Why This 25 Year Old Vauxhall Astra Van is Worth More To Me Than Any Ferrari

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If you squint hard enough, it looks like a Ferrari F12

Oh James, you've just made my heart melt. I love vehicles like this. They aren't just cars (or vans), they're members of the family, a bit like a cat or a dog. I feel exactly the same about my 2003 Nissan Micra. It's my best mate, and will be my car until the day I die.

Oh the Joy's of being a "passenger" in the back of a van ( mini van for me lol) That's the brilliant thing about cars , the memories they hold or conjure.

I´m so with you in this! My parents bought a brand new blue Volvo 145 Estate on the 11:th July 1969. I was 3 years and five days back then. The car stayed in their use as their only car until 2005, when it was put into storage. Me and my two siblings all learned to drive in it. And as you James, we also used to travel in the back. I`m now the caretaker of this nice unrestored container of memories and events from my childhood and adolesence.

I still believe the next generation astra van is one of the nicest looking vans ever made. Especially with the x pack

This is so much more interesting than any modern supercar.

I'm going to be unpopular here, but don't restore it other than getting rid of the rot. It looks wonderful, it's had a life and shows that life in all its glory. That was (as someone else has said) the best video you've made. It came from the heart.

Live your life in such a way that family and friends love you like JayEmm loves his grandfather.

An AstraVan is the fastest car in the world, judging by the number of them that have zoomed passed me on the M25 in the last 40 years!

As an ex-Royal Mail driver, the Vauxhall Astra Van and Combo were always present, as were Escort vans. I loved the Combo, respected the Escort, but always hankered after the sportiness of the Astra Van! You could feel like it wasn't working, if you had a decent radio, comfortable seats, and the Astra Van was the only petrol van on the fleet! IT SHIFTED! (even in 1.7 diesel too!) I lusted after one for nearly a decade after I left Royal Mail, as the tailgate made me think it would make a great camper for weekends away, somewhere remote! (seated on the back, you wouldn't get wet!) The load bed was JUST long enough to get a sleeping bag unfurled! Try and find a rust free example today! Try and find one without dents! I'd love a 1.7 Isuzu turbo oil burner powered one! A decent set of new wheels and a solid and VERY shiny body would be the only other dream addition! (maybe a towbar?)

My father was a mechanic, welder and teacher who always had various mobile projects on the go. From the time I was big enough to "assist" he involved me, much to my sister's annoyance at being excluded. My favourite was a two seat dune buggy based on a VW Beetle platform that was built while he was still teaching. When I was small we would go on trips and I would sit in the passenger footwell. I fancied the day I could drive it... but it was sold to his friend's son. Who not long after crashed and damaged it. But we still have memories...

I recently started looking through old photos to see cars owned by my parents. Difficult to do when photos were much rarer than today. Even in the late 80s and early 90s. So, I get it. The memories from just photos are important. I can’t imagine having the chance to own one of them. Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful story. Similarly my late wife's Mini Convertible shall never ever be sold. Nine years now - in her and my hands - as the daily drive. So many memories of fun days.

The first thing i thought when i saw it. Festival of the Unexceptional. Lovely story. My dads dad had a bright red Reliant Robin van. Glad you kept your family heritage.

My fathers first new car was 2000 Opel Astra. 1.6 NA 16v engine. Quality of the car is probably clouded a bit by the beautiful memories we had with it as a family but to this day nothing came close to it. She is still alive with 300k kilometers. Car was looked after and regularly serviced and never had any major issues and car never left us in the middle of the road. Great video as always, kind regards from Croatia!

Robin from Viking Detailing could have that looking like new if you really want it to. He literally managed to wash rust off of Taylor's Allegro. It was like witchcraft. Although personally I love a bit of patina.

Look at the blending on that two-tone red and pink car van! Must have cost a small fortune to get a colour gradient that smooth.

Did you ever look for the old van? I never knew this festival of the unexceptional ever existed so thank for the enlightenment. Please keep going. Really enjoy your posts. Thank you

I remember the AstraMax van. I swear that thing was driven faster than anything else on the road.