Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Vauxhall Astra has become one of Britain’s most common cars – and something of a British point of pride, being produced in the Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire. But rather than being more British than bubble and squeak, the first Astra marked the start of a German dominance in the Vauxhall/Opel partnership, and every one of the 8 revisions would be designed outside the UK. But the car, and the Astra name would become a British export success story. So, how has the Astra fared since it launched in 1979, and what’s next?
Optional Extra Astra video: youtu.be/XjhH2qH0ZRg
Music (from the YouTube audio library):
American Idle - RKVC
Mirror Mind - Bobby Richards
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Kadett
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Kadett/Astra
vauxpedia.net
https://www.drive.com.au/news/obituary-john-bagshaw-19252012-20120628-214kc/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Astra
int-media.opel.com/en/07-28-85-years-opel-compact-class?idtok=559edbbb5733
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotec
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astra_F
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Zafira
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Sc%C3%A9nic
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A3
web.archive.org/web/20100811161912/http://www.expert.ru/news/2008/03/18/gmavto
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Delta_platform
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_G6
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_S_series
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Verano
carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/vauxhall/vauxhall-astra-vxr-nurburgring-2008-review
cnbc.com/2019/02/07/why-china-is-so-important-to-buicks-survival.html
automobilesreview.com/auto-news/opel-astra-ecoflex/21502
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_emissions_scandal
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Motors
carsalesbase.com/europe-opel-astra
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnStar
gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk/en-gb/07-13-vauxhall-reveals-all-new-astra
gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk/en-gb/09-01-new-astra-e
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSA_EMP2_platform
#bigcar
The Vauxhall Astra has become one of Britain’s most common cars – and something of a British point of pride, being produced in the Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire. But rather than being more British than bubble and squeak, the first Astra marked the start of a German dominance in the Vauxhall/Opel partnership, and every one of the 8 revisions would be designed outside the UK. But the car, and the Astra name would become a British export success story. So, how has the Astra fared since it launched in 1979, and what’s next?
Optional Extra Astra video: youtu.be/XjhH2qH0ZRg
Music (from the YouTube audio library):
American Idle - RKVC
Mirror Mind - Bobby Richards
If you'd like to support what I do, and get early access to advert-free videos and exclusive channel updates, please consider supporting the channel from just $1 or 80p a month: patreon.com/bigcar
Support me using PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv
Twitter: twitter.com/bigcartv
My second channel - Little Car: youtube.com/littlecar
Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Kadett
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Kadett/Astra
vauxpedia.net
https://www.drive.com.au/news/obituary-john-bagshaw-19252012-20120628-214kc/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Astra
int-media.opel.com/en/07-28-85-years-opel-compact-class?idtok=559edbbb5733
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecotec
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Astra_F
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Zafira
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_Sc%C3%A9nic
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audi_A3
web.archive.org/web/20100811161912/http://www.expert.ru/news/2008/03/18/gmavto
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Delta_platform
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_G6
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_S_series
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_Corporation
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Verano
carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/vauxhall/vauxhall-astra-vxr-nurburgring-2008-review
cnbc.com/2019/02/07/why-china-is-so-important-to-buicks-survival.html
automobilesreview.com/auto-news/opel-astra-ecoflex/21502
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_emissions_scandal
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vauxhall_Motors
carsalesbase.com/europe-opel-astra
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnStar
gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk/en-gb/07-13-vauxhall-reveals-all-new-astra
gb-media.vauxhall.co.uk/en-gb/09-01-new-astra-e
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSA_EMP2_platform
#bigcar
