The first car of our double Astra feature belongs to David, aka DDC on our forum. The car is a subtly styled Mk IV Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16v CD, which has seen quite a few show stands in the last year or so. David comes from Ayrshire, but is a regular on our forum and likes to spend his holidays in Cumbria. We met up with him on his latest trip to the Lake District and shot a few pictures for the website. We have mixed these in with the ones David took while the car evolved into the finely crafted motor that it is today. David tells the story behind the car in his own words:

I bought the car standard in early 2006 from a local garage. At the time I was going to keep the car pretty much standard but this idea disappeared after a short while. On the first day I picked up the car, I ordered an Irmscher spoiler and booked the car in for this to be painted and fitted.

I also got the car colour coded (door handles, rub strips and sideskirts) and I ordered a Sony GT300 headunit.

The car stayed like this for around a month until I decided to go for the GSI Spoiler and some different rear lights and side repeaters.

I got the GSI spoiler painted and fitted and got some black rear lights and side repeaters custom made.

The car was de-badged and the griffin badge on the tailgate was replaced with the 'OPC' badge.

A month later I ordered a recessed meshed radiator grille for the car and got this painted and fitted.

A few days later the car was booked in to get a full stainless steel custom exhaust system.

Just before Fast and Modified in 2006 I got an Infinity front splitter smoothed into the SRI front bumper. This was fitted to the car the day before the show. It also has Vauxhall front fog lights.

I got myself some Astra Coupe tinted headlights and headlight eyebrows fitted to the car a few weeks after the show.

The car was screaming out for some aftermarket wheels so I ordered some 17" League Alchemists with Diamond Cut spokes and rims.

I also decided to drop the car a little so bought a full Pi suspension kit. These were fitted around 1-2 weeks later and gave the car a new look, dropped 40mm on some new wheels.

I had been looking at aftermarket mirrors but couldn't find anything I liked. Finally decided on some 'one-off' Vectra B mirrors with custom baseplates. These added a new and exciting touch to the car.

The month before Donny 2007, the Astra went off the road for some new modifications. These included the tailgate flushed, rear wiper removed and smoothed, Daewoo Nexia single boot latch and solenoid fitted, smoothed number plate light on  the bumper, Peugeot 106 number plate lights, smoothed number plate recess in rear bumper.....

.....smoothed M3 sideskirts and removed and flushed rub strips.

I was originally thinking about selling the car but decided I have got some more plans. I am looking to carry out an engine conversion, leather interior, ice install and some bodywork modifications.

Looks like this could be one to keep an eye on for the future.......