The German auto builder, Opel Automobile GmbH, was owned by General Motors from 1929-2017. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was Buick’s source for compact and sub-compact cars for sale in the U.S. One of those was the Opel GT sports car, whose resemblance to the Chevy Corvette of the era was hardly coincidental. This example from 1972 is said to run well and is complete but needs work to be roadworthy. And what was once red or orange paint looks like Pismo-Bismol pink now. Located in Culpeper, Virginia and available here on Facebook Marketplace, the seller is accepting offers, choosing not to set an asking price.
Opel GTs had a six-year run, seeing more than 103,000 copies built, many for export to markets like the U.S. The car is a fastback and has neither an accessible trunk nor a hatchback. Any storage space you may find can be had by reaching through the doors. The GT also has pop-up headlights which are manually operated by a large lever along the center console next to the shifter. This was one of the reasons the car was discontinued after 1973 as it could not meet changing U.S. safety standards without being seriously redesigned.
GTs were powered by either a 1.1-liter OHV inline-4 or a 1.9-liter cam-in-head engine, producing either 67 or 83 hp. We don’t know for sure which powerplant is in the seller’s car, but a 4-speed manual transmission was usually chosen over an automatic. Glass seems to be the missing ingredient with the seller’s car, although we’re told it’s still all around and will come with the transaction. There is rust in at least the fenders, but the interior seems to be in decent order except for the dash pad and no carpeting.
I remember seeing a fair number of these cars on the road in the 1970s and 1980s, and not so much after that. By then, Buick began to rely on itself for small cars and no longer needed the Opel lifeline. Based on what you see of this old GT, what offer would you make?
My neighbor has two or three of these, cool little cars. I’ve driven Mantas and Kadettes, but never a GT, and have found them all to be fun little cars
These cars remind me of when Buick made and imported some really beautiful automobiles. Not the ugly garbage that they push out the doors today.
“Corvette inspired”
“Mini-Vette”
“Poor man’s Vette”
“Vette alternative”
“Baby Vette”
Nudge the needle…..the record is stuck.
Super, no maj body wrk ta do? Running… might do the research to figure on modern hop up potential, susp/break up-grades? Not my project but willing to visit, wrench a lill (neighbor hasa 10 sec Mav 300 i6 I do so @/with). I remember’n like. Sonnet, datsun2000, honda S600, abarths, etc were all my fav.s back then~
English , please !!! You write like you’re on your 12 cup of coffee and its only 6am
@chrisful- When you are doing your research take a look at images of Jim Oddy’s Opel GT dragster from the early 1970’s.
We’ve dragged just about every comment through the muck with these. This is the 1.9, ( with a GT specific valve cover for clearance)and a stout motor, indeed. They made a 1.5 cam-in-head, but we never saw it. The 1.1 was a small pushrod motor, weak, but equally as tough. I believe they also made a 6 cylinder cam-in-head too, for commercial and limos, again, never made it to the USA, I don’t think. Certainly none I saw, and I saw a good deal of Opels. The faults were many, and at what a 2year old Corvette went for, many opted for the Corvette, a wise move. I like Opels, had several, all good cars, my ’68 Kadett “Mini-Brute” was a fun little car but the GT was, I felt, always the worst of the bunch.
had a 69 gt. got it for a graduation present from high school. Single leaf spring suspension in the front and coil springs in rear . finally could afford Koni shocks all around . made all the difference in the world. adjusted them to the stiffest they would go . drove to New Jersey from massachusetts to see my girlfriend the day after i put them in . cornered unbelievably. both shocks popped through the sheet metal mounts . had to find a welder to repair on a saturday morning so i could get home . drove the car 150000 miles . rotted out from under me . junked it in 1977. got an mgb .
beautiful car built on crappy ancient Kadett underpinnings which is apparent if you ever drove one. The glass is not going to be easy to get (or cheap).
rustylink- russ, the BF writer said the the glass comes with.
FB listing is already gone.
I beg to differ. Just the opposite. The GT was a crappy car built on a great Kadett platform.The Kadett was the staple of Opels for years in Germany. Kind of the “Fiat” of Germany. The Kadett was a good car, and was the basis for many cars, including the Chevette. My 1st Opel was a ’67 Kadett with a 1.1, 4 speed. It did the best holeshots, until 2nd gear, that is. Couldn’t kill it, and because they were so underpowered, most Americans unknowingly tried their darndest, just to keep up with traffic. Again, it’s unfair to judge a car made for the back alleys of Europe, and not plod across some God forsaken American desert, foot to the floor, or NYC traffic.
Nice write up Russ, I had no idea GM owned Opel way back to 1929.
Had a ’69 GT when I met my hopeful-wife-to-be, and she still married me. Definitely a fun mode of transport, and a couple thoughts pop out right away: If you plan to make a turn, start well ahead of the intersection. A short turning radius was not in the game plan. Also, always monitor your oil level. The car never met a piece of concrete it didn’t like to seep on faithfully. I still loved it!
Owned a 17 Opel Gt in 1976. Blue with white interior, good looking car. Loved driving it, sold it to buy a new 76 Camaro. But it started me on a lifetime of sport cars. 240Z, 280Z, 280ZX, X1/9, Fiat 2000 Spyder, MGB, TR6, TR7, Spitfire. Best of the bunch was the 240Z. Too bad it rusted away. Worst was the TR7, don’t ask.
I owned a 1982 Fiat 2000 Spider from 85 to 2015. Loved that car! Sold it to a collector in Australia
When I was in High School in the early 70s we were an Opel family. My father drove a station wagon, my stepmother drove a Kadett coupe and my brother drove a GT. I had a Bug. Those Opels were great cars. Dependable and fun to drive. That poor Kadett was totally abused by four teenage boys learning to drive and do burnouts. It was still running great after over 200,000 miles when my youngest brother rolled it a few times. He walked away from it. That GT was the most fun but my brother was smart enough that he rarely let anyone drive it.
Yeah Opels are very reliable.
I prefer the bigger ones like the Rekord, Commodore, Admiral, etc.
But I guess they never made it officialy to the US.
The Kadetts, GT’s are just so small …
Bought a 69 GT for $500 about 10 years ago. Stripped it down, repainted, rechromed everything, new tires and shocks and then sold on EBay for $5000. Fun car to drive but my 16 year old said he sat too close to the road and it scared him.
There was a yellow one in the garage of my parents building end 60s. Looked like a mini US dream car to me …
I wonder what the underside looked like?
I bought a pickup not too far from there,and
the DO use salt on the road there.