Top Gear’s Reasonably Priced Car Is For Sale

One of the most famous Vauxhall Astras of the previous generation is being auctioned for charity.

The red-finished 1.6-liter 115bhp-powered model, which was thrashed around the famous Top Gear test track in the “Star in a reasonably priced car” segment of the old show’s format, could be yours, if you’re willing to pay the price, that is, because at the time of writing, 11 bidders have set the cost to £8,100 ($12,065).

Proceeds from the charity auction will benefit BEN, whose goal is “to make positive differences to people’s lives in the automotive industry“. BEN is also helping families with cost of specialist disability equipment for children and it offers a range of services from nursing to end life care as well.

The compact hatchback has traveled for 2,908 miles (4,680 km) and it rides on 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels. Some of the features found on it include the Front Corbeau Sprint Racing seats with a 5-point safety belt harness, a full roll-cage, the digital radio with six premium speakers, USB connection with iPod control, mobile phone system with Bluetooth, 3-spoke leather-wrapped sports steering wheel, sat-nav with 7-inch color monitor and multi-function trip computer.

The seller mentions the disabled airbags to make room for the roll-cage. Reinstating them means removing the roll-cage and, in its current state, “the car is not type-approved and should not be driven on the road“. Converting the car for “use on the public highway would incur significant cost“.

The Astra was seen by an estimated 350 million people in 170 countries across the globe, weekly, back when Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May were presenting BBC’s Top Gear. If the compact model has convinced you to place a bid, then you can check it out on eBay.