Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
OP
TimeforChange
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https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...ssPageName=WDVW
What about this one? You guys know of any other?
What about this one? You guys know of any other?
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Opel
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PC
Obi Wan
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To answer TimeforChange's other questions:
Q. From looking at pictures of them, the width of the car is basically nothing. Is that right?
A. The GT is a very small car. The GT is a two-seater. Sitting in one feels sort'a like sitting in an MGB or Spitfire or such with the top up. The Manta and Ascona are similar in size to the 2002, Cortina, 510, etc.
Q. Do they still have the performance that you guys are talking about with 4 bangers?
A. Keep in mind the Showroom Stock class the Mantas and Asconas ran in was an unmodified class that put them up against other 4-bangers, Rabbits, Arrows, Pintos etc. In Europe they ran them, heavily tuned, in rallies. They were very successful. The GT was also rallied.
As an aside, the GT found quite a bit of popularity among US drag racers. You often see them with Big-Block V8 drag motors. (and custom tubular frames, humongous drag slicks, etc)
Q. Do Opels have steel or fiberglass bodies?
A. They are true mass-production vehicles. They are all steel. (although some factory race models may have fiberglass bonnets, boot lids, flares, etc). The GT's body has multiple compound curves and can be very frightening to many of today's less-talented body shop types.
Unfortunately you just missed it TimeforChange, the Opel Club picnic was in Van Nuys just a couple weeks ago. You could have seen a bunch up close.
PC.
Q. From looking at pictures of them, the width of the car is basically nothing. Is that right?
A. The GT is a very small car. The GT is a two-seater. Sitting in one feels sort'a like sitting in an MGB or Spitfire or such with the top up. The Manta and Ascona are similar in size to the 2002, Cortina, 510, etc.
Q. Do they still have the performance that you guys are talking about with 4 bangers?
A. Keep in mind the Showroom Stock class the Mantas and Asconas ran in was an unmodified class that put them up against other 4-bangers, Rabbits, Arrows, Pintos etc. In Europe they ran them, heavily tuned, in rallies. They were very successful. The GT was also rallied.
As an aside, the GT found quite a bit of popularity among US drag racers. You often see them with Big-Block V8 drag motors. (and custom tubular frames, humongous drag slicks, etc)
Q. Do Opels have steel or fiberglass bodies?
A. They are true mass-production vehicles. They are all steel. (although some factory race models may have fiberglass bonnets, boot lids, flares, etc). The GT's body has multiple compound curves and can be very frightening to many of today's less-talented body shop types.
Unfortunately you just missed it TimeforChange, the Opel Club picnic was in Van Nuys just a couple weeks ago. You could have seen a bunch up close.
PC.
OP
TimeforChange
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seems like i'm just missing a lot of events. Thanks for answering my questions. Honestly, when I look at the Opel, at the least the GT, I wouldn't want one of those.
What cars do you think is out that there, that's looks good, but isn't regularly seen on the roads? One that's reasonable too
What cars do you think is out that there, that's looks good, but isn't regularly seen on the roads? One that's reasonable too
I believe there is BIG investment potential in the Opel Mantas, and especially in the Opel GT. These were darn good cars, being fun to drive AND reliable. My brother had a 1973 Opel Manta with a 1900cc engine, and a 4spd transmission. It was one heck of a nice car. I remember the nice interior, and how fun it was to drive. Only problem could be finding parts. Opel also had a model called the Kadette. It was kind of a fun car in a quirky way. You'd have to check with Buick dealers for parts...to see if they still carry any. Buick sold both the German Opel...(the good one), and the lousy Japanese Opel. I applaud anyone who has the courage to restore such fine cars.
[ QUOTE ]
Opel GT looks like a "mini-Corvette" and looks like fun to rebuild as a show car... but investment for dollars?... Nah! I like weird cars... Opel GT, Honda 600 Coupe, Nash Metro., Lancia Scorpion, Avanti, etc. Just get one for your own fun.
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20 years ago people were saying just to drive TR6's for fun, and that they would never amount to much. Hmmmmm.....I still think that Opels might be collector cars. They weren't imported here for too long, at least the Manta and the GT...so it could happen.
Opel GT looks like a "mini-Corvette" and looks like fun to rebuild as a show car... but investment for dollars?... Nah! I like weird cars... Opel GT, Honda 600 Coupe, Nash Metro., Lancia Scorpion, Avanti, etc. Just get one for your own fun.
[/ QUOTE ]
20 years ago people were saying just to drive TR6's for fun, and that they would never amount to much. Hmmmmm.....I still think that Opels might be collector cars. They weren't imported here for too long, at least the Manta and the GT...so it could happen.
Opel GT: Looks of a Corvette, mechanicals of a Chevette. Personally, not a fan, but they are nice looking (if you fit).
There IS a huge fan base... 4600 members over at the Opel GT forums... and they're very active. You can bet Classic Motorsports will end up with an Opel GT somewhere on their "Vote for your Favorite Classic" final tally.
Which reminds me... if you haven't voted, head over to their web site and do so!
There IS a huge fan base... 4600 members over at the Opel GT forums... and they're very active. You can bet Classic Motorsports will end up with an Opel GT somewhere on their "Vote for your Favorite Classic" final tally.
Which reminds me... if you haven't voted, head over to their web site and do so!
PC
Obi Wan
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[ QUOTE ]
Opel GT: Looks of a Corvette, mechanicals of a Chevette...
[/ QUOTE ]
A little clarification:
The Opel GT came before the Corvette. So technically the Corvette has the looks of an Opel GT.
The Opel GT is based on an Opel Kadett platform, which was in production long before the Chevette. The Chevette is derived from a later generation kadett, the one GM created when they decided to cut costs and manufacture a common internationally sourced platform to replace the (increasingly expensive) all-German designs.
PC.
Opel GT: Looks of a Corvette, mechanicals of a Chevette...
[/ QUOTE ]
A little clarification:
The Opel GT came before the Corvette. So technically the Corvette has the looks of an Opel GT.
The Opel GT is based on an Opel Kadett platform, which was in production long before the Chevette. The Chevette is derived from a later generation kadett, the one GM created when they decided to cut costs and manufacture a common internationally sourced platform to replace the (increasingly expensive) all-German designs.
PC.
I doubt it. Lots of folks were designing coupes 'round that time, especially with looming Federal legislation that could have banned convertibles (sounds funny now, but automakers were pretty concerned in the late 60s-early 70s). On most cars where both were available, coupes outsold convertibles by a wide margin, so it was pretty much a no-brainer.
And the Opel GT didn't exactly have stimulating performance. Certainly not compared to the GT6, or the Datsun 240z (another 1969 debut).
And the Opel GT didn't exactly have stimulating performance. Certainly not compared to the GT6, or the Datsun 240z (another 1969 debut).
PC
Obi Wan
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The GT went on sale for '68 as did the "shark" Corvettes. Produced by the same GM styling group the smaller sibling had been around for a few years as a research vehicle.
Opel had built a new test track in the early sixties (62?) that was meant for speeds of 140mph or so but didn't have a vehicle that fast. The design team was playing with very low Cd (drag coefficient) body styles so they pulled bits and pieces from the Kadett parts bin and came up with the GT. They spent a lot or time playing with various engineering experiments and even held a number of world speed records for diesel powered cars.
Since the mechanicals were off-the-shelf and much of the engineering was already done they figured out that they could actually produce them in large enough numbers and sell them for a reasonable cost so they did.
Triumph brought out the GT6 for '66 so the GT certainly was sold into at the same market niche. Whether the GT6 influenced Opel to put the GT into production is anybody's guess.
What killed the GT and for that matter all Opels for the US was the strength of the German economy. The German Mark was too strong to sell any of their cars at prices Americans were willing to pay. Japan's post-war industrial boom was hitting its stride but their costs hadn't caught up with their output capabilities. Datsun was able to sell the higher tech, higher performance 240Z for less than the GT. GM had to switch to selling Japanese (Isuzus) and world-sourced (Chevette) small car platforms.
Opel was caught in no-man's land for sports cars. They couldn't compete in the low priced arena due the strength of the Deutschmark. They couldn't go "up market" because GM wasn't interested in going after Porsche back home or competing with its own Vettes and Camaros in the US.
PC.
Opel had built a new test track in the early sixties (62?) that was meant for speeds of 140mph or so but didn't have a vehicle that fast. The design team was playing with very low Cd (drag coefficient) body styles so they pulled bits and pieces from the Kadett parts bin and came up with the GT. They spent a lot or time playing with various engineering experiments and even held a number of world speed records for diesel powered cars.
Since the mechanicals were off-the-shelf and much of the engineering was already done they figured out that they could actually produce them in large enough numbers and sell them for a reasonable cost so they did.
Triumph brought out the GT6 for '66 so the GT certainly was sold into at the same market niche. Whether the GT6 influenced Opel to put the GT into production is anybody's guess.
What killed the GT and for that matter all Opels for the US was the strength of the German economy. The German Mark was too strong to sell any of their cars at prices Americans were willing to pay. Japan's post-war industrial boom was hitting its stride but their costs hadn't caught up with their output capabilities. Datsun was able to sell the higher tech, higher performance 240Z for less than the GT. GM had to switch to selling Japanese (Isuzus) and world-sourced (Chevette) small car platforms.
Opel was caught in no-man's land for sports cars. They couldn't compete in the low priced arena due the strength of the Deutschmark. They couldn't go "up market" because GM wasn't interested in going after Porsche back home or competing with its own Vettes and Camaros in the US.
PC.
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GTs aren't completely lackluster when it comes to preformance. I did some minor work to mine and it was a very quick car with a good top end and decent handling. I'd say for the money you get very decent preformance. Comparing one mechanically to a Chevette just isn't fair, I could relieve myself in a bag and have something superior to a Chevette.
Bah... The Opel GT was under-tired, under-engineered, under-sprung and underpowered. It's one saving grace was that it was attractive. Sure, with a little work you can have something, but it's a silk purse from a sow's ear. Albeit a nice-looking sow's ear.
In a way, it's a lot like a Karmann Ghia... the looks are just skin deep. Underneath, the KG is a Beetle for folks who don't like the way Beetles look.
(note: I LIKE Karmann Ghias)
Underneath that swoopy body, the Opel shares an embarrassing amount with the Chevette. Maybe unfair, but it's true. You can look it up.
That said, if someone dropped a solid Opel GT in my yard, would I take it? You bet. Then I'd start figuring out how to make something out of it.
To be fair, my beloved B shares an awful lot with the throroughly unloved Morris Marina, among other lackluster cars.
In a way, it's a lot like a Karmann Ghia... the looks are just skin deep. Underneath, the KG is a Beetle for folks who don't like the way Beetles look.
(note: I LIKE Karmann Ghias)
Underneath that swoopy body, the Opel shares an embarrassing amount with the Chevette. Maybe unfair, but it's true. You can look it up.
That said, if someone dropped a solid Opel GT in my yard, would I take it? You bet. Then I'd start figuring out how to make something out of it.
To be fair, my beloved B shares an awful lot with the throroughly unloved Morris Marina, among other lackluster cars.
PC
Obi Wan
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Here's a picture of one of those "under-tired, under-engineered, under-sprung and underpowered" Opel GTs leading a pack of 911 Porsches (with two more cylinders and half a liter more displacement) at the Nurburgring during the '72 European touring car championship. The GT not only won its class that day but also beat half the Porsches in the overall classification.
PC.
PC.
Fine... don't believe me, and don't look it up, either. Just because a race-prepped Opel GT had a good day once doesn't have much bearing on the cars as sold in the showroom, just as the fact that an MGB once set fastest lap time at Sebring (against all sorts of MUCH more serious machinery) mean the B is a fast car.
You can look up the specs on the Opel GT. You can find out all about the shared heritage with the Chevette. You can look over the suspension design and read the stats. It's just not particularly impressive. Fact is, most of the British cars we enjoy so much would handily show their taillights to an Opel GT on a straight or twisty road.
But hey. Enjoy what you like. It's a big world, and we can disagree. I don't want this to turn into some kind of spittin' contest with all the closet Opel GT fans.
And they ARE pretty little cars. Sometimes that's enough.
You can look up the specs on the Opel GT. You can find out all about the shared heritage with the Chevette. You can look over the suspension design and read the stats. It's just not particularly impressive. Fact is, most of the British cars we enjoy so much would handily show their taillights to an Opel GT on a straight or twisty road.
But hey. Enjoy what you like. It's a big world, and we can disagree. I don't want this to turn into some kind of spittin' contest with all the closet Opel GT fans.
And they ARE pretty little cars. Sometimes that's enough.