General Motors was a late entrant to the hot-hatch market waiting until 1983 - but when it did turn up to the party, it did so with an amazingly effective weapon.

The original Cavalier SRi-powered 115bhp car was just about perfect in every way - and easily a match for the all-conquering Golf GTi.

Even in cooking form, the Kadett/Astra was a great handling car, but when fitted with wide, low-profile tyres, lowered suspension and gifted the excellent 1.8-litre 'Family Two' engine, it was transformed into a flying machine.

The GTE arrived in 1983, and within a few months received a close-ratio gearbox – to answer the only criticism of the launch cars, their too-high gearing.

Yet, not long after, the Mk.

I GTE made way for the aerodynamic Mk.

II version.

This example was originally supplied to France.

It was imported into the United Kingdom in 2017 and restored and converted to RHD in 2020.

Restored to a superb standard, please make certain that you look at the additional pictures...