Vauxhall : Astra Mk1
Model Introduction
The Vauxhall Astra Mk1, launched in 1979, was the brand’s first front-wheel-drive family hatchback and a rebadged version of the Opel Kadett D. Designed to compete with the VW Golf, it offered a modern transverse engine layout, improved interior space, and a wide choice of body styles including three- and five-door hatchbacks, an estate, and a sporty GTE. Built at Ellesmere Port in the UK, the Mk1 Astra was praised for its practicality and efficiency, and it set the template for Vauxhall’s highly successful Astra line that continues today.
Magazine Articles
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Newcomers
Kadett graduates - and fwd moves on
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Giant Test
Opel burn to knock VW's Golf from its hard won place as top family five-door. But is their new Kadett the car for the job?
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Giant Test
Vauxhall Astra GL v Renault 14TS v Citroen GSA Pallas
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Giant Test
Vauxhall Astra L (estate) v Citroen GSA Club v Peugeot 305GL (estate)
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Free Wheelin'
Janspeed Vauxhall Astra
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The Pretenders...
...to the open Golf tournament reviewed on page 48. Now that GM has finally screwed a 1600 engine into the excellent Kadett SR, and Ford's XR2 gets our vote as a more businesslike little machine than the XR3, we have, in theory, two more pretenders to the throne
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Per ardua ad Astra
Through hardship to the stars? Not quite. Equipped with the trusty Demon Tweeks/CCC Vauxhall Astra more usually pedalled by Harry Hockly, Russell Bulgin recently made his discreet forest rallying debut in deepest Somerset. Due to either oversteer or oversight - nobody's quite sure which - both car and driver survived...
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Astra EXP
Limited numbers of Vauxhall Astras (2,800 initially but we would not be surprised to find them being produced for some time) are the EXP range of 1.3-litre three- and five-door hatchbacks, and 1.6-litre five-door hatchback and a sporty Astra EXP 'S' 1.6 litre three-door model. The EXP models have a black finish above the waistline and below the bumpers and side rubbing strips with contrasting antique gold metallic between, while the 'S' version is red above and black below. The latter also has front and rear spoilers, wheel arch extensions and 5.5J/14 light alloy wheels with low profile 185/60 tyres, in place of the gold painted 5in wheels of the other EXP models.
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Newcomers : Vauxhall's GTi tamer
Speed and space are where the Kadett / Astra GTE scores over rivals in the hotshoe hatch class
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Athletic Astra
Janspeed Astra Turbo
