Wednesday 16th December 2009

Astra Mark1: 1979-1984

The launch of the Mark 1 Astra in 1979 was the dawn of a new technological age for Vauxhall. One of the most significant compact models the company had ever produced, the Mark 1 revolutionised the Griffin marque's small-car approach, as the Astra boasted transverse-mounted engines (sitting sideways in the engine bay) driving the front wheels rather than the more traditional in-line, rear-wheel drive set-up.

Bringing transverse and front-wheel drive together in the same package was an engineering breakthrough. Major technological advances such as this were to become a key factor in both this car's ultimate sales success and, in fact, with every subsequent Astra generation. Each, in turn, has heralded fresh design, greater comfort and better safety.

The boxy Mark 1 came as a three and five-door hatchback, a four-door saloon and a five-door estate - while even the van that came later had a silhouette that marked it out from the crowd. With its neat styling, the debut Astra also set new standards for comfort and build quality in a Vauxhall of this size.

A new range of OHC engines (from 1.2 to 1.8-litres in capacity) and a 1.6-litre diesel (another first for Vauxhall in this sector) underscored the car's appeal, especially to fleet buyers.

Perhaps most notably, in the memories of misty-eyed enthusiasts anyhow, the later years of the first generation car saw the birth of the 1.8-litre Astra GTE, a performance icon (most often seen in white) that would become one of the best-known hot hatchbacks of the 1980s. More than half a million Mark 1 Astras were sold in the UK.

1979: That was the year...Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. Bo Derek's beaded dreadlocks starred in 10 and Sigourney Weaver fled the Alien. Gloria Gaynor's disco anthem I Will Survive was released, The Village People gave new life to moustaches with YMCA and designer fashion arrived with Calvin Klein jeans. TV's Arthur Daley created a used-car legend in Minder and the Sony Walkman mobilised music.

Next, the Astra Mark 2:1984-1991