Top Gear's "affordable car" listed for sale on eBay

Top Gear is the automotive TV show par excellence worldwide. Practically anyone who likes cars knows it exists.

The “affordable car” on the show, used by guests to set their own lap times around the circuit, has gone up for sale at a well-known online auction house.

The “affordable car” has a long tradition within the show. Many years have passed since this little “test” in the form of a competition was introduced, in which guests (generally celebrities known practically worldwide) race against the clock against one another.

The first car in the saga was a Suzuki Liana saloon, which the show still keeps and uses only when the guest is a (former) F1 driver. It was replaced years ago by a Chevrolet Lacetti, which “died” when a chimney fell on it during the demolition of a factory. Finally, a Kia Cee´d was in charge of powering the segment until the arrival of the Astra you see in the photos.

Of course, although its exterior looks completely standard from the factory, the car carries certain mechanical modifications needed to run on a circuit. In fact, the listing specifies this in detail. The airbags have been disconnected so that a roll cage could be installed, while the front seats have been replaced with bucket seats with safety harnesses.

So the car is not fit for road use, but it can be modified back so that it is. The Astra in question has a 1.6 naturally aspirated petrol engine producing 115 CV, and among its many “comforts” are 17″ alloy wheels, a navigation system with a colour screen and cruise control. The bidding for the car has now reached 16,200 pounds, which is roughly 18,000€ at current exchange rates. If you have the whim and the budget is no problem, you still have time to take home a piece of modern automotive history.

Source | eBay.co.uk