1984 Opel Kadett GTE Mk1

Description

• At Auction – Please click HERE
• 1.8 litre fuel injected engine
• 115 bhp
• Five speed gearbox
• Factory body kit
• Recaros

Here is a rare treat. An Opel GTE five door. Quicker than a Golf GTi. Better built and better equipped than the XR3i. GM left it a little late to enter the hot hatch market. When they did, they learned from everyone else and produced the superb GTE that was lighter, quicker and much more agile than all the competition put together.

For a while these were very much in the shade of the bigger named brands. Today, their rarity and sophistication mean all sorts of good things are happening as interest floods in from investors, collectors and of course enthusiasts who know a good car.

History and background

General Motors took a majority stake in the German car maker Opel as early as 1931. Together with Britain’s Vauxhall Motors, the two brands, making the same models with different badges, formed the backbone of GM’s European operations. GM merged them formally in the 1980s as GM Europe.

In March 1983 GM launched the Astra GTE in Britain and the Kadett GTE in Europe. With its exterior styling, sporty interior, uprated suspension and powerful engine, it was a major success.

Our vendor has owned this a short time. He tells us he couldn’t resist it because it was “just like the one I had when I was 18”. But in a garage crowded with other classics, its time is up.

• A South African built car
• Date of first registration in the UK 1988
• MOT expires April 2025

Mechanicals

“The tables have turned, and we can wholly recommend the GTE as the best buy of the sporty hatchbacks tested. Not least of its charms is the 115bhp 1796cc engine that is a very tractable unit”. This is how WhatCar described the car when they tested it.

• 1.8 litre engine
• Bosch fuel injection
• 115 bhp
• Five speed gearbox
• An impressive 0-60 in 8.5 secs
• White alloy rims
• Matching Uniroyal tyres all round (these appear to be new)
• Our vendor tells he has had the GTE up on a ramp and a good deal of work has obviously been carried out prior to his ownership. He reports:
• New track ends
• New front shock absorbers
• New ball joints
• When we asked our vendor how it drives today, he said, “It took me straight back to the one I drove when I was 18”.

Outside

While GM may have delayed leaping into the new hot hatch space, the designers used their time wisely. The GTE had style as well as performance.

• This was the most popular colour combo; monochrome style Polar White with matt black detailing.
• Front and rear colour coded bumpers
• External body kit
• Side skirts
• Front lower lip spoiler
• Rear air dam
• Front spotlights
• Black egg-crate style grille with subtle GTE badge
• Matt black tailgate foil complete with red and white GTE detailing
• White alloy wheels

Matt black window frames and door mirrors as standard completed the look.

The whole look gives the GTE a presence. The GTE stood out from the loud, brash XR3i. Instead, the styling cues said quality and premium.

Inside

The interior space built on the premium look on the outside.

Step inside and the GTE immediately impresses. The design of the GTE’s interior and its fit and finish are better than its rivals.

It is the small details specific to the GTE that matter.

Up front, a pair of wonderfully comfy and supportive Recaro seats. These were seen as a true luxury. The dashboard is canted towards the driver, Alfa style.

Analogue dials, backlit by atmospheric lights, are easy to read. The super sporty three spoke steering wheel, with embossed GTE badge, confirms this is a proper driver’s car.

Summary

Only built for just over a year, the Mk1 GTE is a rare sight now. The better equipped and finished GTE was always seen as a premium offer to other hot hatches. Mk1 GTEs were produced in relatively limited production numbers.

All this means, when the MK1 GTE’s do come to market, they always attract a good deal of attention.

Happy bidding! Please remember, our auction system has an anti-sniping facility to allow fairness to all bidders. Any bid placed within the last 2 minutes will automatically extend the auction by 2 minutes.

Vehicle Location: Walsall, West Midlands WS4 – it’s the responsibility of the buyer to make collection / transportation arrangements directly with our vendor.

Would like to arrange a viewing or have a question about this Opel Kadett GTE? Please contact us at team@evoke-classics.com and we will speak to our vendor on your behalf.

Guide Prices

In a sector, where no two classics are same, how does anyone put a ‘guide’ on a vehicle.   Let’s be honest, everyone knows the broad value of a classic and the ‘market’ decides – but, if you’d like us to provide an estimate that’s fine, just email us and we’ll get back to you.

Tedious but it’s vital you read this, please

We strive to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings possible. However, we’re not perfect, and your own analysis is very important, we are here to help and answer any queries you may have.

We offer and positively encourage buyers to view or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding.

If we do take a physical, as opposed to a remote look at any of the vehicles on our platform, they are not those of a qualified vehicle inspector or other professional. Nor do they include a test drive unless expressly stated.

As with all vehicles of a certain age, localised paint repairs are common. This specifically applies with classics. So, unless we state explicitly to the contrary, assume that the vehicles on our platform could have had remedial bodywork of any kind at some point in their life.

Images and photos Technology continues to improve, but please understand that quality varies. If you would like more images, please ask us and we will contact our vendor for you.

Vehicles are sold as seen and a returns policy is not applicable. This is the norm for used items acquired via an auction site. If you are at all unsure, just ask us. It is what we are here for.

Please read our Terms and Conditions  here and our FAQS  here 

Got one you’d like to sell? Please feel free to get in touch to have a no obligation chat with us: Contact The Evoke Team