Chevrolet V8 Power! 1972 Opel GT
The GT was a 2-seat sports car built by GM-owned Opel in Germany. With styling that some say was inspired by the C3 Chevy Corvette, the GT was produced between 1968-73 and sold by your neighborhood Buick dealer. This ’72 edition of the little car differs vastly from its build date by having a Chevrolet V8 engine under the hood! A barn find, the seller has gotten the car to run from sitting, but not reliably as yet. He hopes to solve that before you come to pick it up in El Cerrito, California. The car is available here on craigslist and you’ll need to bring $7,500 with you. Thanks for another interesting tip, T.J.!
Most Opel GTs were equipped from the factory with a 1.9-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produced 83 hp by 1972 thanks to some detuning for growing emissions controls. The layout of the automobile was conventional, with the motor up-front with a rear-wheel-drive layout. A transverse leaf-spring set-up in the suspension was something else the car shared with the Corvette. Headlights were of the pop-up variety and manually operated by way of a large lever alongside the center console. Over six years of imports to the U.S., Opel/Buick sold about 103,000 of the little speed demons.
The seller rescued this GT from a barn type of scenario. As the story goes, it was once owned by an expert metal fabricator who had lots of cars. Apparently, he liked to go fast in whatever he drove, so a Chevy V8 engine found its way under the hood of this Opel, although I don’t know how the owner made it fit. The displacement of the motor is not mentioned, but we’re guessing a small block of 350 cubic inches or less.
We’re told the engine is strong and operates as smoothly as you can imagine. However, there is some gremlin preventing it from running consistently that needs ironing out. The GT has an automatic transmission (Turbo-Hydramatic?) and a 9-inch rear end. The car was so fast that the owner wouldn’t let family members get behind the wheel. The body and paint aren’t perfect, but no glaring issues are photographed beyond several small dents, and we don’t know the condition of the interior. I wonder how the car’s handling characteristics changed after the V8 transplant?
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Comments
Not too sure about this one.On one hand,
I like the fact that it doesn’t have a huge air scoop
on the hood,giving it a real “sleeper” look.
On the other hand,this could end up being
another stalled project with a lot of money spent
sorting everything out.
I was also surprised that they got the SBC V-8 to fit under the stock hood. So many big engine into small cars like MGB, Miata, RX7 end up looking foolish with a big hood scoop for carburetor clearance.
To be fair:
The picture of the engine bay does NOT show an air cleaner installed. Might be a problem getting one to fit under the hood.
Looks like fun trying to change a belt
Hello, Rock Auto? I’d like a heavier transverse front leaf for a ’72 Opel GT with a 350. Hello?…..
“Sorry about that chief”.
Definitely belongs in the Sleeper section of modified vehicles! I’d 💚 it purely for that reason!!
Used see one of these in Prospect Ky,the rear end no narrowed,side pipes,looked wrong,but I seen going sideways smoking tires one day,found out was Grand National running gear, loved it after that.
One of the differences in the 1.9 liter 4 that came in these vs the “same” engine in the Manta was that the front of the valve cover was beveled to allow the hood to close. HOW they got that V8 in there and the hood closed is a mystery…I imagine that the back of the engine and the transmission take up a lot of room where your feet need to be. The original engine was more than adequate and, when coupled with the light rear end weight, was enough to get you into trouble, particularly on wet roads. Double the power and the weight on the front wheels and frankly I will stand over……………………………………………………..here……………….when you go to drive it.
I’ll be right behind you.If you turn around & I’m not there-
RUN!,because I already am.
Looks like alot of the fire wall is rebuilt, the distributor is in the middle of the cowl. I almost bought a very well done, as in factory appearing , SBC V8/4 speedTriumph Spitfire back in 84-85. Was traded in at the locale Chevy dealer as a down payment on a new Vette pending financing. The owner was a nuclear physicist? at the locale nuke power plant making $200,000.00 + a year and they are having a hard time getting the financing done. Poor money management I guess. I went back later that week and it was gone, maybe no financing? I really wanted that thing, probably would have killed myself in it. Bought a nice blue 75 Vette instead.
Russ- the Opel GT was designed before the C3 Vette. So, it’s the other way around, the Corvette was inspired by the Opel GT.
JudoJohn: I’ll respectfully disagree with you. The C3 Vette was inspired by the 1966 Fitch Phoenix:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/automotive-histories/forgotten-classic-1966-fitch-phoenix-the-american-porsche-911/
Most of the Opel GTs I knew about had the weak 1.1 liter 4 cylinder, and both sizes had miserable carburetion. Best balanced conversion I saw used the aluminum 215 Buick V-8.
I saw a Opel GT at New England Dragway about 10 years ago with a SBC with a drag chute and wheelie bar on the back. The car went like hell.
The ad is gone now.
Handling just went out the window.
Honestly, who cares about handling when you’ve got a vehicle that will keep up with an F-111 on takeoff?
You’re not going to cool that motor with 2 little hood scoops.
Properly sorted, ( Aluminum heads, intake, water pump) could really helped in the balancing idea. BRAKING could stand a hand up as well!!!!
Yes, a lot of work to make it fit. (I was surprised to see it there) BUT, if you notice the engine’s center line is well aft of where the original engine’s was. SO, handling should not have been very compromised. Also, the beauty of any “cross leaf” spring setup is to just add a leaf or two when needed. I would have selected a Miata or Subaru rear suspension/differential set up. (It will handle over 200 HP.) But,this was probably built/cobbled up long before those items would be available.
I would love to sort this one out to make it a driving, fun vehicle.