Some craigslist ads are a joy to read. Yes, I’m serious! It does happen occasionally, where not only does a seller take clear pictures, but they actually clearly list both the good and the bad about a vehicle without the hyperbole some sellers resort to. This particular “all American” German Opel (note the decal on the lower front fender) is in Canby, Oregon and is priced at only $1,600. It’s available here on craigslist. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Pat L. for this great find!
The seller tells us that this is a partially completed project with the major remaining issues being rust in the lower front cowling that may be bad enough that it has to be replaced and a lack of brakes. There’s also some body filler from previous repairs and some rust in the fender wells. It’s also telling to me that whomever previously painted the car couldn’t be bothered to color match the headlight surrounds–or perhaps the rest of the body has faded that much?
When I see a project like this, I always wonder what was the last straw was for the seller? What prompted the decision to sell rather than finishing the project? Is the garage space required for something else? Or was the search for a replacement front valence too difficult or expensive? I found this fiberglass replacement for $275, so I don’t think it’s cost–and the fiberglass won’t rust like the original.
As you can see, one of the good things about this project is the solid floors. The seats look pretty decent as well, although it looks like one is red and the other black, and the seller says they have a new dash cap. I’m really not a fan of non-matching seats, and while the red one intrigues me as I’ve never seen a red interior in a GT, I think I’d dye both seats black to match.
The engine is said to run well, and there’s even a spare carburetor to boot. I think this car could be put back on the road quite easily, but the rust repair might take a little longer. On the bright side, when you were done you’d have a mini C3 Corvette with the coolest pop up headlights ever (and yes, they work on this car)! Are you flipping your lights for this neat classic, or does it leave you snoozing?
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