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Economical Fun: 1970 Opel 1900 GT

Even though over 100,000 of these cars were built from 1968-1973, it is rare to see one these days, especially in this condition. This is a 1970 Opel GT with the optional 1.9 liter 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission. The car is located in North Charleston, South Carolina and can be seen here on eBay with 4 days remaining. With 7 bids, the car is only bid up to $2,550.

The black interior with full back bucket seats look to be in excellent condition with no cracks or tears on any of the hard surfaces or fabric. The car has the optional 3 speed automatic transmission shifter with console and the odometer is just over 120,000 miles. Opel GTs had neat pop up headlights that flipped upside down to be operational.

The base engine for Opel GTs was a 1.1 liter 4 cylinder engine that produced only 67 horsepower. Today’s riding lawnmowers are almost as powerful! Most buyers opted for the 1.9 liter 4 cylinder engine that initially generated 101 horsepower but was detuned for emissions purposes to 83 horsepower. Check out the location of the battery.

The Opel GT was designed as a rear-wheel-drive, 2 seat sports car but unfortunately, there is no trunk or rear hatch. The paint on this car looks good in the pictures but is actually pretty faded in places. It is said to have had the same family ownership since new and has been repainted at least once. What do you think this little gem is worth?

Comments

  1. Avatar ken tillyUK Member

    Only ever driven one a long time ago and thought it was a lovely little semi-sports car. It also had the 1.9 L engine but if memory serves me correctly, it had a 2 speed auto box.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar Gerard Frederick

    That little gem comes from a time they built lovely machines in Germany, such as the gorgeous Glas 1300 or 1700 GT. Sadly, all history in todays look-alike, we- are-all-equal world.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Michael

      Agreed. I lived in Germany after my Army time. Bought an Opel Ascona then later a couple of Manta Bs. I miss those little simple cars weighing a ton or less. Easy to work on and easy to make faster!

      Like 0
  3. Avatar Eric

    That automatic transmission is a killer in a car like this (ditto for Miata’s)… and will significantly depress it’s value. $4,000 car at best IMO

    Like 2
  4. Avatar SourPwr

    Could you throw in a trunk full of toilet paper for that price ?

    Like 2
    • Avatar ken tillyUK Member

      If he could find a trunk full of toilet paper he might! People over here are buying up stocks in order to resell on e bay next week for 10 times the price.

      Like 0
      • Avatar schooner

        That about two rolls. Six if you take out the spare.

        Like 0
      • Avatar Dave Mazz

        Somehow, trying to make a killing on hoarding short-supply toilet paper sounds a lot funnier than it actually is. Don’t these people know that the Federal government is planning to send out a fleet of drones that will drop off rolls of t-paper on everyone’s door step?? :-) :-)

        Like 0
  5. Avatar DonC

    In comparison, my 2017 Harley Davidson engine is 1750 cc – a full 60% bigger than this little thing!
    and 93 HP vs. 67. Yeah, I know, the Opal is also from 47 years ago. Just amazing though…can you unbolt the engine and just reach down and pick it up?

    Like 1
    • Avatar Poppapork

      Thats not remotely as sickenning as a 1978 mustang cobra2 or king cobra whatever having 130HP out of 5 liters? And thats a decade later

      Like 1
  6. Avatar Johnmloghry

    I’ve always liked these little cars. Never owned one. Did own 2 Opels though, a Kadette coupe of 67 vintage 1.1 liter 4 speed and a 69 wagon 1.1 liter with a/t. The coupe was really quite fun to drive and got 40 mpg. The wagon not so much, I remember the driveshaft falling out while my then wife was driving it.
    If this car were a 4 speed I would be bidding on it.
    God bless America

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Paul Mahoney

    I had a 75 manta w/4speed not sure that it was that low on hp but back then hp was rare. Had the same death as most opel’s though the unibody rotted out rite below the fire wall.. i was a kid then and man did that little car take a beating!!!!

    Like 0
    • Avatar Gerard Frederick

      Their reputation for toughness and reliability back then was outstanding. That was ruined when GM in their wisdom and greed for more profits replaced the german leadership with a Mexican, no, no, that´s not a joke, it happened in the early 2000´s and spelled the death of the company. Today it´s but a sad ghost of its past, a second-class Peugeot.

      Like 0
      • Avatar schooner

        True. I took care of my used GT and it was dead reliable. Sold it and bought a new ’75 Manta Rallye (wiki is incorrect in no ’75 Rallyes, mine had FI so not a leftover). The letdown of buying new was disinterested Buick sales and service. That surely was the downfall of Opel in the US.

        Like 0
  8. Avatar Britcarguy

    When I ordered my ’69 new, the 1900 engine was $100 more than the 1100. The 1100 engine was mainly for Europe where some countries based tax on horsepower.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Graham Line

    The ‘big’ Opel 1900, Manta and GT was 1.9 liter and sold with either a 4-speed manual transmission or a 3-speed automatic.

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Claudio

    A week or so ago
    On bat
    There was a silver one
    Miata powered with turbo
    Wide fenders and all the custom fixings
    Now
    That was a beautiful opel
    This one is ok

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Brian

    Does it run? Lights flip up?

    Like 0

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