Going up against the likes of Volkswagen’s Golf GTI and Ford’s XR3, the Astra GTE was Vauxhall’s sharp response to the hot hatchback craze of the 1980s.

The Astra Mk 1 GTE (meaning Grand Touring Einspritz) was an impressive package - it boasted performance, keen handling and sharp styling but it was always overshadowed by the hot hatches that were released in the couple of years before its 1983 launch.

The car began as the Astra 1600S SR, which was the first sporting Astra, but it didn’t have the fire power that was needed to compete in the performance market, so the GTE was created. With a 1.8-litre 115 bhp fuel-injected Cavalier engine under the bonnet, revised suspension, wide and lower profile tyres and a close-ratio gearbox, it was a much more successful competitor.

Body-coloured flared arches, aggressive looking skirts and spoilers gave the GTE a beefed-up appearance that felt more in tune with the hot hatch fashion. With Recaro seats, full instrumentation and sporty GTE badges it had the looks as well as class-leading power.

The Mk 1 GTE was not in production for long, however, as the model soon transitioned to the second generation Astra in 1984.