Bedford/Vauxhall Astramax
15th September 2011, Page 33
15th September 2011
Page 33
Page 33, 15th September 2011
— Bedford/Vauxhall Astramax
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Although largely forgotten now, the Astramax was a hugely popular van in the late 80s and early 90s. It developed a near-mythical reputation for speed, helped by that famous Top Gear spoof where the Astramax was seen flashing its headlights, demanding that the Lotus Esprit S4 Turbo move out of its way.
It might have been humiliated on screen, but the Lotus is having the last laugh now. While more than half of all Esprit S4 Turbos built are still on the road (most of the rest are sitting in people’s garages SORN), the Astramax fared rather worse. When that Top Gear episode was made there were 24,152 on the road. Today there are just 47 left, and only one wears a Bedford badge.