This is my MK1 Astra GTE Turbo. It's got a C20LET running phase 2 at 272BHP / 267lb/ft, an F28 6 speed with a Quaife ATB, lowered, bigger brakes, stiffer suspension and custom leather interior. That though isn't the complete story, please read on to find out all about it!!
The car is a re shell and exact replica of my old one which you may have seen a couple of years ago. It was featured in Total Vauxhall and was even featured on TV on Men n Motors! Unfortunately the bulkhead was completely shot, chassis rails completely rotten too so it got scrapped :'( :'(
This was it in it's hey day
And this was it's final days
So, with that shell now relegated to the scrapper, there was no way I was going to let the car completely die so I started out trying to find the best GTE shell that I could find, luckily I found this one which although needed some work was an excellent base for the project.
It's the 2nd oldest GTE still in known existence and was built in Bochum, Germany and not Ellesmere Port thank god so is quite historic in it's own right. I snapped it up straight away and had it trailered down from Wales back to my lock up in Essex.
This is WUX a couple of years ago, looking good!
This is WUX in my lock up fresh off the trailer. Not looking so good
Next step was to get the car down to my mates for the re shell to begin
The following pic's are a small part of the extensive photo file that I have of the rebuild but these give you an idea of what's been done so far. The car was reasonably solid, the most important part being the bulkhead was anyway, but it did need inner and outer sills, bit of floor work and I have treated it to new GM inner wings.
New Inner Wings and Front panel
Once all the welding was done it was ready for prepping
Then
Cracked on with the interior
Fresh Re Trimmed Leather Recaro's
New Rims
And Finally
Hope you like it and I also hope it gives you some inspiration for your own projects. Crack on because it's well worth i tin the end!
