Description
Following a recent purchase of a seventies classic car I have decided to sell my Astra, aka Agnes after the first lady owner. Agnes purchased the car in 1982 reportedly waiting six months for delivery and registration on 1/ 12/ 82. Black paintwork still in excellent condition was a special order colour at the time so this car was made in West Germany hence the long lead time.
Agnes will have ordered her car shortly after Vauxhall started fitting the 1600S engine, from its bigger sister the Cavalier, introduced in Jan ‘82.
Anecdotely West German built cars were made of better steel and hence its current condition. Agnes owned the car for 33 years before it was bought by and inside stored by a Vauxhall enthusiast who kept it for five years without driving it before I purchased it in late 2020 at that time with 46200 miles. The MOT history shows just a slightly lower mileage mileage in 2007 which must have been when Agnes stopped driving it.
There is a stamped service book showing some of its history with Agnes giving credence to its genuine mileage. Under my stewardship I have maintained it myself but kept receipts for oil and filters etc. It has also had regular MOT testing its history showing I have averaged 1700 miles pa. This has been a combination of attending car shows, runs out to museum with friends in their classics and local errand running (always good to justify why I ‘just need to pop out!).
In my early tenure I did service the carburettor for smoother running with 100% reliability. I also bought five Dunlop Street Response tyres so with less than 7000 miles on them they have lots of tread, the spare tyre being unused.
A recent oil and filters change completed along with a brake service including hydraulic fluid change.
So the car runs really well although maybe a little tappety, pulling well with the auto gearbox changing smoothly. Again I changed the gearbox fluid early in my ownership and the cam belt was renewed just prior to my purchase.
Everything works just as it should including the factory fitted radio cassette, an upgrade from the standard radio option I believe.
The car remains in factory spec so no rear seat belts but as you would expect all ready for them to be fitted. No passenger side door mirror but I do have a NOS mirror but couldn’t decide whether to fit it! The seats are in fantastic condition as well are the carpets, front footwells still have the factory supplied rubber mats as well.
If you’re only use to modern cars you may notice the road noise though it was like that when new and has no difficulty maintaining any speed limit.
I have adjusted the rear wheel bearing as picked up on the very recent MOT test. The grease mentioned on the drive joint was not a significant amount, the tester confirming the integrity of the boots.
There is a small amount of bubbling on a door bottom though this remains stable.
If you have been looking recently you will have seen low mileage cars advertised for £15k+, I am more realistic with my price but still open to near offers for this great looking period car which when as mentioned going out with friends in their E type and Merc it is still my car that everyone wants to chat about. Prior to buying the Astra my classic was a mini van which though a great vehicle to have I decided the practicality of a hatchback would be a good option. Having owned one in period another was an easy option and, albeit with the auto box, when this car with the 1600S engine appeared on the market I didn’t regret buying it. It has been said that Vauxhall discontinued the 1600 engine in the Astra as its performance was embarrassing that of the Cavalier and hence Cavalier sales.
I often imagine Agnes with the salesman at J Haugh & Co. going through the options; black 1600 5 door auto, so special order from W Germany with six months lead time. Cigar lighter, no I don’t smoke (hence the ashtray looks brand new!). Passenger door mirror, no I’ll manage without. Rear seat belts, no I rarely have passengers. Interior trim, I like the burnt orange contrast with the black paintwork. Radio, I like playing cassettes. Give me some front floor mats in the price to protect the carpet and you have a deal!
This thought always brings a smile to my face. Filling up with fuel, I always use E5, is not always a quick task. Make time for the multitude of questions and reminiscing from other customers and staff, usually saying about their own early period ownership or a parents ownership. Or the often said not seeing many of those on the road, well I’ve just checked and indeed I think this is the only currently licensed 1982 1600L auto in the UK.
I mentioned previously about running errands and practicality of this model. My everyday modern is a saloon so the Astra gets used for the occasional larger item purchase which fits easily into the rear with the seat folded forward.
Thanks for reading through my advert, more than happy to answer any further questions you may have. As I say it is realistically priced but I’d rather it be used and enjoyed by someone like I have rather than it now being a fifth car and under used so I’m open to offers.
You will see in the images information from when I purchased the car and I think with this, the service history and MOT history there is sufficient to warrant the mileage.
