My Opel Kadett D GTE (Astra GTE Mk1) - BACK UP FOR SALE

[BenW]

1983/A
Carmine Red
MOT September 2009
6 months tax

I’m selling this as during the last 12 months it has only been driven literally to the MOT station and back. It’s a waste having it in the garage, it should be driven!

http://images1.fotopic.net/?iid=yvyj3p&noresize=1&nostamp=1&quality=70

The car was purchased new, in UK right-hand-drive spec, in West Germany by a serving RAF Officer who was stationed there at the time. When he returned to Britain he brought it home with him, later trading it in at a garage in High Wycombe, where the second owner purchased it in 1987. I have a letter from this man in which he explains a bit about the car. I’m a complete anorak when it comes to history, and for me cars are no different. I’ve got details of all the previous owners and have compiled a binder full of receipts, period brochures, colour charts etc and even have a factory Opel workshop manual for the car, all of which are of course included in the sale. Also included is the issue of Practical Classics magazine in which my car was used for a five page Mk1 GTE buying guide.

http://images5.fotopic.net/?iid=yvyj3n&noresize=1&nostamp=1&quality=70

I’ve had the GTE over 5 years, having bought it from a mature gentleman in Surrey back in 2003; he’d had a brand new GTE back in the early 80s and wanted to relive the magic! He used this one for a year or two, travelling all over the UK in it on business selling grandfather clocks.

I used the car until the MOT expired, then set about stripping the interior out to assess what sort of repair work would be needed to make it solid. Plenty, as it turned out. A friend and I carried out some repairs and replaced a front floor section, which made it less like a sieve and more like a car. This was pretty much a temporary measure though, and during 2007 I spent a small fortune having it professionally stripped down, welded and fully undersealed over a period of 3 months by a respected welder/mechanic who knows his older Vauxhalls.

Since then, it has gone straight through two MOTs.

I’d have a guilty conscience if I didn’t mention these points:

• New outer sills (where they meet the body under each door) still need to be sprayed and the bodykit could benefit from some fettling on one side for a slightly better fit.
• There’s a mildly annoying rattle at 2500 RPM if coasting, coming from underneath the car, possibly from around the gear linkage area.
• There is a smell of petrol when the tank is completely full to the brim; I removed the tank for inspection but couldn’t see any obvious damage. It was refitted along with new fuel lines throughout but the smell is still there. My no-nonsense solution has been to not quite fill the tank when I refuel…
• MOT advisory; some play in the rear wheel bearings. These are adjustable so it shouldn’t need to be replaced yet unless you really want to.
• Sometimes it’s a bit reluctant to go into 2nd gear, but I’ve adjusted the clutch cable and gear linkage to a point where it’s not that bad at all (I’m comparing it to my 2002 Octavia daily driver so am probably being too picky).
• The tailgate has seen better days.

I have a few spare parts which I’ll throw in as part of the sale if the buyer wants them – among these are a spare 18E engine and gearbox (very low mileage, I think approx 38k), brand new Opel centre caps for the alloys (these were 4 of the last 7 in Germany when I bought them last year – they are still sealed in the GM packaging), dealersport mudflaps (again, unfitted), an airflow meter, etc etc.

Overall, although it is by no means perfect – it’s 26 years old – this GTE is a very useable and reliable modern classic which in my opinion has many years left in it.

Is it worth £2250 to anyone here before it goes on eBay? Let me know if I'm way out price-wise!

Cheers all
Ben

[BenW]

More pics...

[tuffty]

To be honest I shouldn't think you'd have any problem shifting it at that price.

[BenW]

[Suicide]

Damn straight mate, that's a quality car

[justEdnow]

Long time no see Ben, great car.

[Delmastiff]

You finally decided to let it go then Ben. Good luck with the sale fella

Here, have a pic (this is Ben's actual car by the way)

[BenW]

Cheers fellas

[mk1astramad]

seriously the mintest car in the club...standard unmodified wise..how stunning is this car....id gladly buy it,just no cash at the mo....id even sell the black one for this

[mark1]

[mk1astramad]

urs is close

[mark1]

[mk1astramad]

no probs mate...THIS is my b'day prezzie to me

[mark1]

A bargin then Mate

[BenW]