I bought a mk1 Vauxhall Astra saloon! (Opel Kadett D)
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- Опубліковано 2 жов 2024
- Join me as I go to collect my newest car purchase, a base model 1981 Astra mk1 (Opel Kadett D).
Please like and subscribe, and follow me on Twitter @sionhudson
Music credit Bensound
Really nice find. I'm a big fan of yellow cars. It really suits that colour.
Congratulations, love it!
My sister had a W reg Astra GL 1.3 S saloon with velour seats, so it wasn't just the E that was hatchless. I had a Y reg 1.3 S 3 door estate at the time, around 1988. I think it had a similar amount of rust as yours so given the 34 year gap, I'd say yours is in amazing condition! Nice video, brought back lots of memories. Thanks!
Very cool indeed. Those round headlights are another base model feature, the rest of the range were fitted with rectangular lamps. Must admit that base models are always more special than the other end of the range. I'd be very tempted to leave the radio out for maximum baseness and it would be a shame to cut up that rear parcel shelf but hey, it's your car, you do what you want to do!
Don’t worry, there would be no cutting of anything!
Spot on with the round headlights. Almost as daft as the ‘saloon’ boot, rather than a hatch. I guess quite a few other cars had different headlights for different spec levels, such as the Sierra.
@@davidbovine Yup. It's these sorts of details that I love about base models in the 80s. The engineering costs required to be more miserly. I guess it was designed to make people feel like they should stretch to the model above to avoid the base horror!
@@davidbovine And the Metro.
Congratulations, what a brilliant new purchase. The nonsense of engineering a completely separate booted derivative is unbelievable as it could never have been cost effective. Along with the round lamps it really stands out from the small number of Mk1s left. Look forward to seeing it at the 2023 FOTU where it would fit in perfectly!
Thank you. It's this sort of nonsense I adore!
Hello all the way from South Africa ,my Father had 1980 Opel Kadett 1200,learn to drive in that car ,very scares now do not see them anymore
What a fun classic car, I really like the original Astra styling, and this base model saloon is crazy
Love the V-power purchase to unleash the might of those 50 horses! (And yes I know you bought it because of E5 👍) 🤣
Fantastic! The colour is perfect.
Interesting fact… When fitted with a luxury picture of a cigar lighter, the fan dial Was fitted on the opposite side underneath the heating controls.
A great find. Our neighbour had a light blue base model one of these in the early 90s. I remember the round headlights but hadn’t realised about the different boot but do now remember the very prominent hinges. Interestingly theirs had been cherished by the original owner since new but quickly started to go very rusty after it stopped being treated with kid gloves. Base models from that era were fascinating. My dad had a base model Talbot Horizon LE from new which had no rear parcel shelf or glovebox. It also had vinyl seats. Keep up the great work with the channel. I too am a stickler for originality!
Yeah, I can see that they rust very easily, especially in the front as there's nothing really protecting the wings or inner wings from the road dirt
I read, or perhaps watched something about the saloon version of the Astra/Kadett of this generation that it was geared more towards conservative buyers who had traditionally purchased saloons and weren’t ready for the hatchback revolution. Interesting that this was only a base model thing.
It was also used as an economy spec to compete with the new Ford Escort
I really wouldn’t put a radio in. Keep the blanking panel. But a lovely purchase
I looked up the german Preisliste from the 1981 Kadett D. At least here you could order the sedan with every version (base, "Luxus" and "Berlina") and it was 100 (base) or 200 (the others) DM cheaper than the hatchback.
Weirdly you could order the nameless base model with every option except the heated seats. So you were able to get a fully equiped (up to things like rev counter, sunroof, headlight washers, stereo-cassette radio, even alloys) base model.
Oh wow, that's fun, a fully specced base model!! You coudl get the saloon for E (base) and also L for a little while here.
@@MorselsAndMotors But i don't remember seeing a lot of sedans, most Kadett D were hatchbacks and as a kid (born 77) i wondered why there were identical Kadetts with a slightly different rear end.
Btw same with the first gen Passat, which was also available as a hatchback styled sedan.
Hello there, good video, my late father bought a 6 month old Astra 1300 GL in 1981 (HWL317W) Although a great car with a powerful engine it did get through a couple of camshafts early on.
The price you pay for new technology I suppose, the pushrod OHV engine in yours would have had its problems ironed out many years before.
I have a 1979 Cavalier with the same seatbelts, both of mine had the plastic shrouds missing, presumably slammed in the door and smashed. It's taken me 2 years to find some more. I do have the other bit ( with PUSH on it) spare if you want it?
Yes I’d heard the camshafts could be an issue on those new 1.3s. Interesting what you say about the plastic cover on the seatbelt: I’m sure you’re right! I would be unbelievably grateful of the ‘PUSH’ spare you have: I’ve just sent you a Facebook friend request 😊
What a splendid find! I've always associated the round headlamps with the Opel Kadett D, so it's nice to see them adorning an Astra. Plus the fact the Kadett D was introduced in 1979, whereas the Astra came out the following year.
I love mk1 astras they were such a leap forward from the viva & chevette in looks anyway this one looks like Jamaica yellow 😎 👌👍
Yup, Jamaica Yellow indeed. It's a fabulous colour
Just noticed something interesting, my first car was a 1.2 Vauxhall Corsa B Merit, povvo spec again, no lid for glove box etc and the pedal covers on the brake and clutch were bang same as that! Seems strange being so far apart in model years that they didn’t change at all.
I think it was the same with Fords actually: my grandmother had a mk1 Fiesta which I'm pretty sure had the same ones as my mk7 Escort!
I remember Ian Seabrook pointing out on the base Metro that the side repeater was replaced with a reflector.
So pointless and I wouldn’t be surprised if the wiring is already in the wing for repeaters.
That rear hatch is hilarious, I can’t believe that they made a whole pressing for just the base model
Excellent buy, love it. Never had Mk1, originally thought them too straight lined and went for another (still available) Chevette instead. We had 2 Chevannes, 2 GLS hatchback and one L saloon.
Followed by many, many mk2s.
When I was looking for my saloon the dealer showed me a new Chevette e hatch which didn't even have passenger sun visor or load cover and from memory rubber flooring!🤦
Enjoy the Astra as we will watching.
I don't yet own a car with only a single sunvisor and rubber mats, but perhaps one day!
A pal of mine had a mk1 Astra as his first car in the mid 90’s. It was old when he had it. I still think about the horrible orangy colour.
Great little car - a rough diamond but with lots of potential. Looking forward to seeing how the project progresses.
Thank you, I have been tinkering with it today!
Great car, had one of these as my second car but mine was an opel kaddet in hearing aid beige..... and it had that boot lid(no hatch)
Love the colour! It's similar to the yellow that Vauxhall are using in adverts for the new Astra (which has design cues that call back to the Mk1)
Yeah, I do like that little C-pillar design cue on the new Astra!
Jamaica Yellow! It was a brilliant colour and a Vauxhall staple for many years
❤️❤️❤️
I do own the successor, also in jamaica-yellow, also absolut base trim...a 1986 Opel Kadett E hatch 5-door.
Only extras: 1.3i (C13N) and an automatic transmission. Besides that absolute bare bones. 😍❤️
No central locking, no dipping mirror, no passenger door mirror, no revcounter, nothing...
By the way, you got one of the early astras build in continental europe, because your brake booster is on the left side of the car and gets activated by a linkage.
So your astra was build in Bochum Germany...my hometown. ❤️
Sounds fantastic!
@@MorselsAndMotors I never wanted to have a yellow 5-door Kadett, but now i do own my yellow Kadett 5-door already 5 years and i love him! 😍
Hi Sion a great purchase and what a great find haven’t seen a Astra saloon must be 30 years or so at least now my dad had a succession of Vauxhalls including chevette nova and Astras in the 80s and 90s and I had much later 2000s Corsa and Astras
Judging by the age of your car it would have been built by Adam Opel in Russelsheim Germany or in Bochum Germany. Ellesmere Port production did not start until end of 1981 so all Astra’s were built there alongside the Kadett
You were right on the trims it was E L GL SR and so on!
The hazard light switch should light at night and the fan switch
The engine you have in that one is not the engine from the Viva there were hardly any Vauxhall parts in that one that is the 1196cc Opel Kadett engine which is similar in design being OHV and also dates from the 60s but the Viva engine is black painted and was in the chevette that engine you have was used in the Astra mk2 as my dad had a 1200 base one of the first made in 1985 brand new and it was also in the Nova but I think both those had electronic ignition
Lovely to see a Jamaica yellow Vauxhall and it suits those cars really well I think and it’s amazing how basic they were I remember my dad paying extra for the L to have a ‘few more bits’
A lovely survivor and will look forward to this one receiving your treatment in future videos!!
Thanks Daniel for that. I hadn't quite done my research properly before making this video, but you are absolutely right about the engine being an Opel one. It's actually surprisingly peppy! They never actually moved the Astra saloon-body construction to Ellesmere Port, so all of these were built in Bochum, though they were dropped from the UK range after 1982 model year.
@@MorselsAndMotors you are welcome i remember the 1200 being a slow seller my dad had one in the Astra mk2 it was an Astra base 1.2 3 door one of the earliest made in 1985 it was equally as sparse as the E so dad went for the L next time!
It would be cool if you can get a repro dealer sticker or a dealer team Vauxhall sticker in the window! Some also came with a made in … sticker in the front window as well! Can’t wait to see future videos love my Vauxhalls!
I have a Mk3 Astra I’ve inherited from my grandad which he’s had for 20+ years, that’s rusted out in the exact same places in the rear wells!
Oh wow, didn't realise those rusted particularly except the rear arches
@@MorselsAndMotors probably a water trap of some sorts, lived outside all its life as well which doesn’t help, such a shame though because the car actually drives nice and it’s only got 75k on the clock. Hopefully I can get it roadworthy again eventually but it’s going to take some patience.
As I’ve read in other comments, we had an Astra L saloon, back in the early 90’s 😁
I bought the earlier model of these last year, It's Cousin the Opel Kadett C 1979 in Holland. Enjoy your purchase. They really were a very reliable mode of transport in the 80's and simple to maintain too.
Reminds me of my first car back in 1994, a 1981 Opel Kadett 1.2S, three door hatchback in white. It was just one step up of the absolute base model because it had a proper hatchback (no rear wiper though) and rectangular headlights plus it had headrests. Everything else was just as your car, except it was rusting even more. After a visit to the local scrapyard the car got a clock and a passenger side mirror. I've driven it daily and took it to Copenhagen to visit a friend, just before the destination the throttle cable snapped but it could be repaired on the roadside! I loved the simplicity of the car.
By the way, are you sure yours is 100% poverty spec? It has four doors and the wiper stalk shows it has intermittent setting. Also, are you sure the controls are unlit? In mine the bulbs in the dashboard were all blown.
And yes it has points ignition, only the 1.6 had electronic ignition, even in the Mk2!
I had a 1987 mk2 1.2 Merit & yes it had points & condenser
The MK2 Opel Kadett I see quite often here in Brazil, here it was sold under Chevrolet's Brand, GM being GM lol.
Very nice - and ultra rare!
Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, a wonderful survivor & ideal for you to work your magic & preserve. The Astra 1.2 engine was the older Over head valve ( so no cam belt ) whereas the Nova 1.2 Was the newer over head cam engine, both 55hp though, even my mk2 1987 Astra 1.2 merit had the older OHV. In period the saloon’s were often badged Opel Kadett, weird selling Astra saloon alongside the Chevette ! The rocker cover gaskets are the old cork type on 1.2. In Germany rear seatbelts were standard well before the UK, so yours maybe right, as German built, my Gran had a 1981 vw Polo with Standard rear belts.
Those are some interesting points, thank you
@@MorselsAndMotors I have never understood why Vauxhall carried the 1.2 OHV over to the mk2 Astra, as opposed to OHC on the Nova, never made sense
Love it… so cool 😎 the rear seatbelts I guess must have been added extra or later , I had two 80s Novas one was a 1983 993cc base spec and an 1986 SR neither had rear seatbelts, I had seatbelts fitted to the SR. Love this Astra it reminds me of the Novas and the colour is same as the SR I had (Jamaica yellow) beware of strut mounts on this era Vauxhalls , can appear ok when they’re a bit iffy if rot has been nearby. If memories serve me correct I believe there should be a rubber weather strip on the bottom of the front valance.
I had exactly the same one in orange in the late nineties, I loved it so much, unfortunately somebody crushed in the trunk…but it was so reliable until then , it was called Kadett C.
I have a 1983 mk1 Astra GTE. It is a project and has been sat in my garage untouched for nine years. The 1200 engine is overhead valve and uses a points ignition system. The 'S' means high compression and gave a few extra horse power opposed to the standard 1200. It's good to see an early mk1 Astra. I love mk1 Astras. The new mk8 Astra side profile resembles that of the mk1.
Thank you, I think we didn't actually get the low compression version here in the UK
@@MorselsAndMotors I think the 1300 came in both S and non S form in the UK. Not too sure of the 1200.
I’m sure that the bean counters at Vauxhall went to town on their Lotus 1-2-3 spreadsheet in full on meagre mode. Interesting they manufactured in the rear boot to help the upsell into an L hatch😮!
The engined was an Opel ohv engine that was used in the kadett c, the Chevette engine was a complete different engine is was a Vauxhall unit, that was still an ohv engine. There was a rear wash wipe available on the saloon, I assume it was an option
Thank you, yes, I had my facts wrong when I was researching before collecting the car
@@MorselsAndMotors I just found out that the Viva ohv engine used in the Chevette and Viva was a developed from the opel ohv engine, so actually we are both kinda right
Allegro vibes with the look likes a hatch back but is a saloon 😂
I thought this would have had a 2 speed fan being basic and W Reg
My dad drove an A reg 5 door estate in the 90s. I loved that car so much.
Great car! I had an ‘81 Opel Kadett Berlina when I was younger. It always felt like a slightly smaller Mk 2 Cavalier. So reliable and easy to work on, terrible brakes though!
Yes, I'm told that it's very similar to the Cavalier mk2. I'm hopefully going to be driving one of those for my channel soon...
Congratulations on the new purchase! I'm very surprised about your comment of the Viva engine, are you sure this is correct? It's predecessor did indeed use the Viva engine in the Chevette, unlike the Kadett City which used Opel's OHV engine. But those cars was RWD so it therefore seems not very likely they converted the Viva engine to FWD. This Astra E is much more luxurious than the Kadett base model was, which had a simpler steering wheel, no rear window heater, no hubcaps, 145 width tires, and the 1.2N engine in base spec. And no reversing lights too! I have some Kadett D brochures available, reach out if you're interested.
Surprisingly nice to drive car yes, very nimble feeling, almost sporty. Also very roomy for it's size. Back in the day, certainly a very modern car, and a giant leap form its predecessor.
Yes, sorry I had misread about the engine when I was doing my research
@@MorselsAndMotors Don't worry, just enjoy your new purchase! It's a sweet engine with superb reliability.
the current corsa reminds me on the mk1 astra
I don't believe it! Swapping that blanking plate for a radio! It will be no longer a basic base model! Looks a nice car and great it survived so long! Thanks for sharing.
I'm not sure yet, and whatever I do would be entirely reversible!
Takes me right back I had a W reg 1.2 saloon about 1993 it was a pale green.
The 1.2 felt quite lively because of the low gearing but the 1.3 was a lot quicker and not much slower than the 1.6.
I had a mate who did rallying up to 1300cc use to use the 1200 gearbox because of the shorter gearing.
Mk1 astras I owned we’re 1.2
1.6 diesel and a 1.8 GTE
All very good cars and probably one of the easiest cars to do a clutch on
Yeah I am amazed at how lively this 1.2 is. I’d be very keen to compare it to a 1.3
1st car I bought myself kadett D 1.3SR in metallic green SGE 95W I'd love to know if it still exists
Looks like it's been untaxed since 1992, according to the DVLA, so I think it's unlikely still to exist I'm afraid 😔
Wow! A blast from the past! My first car was identical but in red, miles of fun 😂
You’re right about the fuel cap, originally it would not have locked with a key. The fog light is correct, and so is the stiff 1st gear selection.
Oh that’s interesting about the stiff first gear, I’m going to see if there is anything I can do to tighten up the linkage but perhaps it’s just normal!
Great Video, and keep this sort of thing coming! - was my first car, and you turning on the interior light (with the headlight switch) reminded me that this switch nearly wrote off my car!
So one night, I pulled the switch (to turn on the interior light) and there was a popping and sizzling sound, followed by lots of smoke and then a fire! - luckily this then extinguished itself before a very frightened 17 year old (and not passed their test yet) could do anything about it!
What happened it that the switch collapsed inside, internally shorted, and set fire to the wiring. I don't think that there was any fuse in there.
It had to be sent to an auto electric company for repair - I never dared touch it after that!
Eek! That sounds very scary
Hi Sion, I have a 1984 Volvo 340DL 5dr in blue. Would you be interested?
Oh that sounds lovely. Though I’m afraid I’ve no space for more 340s in my life, if that’s what you are asking.
This brings back memories. My first car at 17 was a 1.2L A reg Astra. It was gutless lol. I still managed to wrap it round a tree a month after passing my test.
Eek! Glad you are here to tell the tale
What a find , I had a a reg white hatchback once.
Just thinking weren't the saloon ones only sold for the first year of production? I can only remember seeing really early ones
Yeah, the saloons were not available at the beginning of the mk1 Astra going on sale, and appeared for a couple of model years before disappearing again!
Errr.. no it is a saloon
Had the 1300 GL and the GTE as my first and second cars loved Them 🥰
Ooh a GTE, you lucky thing!
I saw one like this near Carstairs Village wonder if its the same!The colour scheme is of its era....
I think this one has lived its life in south-east London then in Suffolk, so I think unlikely
good choice
Will u sell it
Welcome to the Astra/Kadett Salooney club!
Ahh thank you! I’ve been watching a lot of your videos recently, especially your Gina restoration series
My Dad had one brand new , he swore like a docker every time he drove , nothing to do with the car, all my mates wanted to come with us to listen to him , miss him every day 😊
Aww that’s a nice memory
Like it
Is this the 1 from Cars you don't see anymore????
Yes indeed!
Weirdness. I think I saw this car pass work yesterday. I even commented to my colleague., then found your channel today. Can’t be too many banana mark 1’s around. If I say West Road does that make sense to you?
Crazy coincidence
Makes complete sense, as I was indeed driving down West Road yesterday!
@@MorselsAndMotors awesome! Loving the channel too!
Love the new Astra in lovely Jamaica Yellow! If you need even the smallest trim parts give Vauxhall Green Parts a try .
Got to fit a wiper intermittent relay for practically. The golf variable one is plug and play.
Amazingly it actually has intermittent wipers - I think they must not have designed more basic column stalks for the base model, so it has the same features as the higher ones
@@MorselsAndMotors Yes same stalks for all.
Errr.. it appears to be a hatchback
It appears you didn't watch the video 🤣
the astra is the best car in the world because its made in the best town in the world
Bochum?
@@MorselsAndMotors ellesmere port
Lovely car, what are your plans for her?
I’m going to tidy it up so it’s as good as can be, and enjoy it in all its base model glory
@@MorselsAndMotors Thats the best way.
Wow, that's great! You made a great buy there! And the round headlight model is extra rare! The saloon version is also extremely rare. This is fantastic. You have a wonderful car there.
This is a very special video. I've lived with these cars all my life and it was the first car I've driven. Just make sure to use a lead substitute with the unleaded fuel. This is great stuff.
The fuel cap is indeed the original one. They did have the locking cap.
That one is in a really nice condition.
The accelerator is supposed to have a rubber yes. You have a gem there. I love it so much.
Thank you John for your kind comments 😀
OK the "CarWow music" threw me 😂
Which music is that? It certainly wasn't deliberate!
@@MorselsAndMotors Haha! Its at 08:05 and I'm not even sure it is CarWow now but can't remember which channel!
@@m4xww haha ok. I get all my music from a royalty-free website, which I think is where a lot of other channels get theirs too!
At least it has two sun visors
I never knew that about the mk1! Very fascinating. Another brilliant and unusual purchase Sion 👏🏻👏🏻 One thing I do like about your fleet is that to what I’ve watched on your channel over the years is that you don’t tend give your cars stupid names, I’ve always found it mega cringe 😂
Haha no. The 340s have some sort-of names, but that's only cos I have 3 of them so I need to differentiate!
That not a saloon lad
I respectfully disagree 😊
@@MorselsAndMotors ok it is 😆