Here’s what the forgotten Pontiac Astre costs in 2021
“Forgotten” might not be the right term for the Pontiac Astre because it implies someone knew about it in the first place. And you wouldn’t be alone if this is the first time you see the name Star printed because it was a short-lived, economical machine that made no noticeable difference in the automotive world.
However, since being a senator forces you to vote for things you strongly disagree with, being a self-proclaimed car enthusiast requires you to learn more about automobiles that were not wanted.
Your first assignment will be the Pontiac Astre, a GM product that debuted in 1973 in Canada and slowly (literally) made its way into the US market in 1975.
Cars of the 1970s, like the Astre, marked a turning point in the American auto market. Gas V8s and muscular coupes were moving away, and the boxy-bodied family cars of the Malay Era looked nothing like their predecessors and fared significantly worse than cars of the previous decade.
But, as we see, these automobiles are a part of America’s economic history, giving the curious car enthusiast a reason to find out what it costs today and how it compares to competitors of the period. correct.
The Astre is a simple car with simple roots
Pontiac was a subsidiary of General Motors until its bankruptcy in 2009, possibly due to its lack of sales and the great auto crisis of the time. Either way, parent companies like GM have always used their platforms developed in their affiliate brands. L’Astre was one of those off-plan cars.
It was based on the almost identical-looking Chevrolet Vega, a car that became very popular for its economic goals and sleek looks, Camaro-style, as well as for its generally terrible performance and safety. The coverage of the popularity of the Vega covered the Aster and that is why most do not know his name. But while the Astre is essentially a Chevy Vega with a tucked-in shirt and cufflinks, it had some very memorable features.
Most notably was the Astre wagon trim passing by the Pontiac term “Safari”. Similar to the Safari was the van version which is just way too cool to be allowed. Besides those two hot little wagons, the regular hatchback and coupe versions looked like the classic Vega.
The little Pontiac first came out of the factory with a wimp of a 2.3-liter inline 4-cylinder developing around 80 hp on the top of the range. A standard three-speed manual ground transmission was connected to the four-speed motor, but it could be upgraded to a four-speed ground transmission or a three-speed automatic.
In 1977, the Astre received a much needed upgrade, the four-cylinder GM Iron Duke. The optional four-cylinder Iron Duke cast-iron block raised horsepower ratings up to 90 devilish ponies and could even mate with the five-speed manual transmission introduced the year before.
How much does the Pontiac Astre cost today?
A bit of perspective, as ordered. When the Astre made its US debut in the mid-1970s, it had three main base prices: $ 2,841 for the coupe, $ 2,954 for the hatchback, and a legitimate premium of $ 3,071 for the trims. elegant wagons, according to Hagerty.
You might not be surprised to learn that it’s more difficult to find a current market price for a Pontiac Astre than it is to explain quantum mechanics to Patrick Star; However, the internet is unlimited and, according to independent research, a 1975-1976 Pontiac Astre has a retail value of around $ 1,200.
For the three Pontiac Astre fans who are offended by this number, obviously it’s not a market price, which means the right car for the right buyer could go way above that comically low price number. . Based on similar and less desirable economy cars from the 1970s, like the Ford Pinto, the Pontiac Astre can range from $ 2,000 to $ 4,500 in the low end and up to around $ 8,000 in the high end for the right enthusiast.
A survivor example with the Safari body, the Iron Duke engine and a five-speed manual transmission with the wood trim options could certainly sell for even more for the perfect buyer, as well as the special Li’l Wide Track version. . However, a Star like this has yet to be sold on online auction platforms like Bring A Trailer.
This does not mean that an Astre pro-touring or restomod replaced by a V8 could not go around the Internet and go for a crazy price. And if an Astre owner wanted more performance but sticks to the four-cylinder’s lifespan, he could swap out a Honda K-Series engine and smear the pants of every unsuspecting WRX he comes across.
The Pontiac Astre will likely never be a desired classic or aftermarket champion like the Vega, but it most definitely falls into the “so bad that’s cool” category, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In addition, this is a manual wagon for a very low price. Got any ideas, LS-swap fanatics?
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