra, then went on to own a few versions including the Mk2 SXi (1.8) and Mk2 SRi (1.8). Such great cars and loads of fun. Always wanted a GTE, but never realised the dream. ‘Once driven, forever smitten’.

[@AnthonyDurand1]

I was born in the 90s and my mum had one.. Honestly feels like an icon to me.. Upsetting to see how rare they are now because it doesn't even look like 80s.. I have a 2001 Audi S3 and it follows the same square front design..

[@HQBProductions]

Jonny….this could be my wife’s old car…it is t as hers was G820 JYC and sold as brand new in 1997 and written off in days by the new owner. It is an exact copy right down to the yellow crook lock! We really liked that car a lot and it had one of the very best engines I have ever known…out of 76 different cars!…it was smooth, powerful, felt unburstable and a real delight. Given a good recommissioning and thorough detailing, that will be a very special car. A real picture on 1990’s enthusiast driving…long gone now. 🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@G-regular503]

Wow, what a time piece this is. Its so special when special cars like this one are this solid and untouched. So rad!