Matchbox Opel Vectra/Cavalier 2000 GSi and Vauxhaull Astra GTE

Opel has been recently left out of General Motors, odd since both have been together for decades and has provided each other with models to fill in niches which currently Opel provides models for Buick.  Here's a coupe of hot Opel (Vauxhall in Great Britian) models that were pretty much prime in the 1980's and both represented by Matchbox.

Opel Vectra/Cavalier 2000 GSi

The Vectra replaced the Asconda in 1988 as Opel's new full-size sedan, or in the U.S. more like a mid-size sedan.  In the U.S. the car has appeared in the Cadillac Catera and Saturn L-series sedan and wagon.  The first-generation had a more European style to it that was also conservative at the same time.  In Vauxhall markets the car was named Cavalier as the third-generation of the Vauxhall nameplate and not to be confused with the U.S. small car of the same name at Chevrolet.  The GSi was the high-performance model of the lineup and featured lower body cladding, larger wheels, and a sport-tuned suspension.  The engine is a 2.0L DOHC turbocharged I-4 that produced 205 horsepower through a five-speed manual transmission and to the front wheels.  In 2008 the Vectra was replaced by the Insignia which also serves as the Buick LaCrosse in U.S. markets.

For most of its life the casting has been been in metallic red with the exception of a few minor recolors.  I remember being dumbfounded by this car: it was badged as a Cavalier but looked nothing like the U.S. Chevrolet Cavalier.  As it turns out there was a different Cavalier sold by Vauxhall and this was the car.  For a GSi model it seems downright drabby in comparison.  The front has round flush headlights with a mail slot grille and lower bumper with foglights and GSi 2000 in the middle.  The sides have a standard sedan profile with additional rear 3/4 windows and a sunroof on top that is in the closed position.  At the rear the taillights are vertical rectangles and slot between the black decklid with plate that is part of the base.  The base shows off some front-end drivetrain details and the exhaust, while the suspension works with the car but the tires rub into the body too much so handling is not as fun as it should be.  The interior has a right-hand drive layout with seating for five and a dashboard that has a typical 1990's sedan layout with simple controls in reach of the driver.  So the name sounds interesting, but the casting is rather bland for such a high-performance sedan from Opel.

Vauxhall Astra GTE

The Astra is Opel/Vauxhall's smallest car in the lineup as a compact.  By the 1980's this generation has adopted a more aerodynamic look with offerings of three-door hatchback, four-door sedan, five-door wagon, and even a convertible.  The vehicle was also sold in Korean markets as the Daewoo LeMans and, sadly, sold in the U.S. as the Pontiac LeMans.  The GTE model is the high-performance model of the line that featuers lower side sills, GTE on the front grille, and a retuned suspension.  The engine is a 1.8L DOHC I-4 that produces 156 horsepower through a five-speed manual transmission.  The Astra still continues on today but has grown up and now allows an even smaller subcompact called the Corsa in the line.  The last U.S. entry was the Saturn Astra in the last few days of Saturn.

Now Matchbox has two different versions of this car: This Astra GTE was the first with opening doors, a metal base, and civilian clothes.  Later Matchbox retooled the casting, added a light bar, and called it the Opel Kadett police vehicle that would last until 1998.  I used to have the police car and was going to get that one again until I found out about this Astra GTE and I was hooked.  It has a simple, clean look in red with GTE badges on the sides and the original Matchbox wheels instead of the eight-dot ones (I prefer the latter on this car.  The front has large flush headlights with a small mesh grille that has the GTE letters in them, and a lower bumper with license plate letters and numbers.  The sides show a typical hatchback look and the fantastic opening doors.  The rear has an abbreviated design with rear spoiler, upright taillights, and a black decklid area where the base is used for the rear plate design.  Also you'll find the GTE badge in the back as well and hood vents up front.  The suspension works if a bit too soft, yet gives the Astra some very tossable fun in the corners.  The base shows off the exhaust system and a few minor drivetrain details, while the interior has a right-hand drive layout with a dashboard that seems a bit clunky in ergonomics and offers digital gauges as an option.  Compared to the Vectra GSi the Astra GTE looks more impressive and is one of the finest Matchbox castings from the 1980's.

Update 7/23/18:  Here's another addition to the Astra line and it's a rare one: the yellow version that came from a German holiday set back in the early 1990's.  My example was a bit rough, but still looks good with no decals, metal base, and opening doors still remaining despite the updated tooling for the police version now called the Opel Kadett: