Was it a coincidence that the Opel GT of 1968 to 1973 had more than a passing resemblance to the early third-generation Corvette (1968 forward)? Probably not, as General Motors owned Opel Automobile GmbH of Germany for 88 years. This 1970 edition of the GT has received both cosmetic and mechanical enhancements, so would you call it a restomod? Located in McKinney, Texas, the interesting and running project is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,500. A tip brought our way by “BCB42”.
The Opel GT was a small, enclosed sports car that drew from the existing Kadett parts bin in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The engine was mounted in the front, but as far back as possible to improve weight distribution. In the U.S., you could buy one of the 100,000+ built over six years at your local Buick dealership. While a 1.1-liter inline-4 was standard equipment, most GTs came with the more powerful 1.9-liter motor which put out about 50% more horsepower. One interesting feature of the GT was its hidden headlights – they were opened and closed by way of a large manual lever placed near the 4-speed (or automatic transmission) shifter.
This ’70 GT belonged to the seller’s father, and it was in his garage from as far back as 1970 to 2021. It was likely then that the body was modified (fender flairs and rear spoiler added) and an unusual white and blue paint job with gold accents was applied. In the process, the engine compartment was enlarged to accommodate a 352 cubic inch Ford V8, but it never got past a souped-up version of the 1.9-liter I-4. The car has 68,000 miles, but the engine clocks in at just 5,000.
Besides the “go faster” stuff and body mods, the interior has been customized, too. The seats look like the racing variety and seem to fit nicely with the rest of the package. The seller has amassed a lot of spare parts that will go with the sale to the buyer. This should be considered a project because – while the car was made to run again – it needs brakes and suspension work that the seller hasn’t had time for. Also, there is a fuel leak that must be sorted out. The seller isn’t interested in any trades and probably just needs the space.
Hate to be the “know nothing know-it-all”, but I read the Opel GT design came before the C3, and were both designed by the same person, I believe. I’m a big fan of Opels, had several myself, but never warmed up to the GT. Without question, fun cars to drive, but riddled with problems. The biggest was no trunk. Headlights? Many Opel GTs were seen with headlights wired open, the mechanism was complicated. With Kadett suspension, it handled like one, and of course, the price. These actually cost as much( $3800) as a 2 year old Corvette, and sales were poor. Don’t forget, your local Buick dealer wanted nothing to do with you after the sale. The Z car was the one to have then.
The styling on those Opel GTs has always been a favorite of mine. My first paying job when I turned 16 years-old was at a Waffle House. A regular customer owned a white Opel GT, a ’71 year model as I recall. I would ask him questions about it to gather info in case he decided to sell it at some point. I knew it was a 4-speed, had no electrical issues, did not leak oil, the headlights worked and it ran great. I kept waiting for the day when he might put it up for sale and one morning he came in and told he was selling it and what he wanted for it. I knew two things. One, I had the money and two, I had to have it. That is until I attempted to sit in the driver’s seat with my 6’2″ frame and him chuckling, and recognized real quick that I needed to pivot and get something with ample headroom and lots of leg room. So I bought a ’69 stick shift Bug with one of those Hurst Saf-T-Trigger shifters lol.
I nearly hurt myself changing a head gasket on an Opel GT. The 1.9 had a weird cam in head design which had all the parts of a normal pushrod engine all contained in the cylinder head. Weighed a ton. Really excellent steering on these cars coupled with LOTS of understeer. Also the vinyl that made up most of the interior ‘offgassed’ so much that it would coat the inside of the glass with an oily film.
Forget the 352 going in it. Also too small for the LS swap. You will be killing yourself changing the spark plugs. I would go with a modern Honda power plant and manual driveline making about 250 hp. What a blast!
There is a large level of restoration parts and helpful guidance for any DIY. Bob Lutz was head of Opel sales when the GT program was given the green light. He is credited with saying after driving the Opel GT, ‘Only flying is better!’ ‘Ohne der fliegen ist besser!’ (apology for bad German spelling)
My first sports car. Loved it, it was basically mechanically glitch free for 6 years until I sold it. No complaints but I found out I like the Italian and English cars in the GT’s category and then graduated to the XKE and 911. As you tell by reading this, I am not a spring chicken and every one on those rides were affordable. Not any more. Too bad. Too many mods on this GT for me.
I had several Opel GT’s and while not blasters were fun to drive. My 1st car was an Opel GT. It belonged to a family friend. Someone had attempted to steal it from his carport and ripped the fuse box halfway out of the car. Our friend told me that if it I could get it running again (due to the ripped out wires in the fuse box) I could have the car for free. 30 minutes after he said that I had it running and owned my 1st Opel GT at 16yrs old. I had another one (1973) that I hot rodded a bit with a Holley 2 barrel carb, custom exhaust with side pipes like they used to do on the C2, C3 Corvettes. It still only ran a 16.9 1/4 mile, but in 1980 thay was faster than quite a few cars.
I had several Opel GT’s and while not blasters were fun to drive. My 1st car was an Opel GT. It belonged to a family friend. Someone had attempted to steal it from his carport and ripped the fuse box halfway out of the car. Our friend told me that if it I could get it running again (due to the ripped out wires in the fuse box) I could have the car for free. 30 minutes after he said that I had it running and owned my 1st Opel GT at 16yrs old. I had another one (1973) that I hot rodded a bit with a Holley 2 barrel carb, custom exhaust with side pipes like they used to do on the C2, C3 Corvettes. It still only ran a 16.9 1/4 mile, but in 1980 that was faster than quite a few cars.
My first sports car and I loved it. Basically mechanically glitch free for 6 years before I sold it. I would have liked a little more power but who wouldn’t? I found out that I preferred English and Italian cars in this category and then later an XKE and a 911. It all started with the GT. I am not a spring chicken and all of these rides were affordable when I bought them. Not so much now.
I am not a fan of the mods of this GT but wish the seller good luck!
I am an Opelphile of long standing. Two (2) friends owned GT’s when I was in college, a neighbor I used to hang with in high school and my college Freshman car pool buddy. I later acquired a 1972 Opel 1900 (the low-buck trim level Opel Manta) and my brother bought a 1974 Opel Manta Rallye. My Mom worked for the Navy at the GE Aircraft Engine Group in Lynn, MA, and she used to car pool with one of the Engineers she worked with, who called Opels “Hitler’s Revenge”, LOL! My brother bought two (2) Opel Astras from the 1990’s for his college age kids, my niece and nephew, and my nephew still has his!
The biggest issue with the GT’s here in New England was that the headlight doors would freeze shut in cold weather!
GLWTS!
In 1977 I worked for a Pontiac, Buick dealership and we supposedly repossessed the “Marlboro Mans” Opel GT. I cleaned it up and still have some of the items that were in it. Supposedly he is buried in our local cemetery.
Nice restomord to a little car that I was attracted to when I was young.