Here we are living in the home of the brave, and that’s what it’s going to take to tackle this Opel GT. It’s listed on eBay with bidding at $610, reserve not met. Though it looks like it wants to leap out of the page in this photo, it’s nowhere near ready for that, so you’ll need a trailer to retrieve it from Union, Missouri. The description notes that the car “is drivable with some repairs” then moves on to mention it will require “new tires, brakes, battery, and carburetor”. And – brace for impact – it’s an automatic! Whew. How is it that an Opel in this condition and configuration has 28 watchers and over 200 viewers in the last 24 hours? That strong interest validates the emerging collectability of this “baby Corvette”, where prices have been drifting up for years now.
Does it run? Who knows. But – confession time – I’ve been looking at Opel GTs for years with the thought of buying one some day, and my pet peeve, roused by 95% of the Opel GTs I see, is the corny aftermarket square air cleaner that hides a Weber conversion. This one retains its original equipment (there’s a Solex under there) – almost but not quite enough to make me bid on it! (Just kidding.) Since this is an automatic, that means the engine is the larger 1.9 liter, cam-in-head four. Don’t get your hopes up about that “larger” bit – US-delivery 1972 1.9s generated only 83 hp. But that’s better than the 67 from the also-available 1.1-liter. (Choosing a pre-’71 car could get you that 1.9 with over 100 ponies – a line in the sand for values.)
The interior photos are less than revealing – the instrument panel here looks like Dracula’s cave. Here’s more detail – at least we can see a few gauges. Opel built this car to rescue itself from a dowdy line-up: the company was drowning in Kadetts, Commodores, and Rekords. Despite the underpowered drivetrain, the GT was an immediate sensation. More than 100,000 copies were sold over the six years of production.
The paint loss, the faded rear valence, its mechanical demerits – these pale in comparison to the real knock on this example: rust. Here’s an unflattering close-up, and here’s another. Restoring this car will require wheel well, floor, rocker, and fender sheet metal transplants. What’s left! Those gently rising prices I mentioned? … won’t pay for all this work. A driver-quality 1.9 four-speed GT (with the right carb/air cleaner housing) can be had for around $12k, though a really fine car will reach $30k. What do you think about our subject car? Part it out, or restore it?
Good parts car if the price stays low and the reserve is met or dropped. Not really worth restoring, better to start with something nicer.
Steve R
A “Corvette on a budget”, it still ran on the Kadett’s meager drive train, but who really cared? Gas prices were starting to go up and what really sold the GT were its looks. It’s a shame this one has made a lengthy return toward its natural state, otherwise it would be worth restoring. As it is, an owner of another GT could buy it and have a nice supply of parts.
The Datsun 240Z killed this car
Parts
Been thinking about getting a daily driver classic, and Opel GTS have been at the top of that list for a while. Unfortunately I think this one would be a pass. Hope someone will give this one a good home. Hardly ever see these anymore in my area.
I admire you a lot, Michelle, but there is no similarity to a Corvette here.
Yep. Time to give the “baby Corvette” analogy a rest…… it’s been beat to death.
I disagree.
That’s in quotes – because auto journalists have widely called the Opel GT a “ baby Corvette” – and for some good reason: Clare MacKichan designed the GT, and if you’ll recall, he was instrumental in designing Corvettes from 1953 through 1957. Some go so far as to say the Opel GT predicted the styling of the later ’68 ‘Vette. In any case, I think we’ll have to agree to disagree on this point!
Suggestion. Next time put it in the write-up in quotes with reference as you did in your comment. But please don’t put in the title. Pretty please… I am begging now.
According to Wikipedia MacKichan “was the driving force behind creation of the GT”, but Erhard Schnell designed the body. Splitting hairs? Some might think so, but it absolves MacKichan of the awkward looks of this car, especially the rear view. My brother who worked for GM bought one new, and it was ugly and bog slow. I never understood what he saw in it.
Likewise, I am a fan of Michelle’s articles. But… Nothing is more annoying than the term “baby Corvette”. It was out of context then, and is out of context now. Nobody is perfect, so I will reply with calling Corvettes of the ’70s bloated Opel GTs, or as the Porsche crowd refers to them as “plastic pigs.” The point is that disrespect starts with one “crowd” thinking their stuff is superior to the other crowd’s stuff.
Probably because i’ m old but each time i see one of these i hear “ Hello Chief, it’s me Max “ of get Smart famed last season
Perhaps a tough call, but I would rather see this one put back together. I drove a GT for several years and wish it were still alive – and in my “fleet.”
To me it was reliable and fun to drive.
Love these cars & Opels in general. However another demerit is the autmatic vs. a 4spd. Only if the price is low enough is this worth restoring by a true Opel aficionado w/ the proper resources (ie: NOS supply).
Update: there is a fully driveable nice condition Opel GT, 4spd available on eBay, asking $5k.
https://vmp.ebay.com/ebay/viewAllPhotos.aspx?smid=171074696
Nice car, but I don’t think he is asking $5,000. This is an auction. That is the starting point if you wish to bid. He has not posted a “buy it now price.” Only 2 days remaining on the auction with no bidders as of now.
Yep, I think you hit the nail right on the head, the seller is a dealer, and right now he’s fishing for bites, and the $5K bid opener is merely to see if possibly there are any anglers around…I don’t belong to Hagerty and so couldn’t get their evaluations, but I did spy this comparable from November/December 2024 that sold for just under $12K …and to my old eyes it might be the better vehicle too! I could only locate this single photo:
https://www.hagerty.com/valuation-tools/past-sales/1970-opel-gt/941990199/9ba4e4c0-dacd-4c9d-abe9-8c68b013ac89
Bids up to $5,200.00 now
4 bids – Auction Ends in 2h 27mToday 02:41 AM
Reserve not met yet
Humour me please, but if someone wanted to restomod one of these, and I am serious now…Would the running gear from a Miata be viable? I know the original engine is not a sporty affair in any event, ditto, this automatic transmission, but I actually do wonder if a Miata power-plant wouldn’t benefit both performance and fuel economy? Providing, of course, that it could be made to fit relatively easily, In any event it’s merely an idea of mine, and I do thank you for all your time. :)
Today Corvette values are so low, one would be nutz to pay anything over $10,000 for even the world’s finest Opel GT – and I like them! I just think a 20 year old low miles Vette would be much easier to live with, and is also so much faster!
I liken these to clown cars. Perhaps that is harsh, but one of my friends suffered through ownership when new and eventually gave it back for a Manta. The Manta was excellent, so I guess it doubles down on go figure.
Sub in a V8 from a 99 SHO and a 5 speed Mazda tranny. Now it’s a baby Vette. The 60 degree v8 sounds will fill the cabin with music. No need for a radio.
I carpooled to college during my Freshman year in one of these! One day, my car pool buddy, a Senior, gave a ride to school to another senior friend of his, and I rode in the back, LOL!
I’d consider this one if it had a manual, but with a slush box, forget it! Putting an A/T in one of these is like painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa, IMHO. The engine’s already limited power can’t afford to waste any of it pumping oil in a torque converter!
This was Agent 86’s ride in the next to last season of “Get Smart”. He got a VW Karmann Ghia in the final season. Before that, Maxwell Smart’s preferred ride was a Sunbeam Tiger.
I had a couple of these. they are mechanical nightmares. The 1.9 is prone to needing valve jobs. The solex carbs are crap. As noted, the bodies on these things rusted out like crazy. I also had a couple of Mantas – better but still the same 1.9 engine and rust out. There used to be a place in California called Opels Unlimited. Good source for parts. They used to promote retrofits that would use BMW engine and tranny. In any case, these things are money pits.
I rode in two (2) GT’s, and my brother owned a 1974 Opel Manta Rallye, while I bought the Manta’s “Plain Jane” sister, the 1900, all with four-speed stick shifts (Yes, we both drank the Kool-Aid, LOL)! The Solex carb was a dog, but my brother did the easy fix, and swapped it for a two-barrel Weber carb. The big Achilles heel for the Manta/1900 was the battery tray being placed right next to the firewall, over the fuse box and the driver’s feet! The battery acids and gases would corrode the body sheet metal and drip rain water right onto the fuse box, destroying the main wiring harness in short order.
An Engineer in my Mom’s office that she carpooled with to work, called Opels: “Hitler’s Revenge”, LOL!
Had one of these in 1976 and certainly enjoyed it for what it was. Sitting that close to the ground sure made it feel like it was going faster than it was. And it handled well probably because it was a very light car. But in consideration of this featured car, I’m not brave enough.
I always liked the look of these better with the headlights flipped up but that’s me. With today’s higher performance engine choices you may be able to build something really cool that is faster than this was stock.
Had one in the early 80’s, was a blast to drive but soon realized, it was unsafe at any speed and costs were unsightly to keep repairs going
I would have considered one of these in 1971 as a recent college grad but the lack of a trunk lid or hatch made it a nonstarter, and the Opel engine didn’t help to change my mind.
I bought a ‘71 Pinto instead, the best of the model and a better performer overall. And no, it never caught fire.
Up for 3400 offer…Too much rust and an automatic is a no go…Drove an automatic like this one and it just wheezed its way up a hill…
https://www.gasserhotrods.com/threads/opel-gt-c-a-before-now.5042/
This is all I think of when I see one of these!
Lovely looking car. Assuming parts are available, I’d imagine this would make an awesome resto project. I had a neighbour when I was a boy who had one like this.
Not a lot of room inside one of them. Years back I used to work with a guy that had one of these. In the winter with both of us in it with winter coats on, we couldn’t shut the doors. Then as now, I’m just under 6′ and 240 lbs (fat boy???) he was about 2″ taller and about the same weight.
I rode in the back of one to college one day with my car pool buddy and his pal, both big Seniors, and despite the fact that I was only an 59.75 inches tall Freshman, it wasn’t a comfortable ride, LOL! Ordinarily it would only have been the two of us, but for this one day, three were riding, and being the runt of the litter, I drew the short straw and had to ride in the back!
Ended at $2,025.
Reserve Not Met.