VA13209 Corgi Vanguards Vauxhall Astra Mk2 GTE 16V

The GTE 16V modelled was originally registered as a ‘Vauxhall Fleet Management’ car with Vauxhall Motors Ltd, Kimpton Road, Luton, Bedfordshire on 29th November 1990. It was finished in Rembrandt Silver, one of the more unusual colours offered. 

Like all 16V GTE’s, it featured GM’s futuristic Liquid Crystal Display dashboard so drivers could see the revs rapidly rising on the car’s magnificent 2-litre DOHC 16-valve ‘red top’ engine, a characterful rev-hungry unit that gave the GTE its appealingly raucous demeanour. 

It went on to owners based in Kent, Dorset, County Durham, and Bedfordshire, before being purchased by Bedfordshire-based enthusiast, Lee Proctor, a former Vauxhall employee and subsequent car bodyshop proprietor, in late March 2013.

The car had covered 125,000 miles and was complete, but in poor condition. It was bought by Lee as a restoration project, and he soon embarked on a three-year nut-and-bolt structural and mechanical rebuild to concours standard, in which he used as many new old stock original parts as possible. 

He did most of the work himself, bringing the car back to original specification except for the fitting of an ‘Astra Champion’ leather interior, which he had retrimmed. Lee enjoyed driving and showing the finished car, but in November 2020 he sold it to fellow enthusiast and Mk2 Astra Owners Club member, Derbyshire-based Clive Emery. 

He has added some original equipment finishing touches and enjoys using it to attend classic car events.