Opel GT

[Bulldog9]

With my never ending 'wandering eye' open for all things wheeled, I came across a great deal on a 69 Opel GT.....  I Really wanted one of these when I was a kid. Any Opel Fans with advice?

[Guzzidad]

   Those were so cool. Haven't seen one for years.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Had one when I was 16. My brother had at least two. 1.1 liter engine or 1.9?

[moto-uno]

  I have to one up you here , I've just bought a 1986 Renault Alliance , blown head gasket and warped head , so there 
  You did way better than me  . Peter

[JJ]

A buddy of mine had one in high school...yellow, just like this.  It was a cool car and the girls loved it!

[kballowe]

Ah.  Cool car.  My aunt had an Opel something or another, waaaay back in the late 60's or early 70's.  We all thought it was cool as [****]

My advice is to post up some pictures.

 

[s1120]

Vary cool, and good looking cars. Looks like a sports car, but old Chevettes pass you by.  They were pretty slow even for their day. But real cool, and something you just dont see any more.

[twowheeladdict]

With my never ending 'wandering eye' open for all things wheeled, I came across a great deal on a 69 Opel GT.....  I Really wanted one of these when I was a kid. Any Opel Fans with advice?

That was a dream car when I was young.  There are many YouTube videos on them.  Congratulations. 

[mechanicsavant]

Wow , Opel GT huh . I distinctly remember them . Any motor work aside from maintenance usually requires engine removal . Oh , it comes out the bottom ! One customer got one quite reasonably, “it only needed a front crank seal “. Suprise, How much for labor !!! The retractable headlights were also an issue @ times .
In comparison the Renault is far easier to service, once ya know the “tricks “ . If its an A series motor (pushrod OHV) ya gotta “shear the head gasket “. This involves leaving the center head bolt slightly more than finger tight & after removing all other fasteners shearing the head sideways. If ya try lifting the head straight off you will probably loosen a cylinder liner . Very Very bad ! If ite an OHC motor no such issues , it’s a mono block , not wet sleeve
Cylinder protrusion on wet sleeve motors is crucial ! Also bleeding the system should be done regularly as the radiator is below the cyl. Head . Any air will pocket in the head & cause overheating & Cyl head issues . Compared to the the Le Car (same engine) or 18 I the big motor , the alliance was a big step forward . But truthfully neither was designed for the “American driver”. What I’m supposed to check things ???

[egschade]

Very cool little car. I'd check parts availability for typical maintenance items plus all rubber bits which are sure to be perished.

[sdcr]

Resembles the C3 Corvette in three quarter scale...

[rocker59]

A little bit of work, and they can really be something...

[rocker59]

Resembles the C3 Corvette in three quarter scale...

Actually, the C3 Corvette and the Opel GT resemble the 1965 Pontiac XP-883 "Banshee" show car...

[Joliet Jim]

Had an Opel Manta Rally, Yellow and Flat Black hood. Loved that car until I destroyed it in the back end of a 60s Delta 88. Totalled the car, my neck, right eye, and forehead and didn't even break the tail light on that Olds.

[larrys]

A little bit of work, and they can really be something...

That engine looks like the Buick aluminum block V-8 that was sold to Rover and became their 3.5L.
Larry

[blackcat]

Wow , Opel GT huh . I distinctly remember them . Any motor work aside from maintenance usually requires engine removal . Oh , it comes out the bottom ! One customer got one quite reasonably, “it only needed a front crank seal “. Suprise, How much for labor !!! The retractable headlights were also an issue @ times .
In comparison the Renault is far easier to service, once ya know the “tricks “ . If its an A series motor (pushrod OHV) ya gotta “shear the head gasket “. This involves leaving the center head bolt slightly more than finger tight & after removing all other fasteners shearing the head sideways. If ya try lifting the head straight off you will probably loosen a cylinder liner . Very Very bad ! If ite an OHC motor no such issues , it’s a mono block , not wet sleeve
Cylinder protrusion on wet sleeve motors is crucial ! Also bleeding the system should be done regularly as the radiator is below the cyl. Head . Any air will pocket in the head & cause overheating & Cyl head issues . Compared to the the Le Car (same engine) or 18 I the big motor , the alliance was a big step forward . But truthfully neither was designed for the “American driver”. What I’m supposed to check things ???

I unfortunately purchased a new 84 Renault Encore which was the Fastback version of the Alliance. Worst piece of crap I’ve ever owned, the starter motor went after the first week of ownership and it was downhill from there. Turning on the AC was essentially an auxiliary brake as it was too much of a demand on the underpowered engine. I eventually sold the car for pocket change just to get rid of the thing.

[kingoffleece]

My buddy in high school had one.  Cool car..........when it ran, which was not often.  But cool nonetheless!

[AJ Huff]

Roommate in college from Canada had one. He called it his Baby Vette. Rigged the headlights up to be able to wink. I thought it was a cool car but I think a money pit. He seemed to imply that working on it here in the states was a set back to to parts availability.

-AJ

[LowRyter]

I used to know a fellow in Ohio that was in a national club that kept these cars going.  So there are some fanatics, like Guzzi enthusiasts.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone in Germany regarding the status or popularity of these cars.  Perhaps it was primary a US export market vehicle rather than a domestic?   Undeniably it's one of the best styled little sports coupes of the era, as good looking as Lotus or Z Car.   Given that everything can be restomodded, certainly performance can be added $$$.

[alanp]

Resembles the C3 Corvette in three quarter scale...

Looks a lot better than the Corvette to me

[Cdn850T5NT]

  I have to one up you here , I've just bought a 1986 Renault Alliance , blown head gasket and warped head , so there 
  You did way better than me  . Peter

Peter, do you have a line on a new head? Not sure if it's an ohc or DOHC, but line bore for cam bearings...

[s1120]

I used to know a fellow in Ohio that was in a national club that kept these cars going.  So there are some fanatics, like Guzzi enthusiasts.

It would be interesting to hear from anyone in Germany regarding the status or popularity of these cars.  Perhaps it was primary a US export market vehicle rather than a domestic?   Undeniably it's one of the best styled little sports coupes of the era, as good looking as Lotus or Z Car.   Given that everything can be restomodded, certainly performance can be added $$$.

A guy on Youtube [DD Speedshop) is swapping a 2.3L Turbo ford SVO/turbo coupe engine into one. Should be a wild ride with that mill in it after.

[LowRyter]

A guy on Youtube [DD Speedshop) is swapping a 2.3L Turbo ford SVO/turbo coupe engine into one. Should be a wild ride with that mill in it after.

sure would like to have a TR-4 modded like that. 

[John Ulrich]

I loved those.  Had the poster on the wall for a few years, but ended up with the real Vette. C3’s have been in my life for 4 decades.

[sidecarnutz]

I remember one a friend had. I loved looking at it. Gorgeous.
But the linkages that operated the headlamps to flip them open were terribly worn and would jam up.
I wound getting a '74 Saab Sonnet III instead.

[Bulldog9]

I remember one a friend had. I loved looking at it. Gorgeous.
But the linkages that operated the headlamps to flip them open were terribly worn and would jam up.
I wound getting a '74 Saab Sonnet III instead.

Sadly, my work buddy (who is still in the Middle East) didn't tell his brother (who is keeping the car for him) fast enough. When I called yesterday, I discovered his brother sold it over the weekend........... Oh well, back on the hunt!  I'd LOVE a Saab Sonnett, or Volvo P1800 for the nostalgia.  I also have a lead on a 1964 Lotus Elan, but that is a basket case, I would just tow it away, clean it up, do a full examination and flip to a Lotus enthusiast. I've little interest in a Lotus.

Of Course now I have the Opel GT bug, so the hunt continues with another potential option. I'd much prefer something I can work on, enjoy and have as a reliable open top car into retirement. Really kicking myself for not grabbing a mid year 91 Targa or 914 5-6 years ago They are ridiculous right now......

[Cdn850T5NT]

Sadly, my work buddy (who is still in the Middle East) didn't tell his brother (who is keeping the car for him) fast enough. When I called yesterday, I discovered his brother sold it over the weekend........... Oh well, back on the hunt!  I'd LOVE a Saab Sonnett, or Volvo P1800 for the nostalgia.  I also have a lead on a 1964 Lotus Elan, but that is a basket case, I would just tow it away, clean it up, do a full examination and flip to a Lotus enthusiast. I've little interest in a Lotus.

Of Course now I have the Opel GT bug, so the hunt continues with another potential option. I'd much prefer something I can work on, enjoy and have as a reliable open top car into retirement. Really kicking myself for not grabbing a mid year 91 Targa or 914 5-6 years ago They are ridiculous right now......

But you've got a lovely 912, 1976, no? 🙂

[Bulldog9]

But you've got a lovely 912, 1976, no? 🙂

YES........... But can one really ever have enough?

Retirement looms (for real I will Age out of the Army in 2025) and projects await! I pulled the 912 basically out of the woods, and did a 5-6 year restore. Did all the work myself with the exception of the final blocking and paint and having the heads sent out for restoration and modernization. Looking forward to the next project.

[LowRyter]

Sadly, my work buddy (who is still in the Middle East) didn't tell his brother (who is keeping the car for him) fast enough. When I called yesterday, I discovered his brother sold it over the weekend........... Oh well, back on the hunt!  I'd LOVE a Saab Sonnett, or Volvo P1800 for the nostalgia.  I also have a lead on a 1964 Lotus Elan, but that is a basket case, I would just tow it away, clean it up, do a full examination and flip to a Lotus enthusiast. I've little interest in a Lotus.

Of Course now I have the Opel GT bug, so the hunt continues with another potential option. I'd much prefer something I can work on, enjoy and have as a reliable open top car into retirement. Really kicking myself for not grabbing a mid year 91 Targa or 914 5-6 years ago They are ridiculous right now......

better act fast

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-volvo-1800s-7/

[sdcr]

better act fast

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-volvo-1800s-7/

At the current bid, it’s a reasonable lay priced project. But you better have some skills, as this one needs a lot.