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1989 Astra GTE 16V

Bequeathed to me following the most untimely departure of my great friend, Brian Bayley, this is what I will describe as my last mk2 Astra.  Those who know me well will acknowledge that there was only one Mk2 that I would sell my V6 to own and this is it.  Now, there is no other that I would prefer to own.

Brian bought this brand new from his local dealer, Jessups of Ilford.  Having intended to buy a Mk2 Golf, Brian test drove an Astra and the rest, shall we say, was history.  The reviews of the day were full of superlatives reflecting that the performance from the 16V Astra left the rest for dead. 20160619_143243

Plans?

Not much needs doing that I can see – this summer I aim to:

  1. Full service and ‘starting ownership’ check.
  2. Replace sump gaskets (factory fitted XE leak).
  3. Replace bonnet closing buffers – the ones screwed into the underside of the bonnet are perished and have gone rather hard.

More when I work my way through it.

Here are some photographs of it as it arrived: