I've got a new neighbour who loves his Astra GTE's he owns 3 of them, Turns out that Vanguards used one car of his, and number plate for their 1:43 model range.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vanguards-...item20fb5f105d

Not everyday you get a neighbour who love old cars and has some models aswell.

I took him out in my S2 last saturday and he loved it.

 

A mate of mine has just bought a nice gte 16v il show him this link.

 

I'd love a gte champion

 

 

Thats one of his car, this is the newest addition of the 3 GTE. I got a couple more pics i shall upload.

 

So, He took me out in his unrestored 51,000+ miles car today. Quite rapid I thought, Very quick down country roads and has some grunt when you want to overtake.

 

Use to love my vaxhalls my second car was a hatch back sri130 in white

 

They used to go really well... We're far quicker than Fiestas, Escorts of that era.
A mate put gte running gear in his 1300 shell.
With 13 inch wheels all it did was spin lol

 

Don't they handle shot though.

 

My one handles fine Glenn
Granted it's not on standard suspension anymore though.

 

Brother had a 8v and it always spun the wheels. Got a bit of a soft spot for these. Seem to recall the 16v being a bit arse happy due to altered geometry of the back suspension but that could have been pub BS

 

Seen that one its a nice car.
Least it has a cosworth head.

 

Coolio matey.

 

A Norev 1/18 GTE is on the way soon, in white.

I may buy one as dad had one back in the day, B431EAK.

 

I need one of them models bigmacmoomin any more details on them ?
My gte's White so would be awesome to get one of these ��

Mark.

 

I used to love these, my mates older brother used to have a 16v one back in the day and it was proper scary fast and that is coming from someone the used to have a R5 GTT at the time (although maybe he was just more of a nutcase driver than I was..!)

 

Dont know anything else at the moment. Would guess it would be released this year.

 

They were quick back in the day, handling was bad, and the 16v rear end was worse.

 

So, Just got home from a blast out with my neighbour again. Jesus christ its quick when it wants to be. He fit a K&N filter(panel) today, Some NOS parts. We was baited by a Civic Type R. He couldn't kept up, and coming from someone who used to build them for a living I knew he wouldn't. I drove one before and never thought much of them.

Then he got shown up by a 14' 911 who decided to give us a chase which we accepted and we had a brilliant country blast. Plenty of lift off and back end happy, but held its own against the 911 until he gave up.

For a standard car, bar now a K&N panel filter I think they perform very well.

 

Bet you guys were having far more fun in a 20+ yo Astra than the Porsche guy was, easier to reach cars limits without having to do 120 mph. I'd also expect you'd get plenty of respect from on lookers too

 

Yes we did, it seems to be people see an old car and turn their head as you go past them. The Porsche driver looked young.
The funny bit was on our way home the Porsche was behind us again. so he must of been out for a sunday drive and turnt round on the next turning.

 

They are now out, exclusive to modelissimo.de so they are the only place to buy them. 60euros + postage & in white or red.

 

just seen these on otto 1/18 size..cool
http://otto-models.com/en/ot174/297-...si-20-16v.html

 

Do quite like the astra GTE, might be tempted by one,

 

The Otto models are Kool will ne having a display case in my man cave of all the heyday cars saph gte gti ect look really good you get quiet alot of them on bay best to buy from german/ Dutch sellers alot cheaper

 

Your best to buy them straight from otto I've got quiet a few of there models

 

I buy my Otto & GT Spirit cars direct from them on pre-order, works out cheaper. Ł58 for an Otto & Ł73 for a GT Spirit inc postage, euro exchange rate dependent.

 

does he have a yellow one by any chance?

I had a champion that was repsrayed from new

 

That one used to live in Woodhall Park in 94 always plugged into a kenlow hotstart... Well i think it was that one.

 

Sorry very late reply, no he has 2 white and the Champion one. He moved away end of summer last year(only rented on a 6 month contract). So dont see him anymore.

 

Sounded a good neighbour he must find it hard getting a house to accommodate the 3 gte's

 

There was a nice mk1 and mk2 Astra gte at goodwood yesterday on the Vauxhall stand

 

He had them stashed over 3 different places, one GTE and his daily Corsa which he sold for a GTC.

 

i work with John who used to live next door to you

 

Seemed a decent bloke. He offered to fix my PS4 after my daughter rammed 2 discs into the drive. Did a good job too.

 

yeah he is, often stop and have a chat about the old school motors lol

 

Sounds like a cracking neighbour to have I've had a few mk2 gtes including a covertable one. Had a really immaculate one a few years ago but as usual had to be sold to fund Cossie repairs :-(

 

I know this was a while ago but wonder if that was my old astra champion, the links above dont work so I cant see the number plate is H780... Its quite a well known car.. I bought it out of a front garden and did all the restoration years ago..Pretty sure it was a 'John' I sold it to and know it was made into the model that is on some sites...

 

http://www.hattons.co.uk/74027/Corgi...ockDetail.aspx

This is my old one... Interested to see if the same blokes still got it and its still going ??

 

yeah I think he's still got it but it's been in bits since 2014