The Opel GT was a closed-coupe sports car that was produced by Opel in Germany from 1968 to 1973. Its styling was not unlike that of the third-generation Chevrolet Corvette that debuted about the same time (General Motors was the common denominator). It was smaller in scale and powered by an inline 4-cylinder engine. The seller has a pair of these for sale, owning one of them since 1975, while the other is a parts car acquired more recently.
To concoct the GT, Opel borrowed from its existing parts bin for mechanical bits and pieces, principally the Kadett B. Most of the GTs came with a 116 cubic inch engine, though a 66 CI version was initially available (and likely made the cars somewhat underpowered). The GT employed unibody construction with the usual front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. Like the Corvette, the GT used hideaway headlights, but they were opened and closed internally via a manual level the driver had to engage.
More than 100,000 GTs were assembled over their 6-year run, with a good many making it to the U.S. and sold by your local Buick dealership. The principal car in the seller’s duo is the blue one (a 1971 edition) which he/she has had for nearly 50 years. It was a daily driver for the longest time but has been idle since around the turn of the century. It is one of those “ran when parked” autos that was repainted twice and had the engine rebuilt once during its first 25 years.
Later on, the seller bought the yellow car (a 1972 model) to use for parts, and looks even rougher than the main car. The seller is looking to net $2,500 for the two vehicles, but that’s in Canadian currency. In the U.S. that would equate to about $1.847. We’re not sure of the location of this pair from the seller’s listing which can be found here on eBay. Would you be interested in buying the pair to try to make one good car out of two?
NOPE, I worked at a Buick dealership in the ’70s and these were total crap when NEW. To work on anything behind the dash, you HAD to disconnect the battery first or you would start a fire !
I owned a ’69 Kadett 1.9L, a car with a definite Jekyll and Hyde personality. You could love it one day, hate it the next, then love it again on Day Three. Yet it was the best handling and most fun to drive car I ever owned.
my grandfather and I had always owned Cadillacs. I never bought any other make but he would off an on buy a klunker (anything not a Cadillac). One day we picked up this 69 Opel Kadett sedan he bought for $200.00, it had a 1.1L engine. I always laughed at it but it was fun to drive if no one knew me. We finally realized the button on the floor was not the high beam switch but was the manual washer pump. It took a while to find the high beam sw. Aside from driving it home sitting on a milk crate fastened to 2 2 X 6 planks before we put a complete floor in it,the car was very reliable. We had it 10 years when he had a heart attack and drove his 69 Fleetwood into the American Legion building at over 70 and was killed. I sold it for 900.00.
Made good drag cars in early 70s
There is a tube chassis,big block Chevy powered GT in my town, hasnt been out of the shop in 20 years.
A friend had one in the family. It was great fun to drive around in. He wouldn’t turn on the radio, which was a huge sacrifice for him; because he said it would cause vapor lock. Never found out if that was true.
I had a Manta for a short while with the same 1900 engine. I liked it but had the convertible bug, so sold it to by my first MGB.
Russ, I’ve never seen an Opel engine described in cubic inches. It through me off. Really, any European engine.
Toy Corvettes.
A friend had a Kadette two door and a wagon, great cars and i would love to get a wagon. Another had a bronze and black Manta, beautiful car that ran very well
Used to be one around Louisville area with Buick Grand National running gear,rear end wasn’t narrowed wheel stuck ,was ugly but ,I seen the guy punch it couple times it definitely ran..
Thank God they are far from me, and in another country! I see a Pro Street/ retirement project that I don’t need right now, but have envisioned for quite awhile.
I don’t know if anybody here follows the UK show Bangers & Cash but in last weeks episode they auctioned off the best one I have ever seen for 10,000 British pounds (US$13,131), a sweet little red one that looked as if was fresh off the showroom floor and it was perfect. I am not sure if the resale value in the US would warrant restoring this. It has had it’s backside in the dirt for far too long IMHO.
I actually paid a visit to Bangers and Cash about 2 months ago. They have a very nice little shop, which looks a lot bigger on TV than it is, and it’s surrounded by lots of interesting clothes. Not far away they also have a couple of warehouses full of classic cars and trucks. Wonderful place to visit.
Cool. I have no doubt how big it would have to be to be auctioning 300-400 cars per month. They know their business. I know they built a new warehouse not far away a few years back. Big scandal a while back when Derek left his missus for someone younger who also worked in the office. Not a word of it in the show from anyone.
What channel is it on? A little pun for “bangers and mash”
I am an old Aussie in Brazil so I only find it on the torrents. It’s a niche program but of you love old classic British cars, it’s the duck’s nuts.
In the UK it’s on YESTERDAY and U channel. I think it might also be on You Tube. Hope you come right.
I’ve owned three Opel GT’s through the years. First one was blue, then a yellow one, finally a red one. Loved them all. Nothing more than maintenance was ever needed. I’m 6’2″ and fit ok in them. Always got a lot of looks from folks unaware of them or what they were. I could tell them it was an Opel, then I just got their vacant stare. Much more rare and still relatively unknown today. I’ve kept my eyes open for another one, but my main focus is another X1/9.
Moorland vette.
Poor man’s corvette.
I own a 71 Opel GT and although it is a typical live axle rear wheel drive car, what really amazed me is the fit and finish of the body panels. This car even as a 53 year old car, it still has a solid thud when the doors are closed, the drive train is average for its time but one day mine will have a V6 beating within its chest. Really a fun car to drive and I own 9 different sports cars and this one stands out in my top 3.
Needs moar fog lights
I’ve had seven Opel GT’s. Still have three. Two I got for free, and they were still not a good deal. NOBODY wants to work on them. Gorgeous body wrapped around Tinker-Toy mechanicals, and they rusted cruising down the assembly line. Hard pass.
You got me laughing. Living in salt-layered central Ohio in the ’60s – mid ’70s, I had a GT, a Kadette, and loads of fun along with the headaches. The GT seemed to me to have the turning radius of an aircraft carrier, and leaked oil constantly. The Kadette soon required a rope to hold the door on. The family ’63 VW bus was brand new and started to rust out on its maiden drive back home. That any of those buses survived is beyond me. All said, great memories, and I could enjoy another GT.