Paul- None Saxo Progress Thread - Astra GTE

[Paul]

I've got rid of the saxo, got an offer i couldn't refuse so snapped it up and sold it for a tidy little profit. Some lad from wales bought it for hill climbing events.

Anyway, onwards and upwards.. :|

I've always dreamed of owning this exact/particular car. I've grown up with it being on my neighbours drive all my life. Used to sound a beast back in the day, over ten years ago. Me and the rest of kids used to jump out the road or chase after it when it drove up and down the street. When i was about 10years old neighbour took me for a drive in it. One of them experiences as a kid that i'd never forget. The digital dash board was something i had never seen in my life back then. Unfortunately for the last 10 years its been sat on his drive gathering dirt and battling 10 years of british weather (...them terrible winters :ill:). Its far from its former glory.

Neighbour has always told me he would never sell it and hes taking it to the grave with him. Hes had numerous randomers knock on his door asking to buy it (hes turned down some crazy offers too!). I got talking to him a couple days ago, long story short, he decided to sell it me for pennies.

Needless to say i'm a very happy chappy.

I've promised i'd keep him updated with progress, and once i've got it all how i want (hopefully by next summer) i'll let him take it for a spin.

Heres a few photos of her looking a little sorry herself...


http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095417.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095633-1.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095623-1.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095503-1.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095435.jpg

[chester-lad]

nice project . nice C20LET in there ...

theses look good on them http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ASTRA-GTE-MATTING-SPOILER-RARE-ITEM-/180839806603?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item2a1ae4768b

[Pitbull69]

a couple of my older brothers mates had these when I was younger too, can see why you bought it.. Subscribed!

[Alanapone]

Can't see the photos cos I'm on my phone but I'll subscribe and look when I can get one the pooter.

Glad you've got the car after all these.

Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using Tapatalk

[Gandi699]

Rare sight nowadays, my auntie had a white GTE back when I was a young lad

[Prickle]

Needs a good clean :(

Will watch.

[danny-vts]

you want to sell it me?? lol

of all the different cars iv owned in the years, the astra GTE is the one i miss the most.
i will at some point buy another one.

@chester-lad i'd keep away from cars if i was you :p

[kennym1987]

i love these cars. fond memories of one from 10+ years ago. always wanted one. sub'd :p

[Tom5190]

Love these cars, needs restoring with original wheels and will look perfect!

[Bedford126]

Love these cars, needs restoring with original wheels and will look perfect!

just thinking this myself.

Watch the paint work when restoring it mate because its very very thin on these.

nice buy:y:

[willo-1]

classic love these, brings back a few memories,

[Brettles1986]

Digi dash FTW!

My mate used to have one and don't know what was done to it but feck me it was fast

[Alanapone]

If you don't have the tools or time, get Rorz to do a full details on it and that will come up gleaming ;)

It's a right sorry state!

[Andy_K]

That is awesome Paul. I've a secret soft spot for old-school Vauxhalls.

[Rob-6]

Nice, what's it like for the old tin worm though?

[bobertmate]

Old Astra's are amazing!

[joe333]

Absolutely love the old GTE:y:

[MJ05LLY]

Subscribed

Bring it back to its full glory!!!!!!!!

[Andymc]

I nearly got one of these years ago. Love the digital speedo.

[Lewis1600]

My brother had one of these as his first car..

Frigging love them!! my mates currently re building his C20LET GTE, got to love them!

[MiniGibbo]

Not my favourite car tbh, that is however an epic story behind it..!

I'm going to keep a close eye on this thread, are you planning to take it all apart and clean it up back to oem spec..?

[JoeHindle]

This looks like it could become a very interesting read, sub'd :y:

[LSOfreak]

love this shape astra. By far the best astra you can buy imo

[mark1311]

bet you cant wait to get your hand on this and get it sorted,...

nor can i lol....

[Lewis]

One of the few Griffon's I absolutely love! Will be amazing to see this in its former glory. What engine is standard in these? 2.0l 16v?

[craig180]

Rare beast indeed! Look after it mate

[Paul]

Wow, amazed at all the comments, thanks to everyone whos commented! I didn't think people would be interested on here. I better get cracking with some updates soon!

just thinking this myself.

Watch the paint work when restoring it mate because its very very thin on these.

nice buy:y:

If you don't have the tools or time, get Rorz to do a full details on it and that will come up gleaming ;)

It's a right sorry state!

Cheers lads. I think it needs more than a clean/polish. Full respray is going to be best option.

Alan, Hows the new house? Did you decide on keeping both the saxos?

Nice, what's it like for the old tin worm though?

Suprisingly to say its been sat for 10 years doing nothing its not too bad! Sills, arches, and abit behind the headlights upto now!

Not my favourite car tbh, that is however an epic story behind it..!

I'm going to keep a close eye on this thread, are you planning to take it all apart and clean it up back to oem spec..?

Cheers mate, each to their own.


One of the few Griffon's I absolutely love! Will be amazing to see this in its former glory. What engine is standard in these? 2.0l 16v?

Yeah, This one has got a 2.0l 16v engine which has been fully rebuilt and some cams (not sure which yet :detective:)

[tillygti6]

thats a blast from the past! i had to drag my mates one of these out a field after he flipped it 7 times. quite how he got out with bruises we will never know. someone was looking over him! did squirt him in the face with the washer jets after the screen had popped.
iam secretly a bit jealous,
tommy

[Chr15]

My stepdad has got one in his garage except its a G-reg and is still red :p

also has the digi dash, just a few rust patches on the arch and needs 4 new tyres otherwise its all good.

morettes look a bit gay though :n:

[Prickle]

Alpha lights for a Alpha male Chros

[vtectransplant]

Beast of a car....certainly brings back memories.

One of the 1st cars I ever drove back in '98, my Dad was a car trader at the time and I had to pick it up from BCA in Manchester. BIG Smiles!
Few mates had them too, one had an Astra Van GTE, same shape with the Digidash.....cant stop smiling! lol

Really looking forward to seeing this progress. :y:

[Paul]

After seeing all your replies i decided to get some more photos.

Managed to get the car over to the unit.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_155137.jpg

After abit of playing around with the jump leads, fuel pump wires and £10 worth of petrol i got her running.

Now i know she runs, I can start with the stripping down so its ready for bodyshop. May take a while though as im working alot at the minute.

Looks like she'll need 2 new front wings, 2 new rear arches, 2 new sills, also a few rust patches here and there. Engine bay is very tidy apart from a tiny patch behind drivers headlight.

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_171724.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_171824.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_172032.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_172109.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_172426.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_181519.jpg

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120319_095442.jpghttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/Astra%20GTE%20Restoration/20120324_181504.jpg

[stevo67]

Rare sight nowadays, my auntie had a white GTE back when I was a young lad

Certainly are a workmate of mine had 1 of these 20yrs back nice cars.:drink:

[Stefan_Wood]

Seen these, seen the price thought maybe ?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/3804709.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/3801502.htm

[ClaytonJones]

Nice car

[blackie_2k5]

Not that bad a base tbh, been in a fair few if these, mates and mother used to have them :)

Needs to go trophy red IMO

[Mieran]

You've finally got one :y:

Here is quick pic of my pals gte turbo, shes a beast like, shame I havent got better pics

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/gte1.jpg

[MiniGibbo]

Defiantly needs to loose the morrete lights.

[7unner172]

love this mate spotted your thread on mk2.com

dont be put off by any of the rot!looks pretty normal for a mk2 tbh:y:



You've finally got one :y:

Here is quick pic of my pals gte turbo, shes a beast like, shame I havent got better pics

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/gte1.jpg

haha cheers

i am the pal hes on about lol heres some snaps

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/IMG-20120405-00085.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/DSCN0416.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/IMG_0046.jpg

and her soon to be new bumper

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg230/runner172/DSCN0432.jpg

:panic:

[Prickle]

Clean!

[GTuff]

all it needs is a gd wash n a polish with a mop bowwwwwwwlllleeerrr :y: excited

[Paul]

Ok so going on holiday today for 2 weeks in Turkey, thought id update this before i go. Sorry no updates on the GTE, but as soon as i get back i'm going to spend most my free time on this project.

Its been sat in dry unit for a while now, needs to be stripped right down to bare shell then sent off to bodyshop (end of july/start august).

Bought another new car a few weeks ago, i've been using for work. ]

http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd172/Paul_CGM/new.jpg

Resisting temptation to spend money on the vxr instead of the gte lol.

[Alanapone]

Look forward to a bit of progress mate.

Have a good holiday :y:

[Paul]

Hi mate, sorry i missed you at fcs. I didnt see your message saying you've lost my number.
I was only there for about half a hour anyway, got bored lol.
When i get back i'll try start coming to some meets and whatnot, been proper inactive lately lol.

[Paul]

You've finally got one :y:

Here is quick pic of my pals gte turbo, shes a beast like, shame I havent got better pics


Yeah finally haha,
Love it, looks clean!

Defiantly needs to loose the morrete lights.

Part of me agrees, then part of me disagrees as i've personally always seen it with morrettes whilst growing up.

love this mate spotted your thread on mk2.com

dont be put off by any of the rot!looks pretty normal for a mk2 tbh:y:



Ah i forgot i signed up there, lol.
Thats beautiful mate :)
Yeah, theres alot less rot than i was expecting tbh!
Hopefully have it all restored by end of the year :detective:
..Just gotta keep resisting temptation to remap the vxr. lol.

[Alanapone]

No worries mate. send me a PM on here or facebook and i'll get it. Any plans for some tracktime later this year again ;)

[saladdodger]

I remember being taken for a blat in one of these when i was about 19, back in 1996. Thing was rapid.

Id be inclined to fulled strip it and have it dipped, then replace the metal/panels thats knackered.

[Paul]

No worries mate. send me a PM on here or facebook and i'll get it. Any plans for some tracktime later this year again ;)

Pm'in you now pal,

No plans for any trackdays this year, although i miss Anglesey very much!!

Would love to do one but got no space for a 3rd car lol.
I wouldn't like to take the VXR on track.. i didn't mind taking that 106 out and pushing it as all the money was in the engine, worst case scenario if i binned it i could easily reshell it for pennies.
Brothers TB'ed saxo is on the drive.. wonder if he would notice if it disappeared for a day? lol