As most people will know, I have done a deal on the GSi and it is sold (it goes to the new owner after Billing).
Since making the decision to let the GSi go, I have been on the look out for something to take its place.
Whatever it is, it must be something with the potential to make me some money, as I would be buying it to sell on ultimately.
After searching the net, looking at MK1 GTE's, Opel Manta GTE's, RS Turbo's etc etc, Steve sent me a link (from his villa whilst on Holiday
) to a MK2 Astra GTE.
The advert and pictures were shocking, but it said 42,500 miles from new.
I rang the number, and got a little old lady who couldn't hear me, but she told me to ring back later and speak with her daughter.
Rang back later, spoke to the daughter who told me I needed to speak with her husband who was away for 2 days!
I rang back the next night and arranged to go and view it the next evening....To be honest I wasn't very hopeful but it was only 20 mins away, so worth a look at least.
Myself, Steve and Carly went to view it.
Very nice couple, both around 50 ish.
The car looked good, and I asked what the story is with the car.
This is what got me, as they never even mentioned it in the advert!!!
They bought the car from brand new, 3rd Jan 1991!
She used it until 2003, to go to work and back locally, and then they bought a new car in 2003, so its sat in the garage since 2003!!
I asked to see what paperwork they had, and they have literally everything!
Original invoice, PDI checklist, fully stamped service book, all original booklets, every MOT, receipts for all works/services etc etc.
I set about checking the car underneath, and its totally solid.
It is a little flaky in places, but very very solid indeed!
The rear arches have a little bit of surface on the lip, but its still straight & very solid!
Took some pics of them, text them to my mate who owns the bodycentre and he rang me straight back (whilst eating his tea bless him) and gave two options with two ballpark prices.
Overall, got to be one of the best original GTE's around, without doubt one of the most, no real rust anywhere!
The interior is immaculate (digi dash front is cracked so I am looking for a digi dash with a good front).
They told me it wont start, but does turn over, so turned it over and to everyones surprise it started straight up (only on 3).
I opened the boot to check the inner arches & inner boot floor etc, and was greeted by a boot full of spares
Headlights, sunroof, rear 1/4 windows, relays, mirrors....you name it!
The guy said, oh there bits off my 16v which I took to bits, they all come with it
Then he told me he had more bits off the 16v in the garage, as he cut the car up.
Some 15" Comp Mo's which looked mint, disc rear beam, 16v steering wheel, chipped XE ECU, and the front end of the car under a bench...I didn't really register what he said, until I looked.
Literally the front end of the car, engine, box, driveshafts, suspension struts, everything, under his bench still in the front of the car
In the end I got the car, plus all the bits, for £500 less than the car was advertised for
I pick it all up in around a weeks time (I have paid for it all, just cant get the trailer and van before then), cant wait to get cracking!!!
Plans are:
New tailgate
New passenger front wing
New front cover for Digi dash
Underside fully cleaned down, and underseal
Clean all inner arches and underseal
Both bumpers off, underseal behind/underneath
New centre caps
Poss new tyres
Full major service
Clean engine bay up
Have arches done (very minor attention)
Major detailing session
MOT
Tax
Hoping all being well, get it done before Trax, so I get at least one show in it before it goes up for sale.
That's my essay done for the day
Since making the decision to let the GSi go, I have been on the look out for something to take its place.
Whatever it is, it must be something with the potential to make me some money, as I would be buying it to sell on ultimately.
After searching the net, looking at MK1 GTE's, Opel Manta GTE's, RS Turbo's etc etc, Steve sent me a link (from his villa whilst on Holiday
) to a MK2 Astra GTE.The advert and pictures were shocking, but it said 42,500 miles from new.
I rang the number, and got a little old lady who couldn't hear me, but she told me to ring back later and speak with her daughter.
Rang back later, spoke to the daughter who told me I needed to speak with her husband who was away for 2 days!
I rang back the next night and arranged to go and view it the next evening....To be honest I wasn't very hopeful but it was only 20 mins away, so worth a look at least.
Myself, Steve and Carly went to view it.
Very nice couple, both around 50 ish.
The car looked good, and I asked what the story is with the car.
This is what got me, as they never even mentioned it in the advert!!!
They bought the car from brand new, 3rd Jan 1991!
She used it until 2003, to go to work and back locally, and then they bought a new car in 2003, so its sat in the garage since 2003!!
I asked to see what paperwork they had, and they have literally everything!
Original invoice, PDI checklist, fully stamped service book, all original booklets, every MOT, receipts for all works/services etc etc.
I set about checking the car underneath, and its totally solid.
It is a little flaky in places, but very very solid indeed!
The rear arches have a little bit of surface on the lip, but its still straight & very solid!
Took some pics of them, text them to my mate who owns the bodycentre and he rang me straight back (whilst eating his tea bless him) and gave two options with two ballpark prices.
Overall, got to be one of the best original GTE's around, without doubt one of the most, no real rust anywhere!
The interior is immaculate (digi dash front is cracked so I am looking for a digi dash with a good front).
They told me it wont start, but does turn over, so turned it over and to everyones surprise it started straight up (only on 3).
I opened the boot to check the inner arches & inner boot floor etc, and was greeted by a boot full of spares
Headlights, sunroof, rear 1/4 windows, relays, mirrors....you name it!
The guy said, oh there bits off my 16v which I took to bits, they all come with it
Then he told me he had more bits off the 16v in the garage, as he cut the car up.
Some 15" Comp Mo's which looked mint, disc rear beam, 16v steering wheel, chipped XE ECU, and the front end of the car under a bench...I didn't really register what he said, until I looked.
Literally the front end of the car, engine, box, driveshafts, suspension struts, everything, under his bench still in the front of the car
In the end I got the car, plus all the bits, for £500 less than the car was advertised for
I pick it all up in around a weeks time (I have paid for it all, just cant get the trailer and van before then), cant wait to get cracking!!!
Plans are:
New tailgate
New passenger front wing
New front cover for Digi dash
Underside fully cleaned down, and underseal
Clean all inner arches and underseal
Both bumpers off, underseal behind/underneath
New centre caps
Poss new tyres
Full major service
Clean engine bay up
Have arches done (very minor attention)
Major detailing session
MOT
Tax
Hoping all being well, get it done before Trax, so I get at least one show in it before it goes up for sale.
That's my essay done for the day
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Didn't realise you got the entire front end
that's bloody clean!!
