Feb 16, 2021  •  For Sale  •  42 Comments

Oddball Find: 1978 Buick/Opel

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Most of us remember that German-made Opel cars were sold by Buick dealerships. It may not be widely known that due to a variety of factors, General Motors rebadged an Isuzu to take over that role if that makes any sense at all. This 1978 Buick/Opel by Isuzu can be found here on eBay in Spring Hill, Florida and there is an unmet opening bid price of $500 that hasn’t been clicked on yet.

Even more unusual than the car itself are the photos. There are basically only two exterior photos so you’ll have to use your imagination as to the condition but it does look good – solid and without any dings or dents or visible rust from the two photos shown. By 1976, the Opel had become too expensive to import and sell in Buick dealerships as a low-priced model so GM imported the Isuzu Gemini and combined the whole mix into the Buick/Opel by Isuzu. That’s a simplified version, of course. We saw a two-door version about three years ago here on Barn Finds.

I’m not sure what the seller was trying to convey with the photo shown above but it’s one of the only other semi-exterior photos. It appears as if both the wiring and left rear side marker light housing have been painted, is that factory paint? Who knows. The seller doesn’t give really any description at all but they say “Pulled out will need to be gone thru.  All there, minimal rust. Great little cute time piece.”

I’m bummed to see an automatic transmission but this car was sold in a Buick dealership after all. Even though Buick was trying to lure younger folks into their showrooms, I’d bet that a lot of what they sold had automatic transmissions, even Opels and Isuzus. There were no models of this car – the name itself was long enough – but they did offer two-door and four-door versions. The interior does look pretty good for apparently being stored for an unknown period of time. The seats look perfect and it’s hard to beat a fun plaid pattern for a car of this era.

I shouldn’t complain about the photos when they have provided an engine photo, too often we don’t get to see under the hood. In this case, we see Isuzu’s G190Z, a 1.8L inline-four that had around 80 horsepower. This car has been sitting for years but I’d guess that any serious fan could have it running again in a weekend or less. Have any of you heard of the Buick/Opel by Isuzu?

Comments

  1. Jcs
    Feb 16, 2021 at 1:36pm

    Put her back in the garage, she’s not done yet.

    Like 9
  2. DRV
    Feb 16, 2021 at 1:47pm

    And that beautiful new Buick wagon is an Opel.

    Like 1
  3. Skorzeny
    Feb 16, 2021 at 1:51pm

    My heart sank when I saw the automatic. I doubt there is ANY future for this car, kinda sad, they aren’t unattractive. Interesting to see where the fuel filler is, I didn’t know that about these cars. Maybe find a wrecked Miata with a manual and transplant that.

    Like 5
  4. Derek
    Feb 16, 2021 at 1:59pm

    I can’t decide whether it’s based on an Ascona or a Kadett, but am leaning towards the former…

    Shame about the slush-o-matic.

    Like 0
    • local_sheriff
      Feb 16, 2021 at 2:39pm

      The Ascona is a tad ‘larger’ being considered as an appropriately sized family car in Europe – this one’s based on the Kadett C. It’s built on GM’s T-platform and variations were manufactured in Europe, South Korea, Australia and South America. Available on the Argentinian market as late as ’95 as GMC Chevette

      https://gomotors.net/GMC/GMC-Chevette/photos.html?pic=14

      Like 10
      • Tony Carter
        Feb 17, 2021 at 8:53pm

        In Australia these were sold as a Holden Gemini, popular little car and prices are now going through the roof since GM closed down. My daughter had one as her first car at age 16.

        Like 2
    • Blyndgesser
      Feb 16, 2021 at 2:54pm

      It’s a Kadett, from the same “T-car” platform that gave us the Chevette.

      Like 8
      • Derek
        Feb 16, 2021 at 4:35pm

        It was the larger engine that was a.skewing my viewpoint! Ta.

        Like 0
      • Rick
        Feb 17, 2021 at 8:57pm

        The Opel Isuzu is a whole different animal from the Kadett, in chassis, powertrain, suspension, electrical system, the whole nine yards.

        Like 0
    • nlpnt
      Feb 16, 2021 at 7:18pm

      Windshield should be interchangeable with a Chevette. Front doors and windows as well, but there may be hardware interchangeability issues (Holden used European bodies and Japanese everything else to make their wagon model, the window cranks were in different places and there was interference with the dash.

      Like 0
    • Arvid Grimstvedt
      Feb 17, 2021 at 12:59pm

      Based on Kadett

      Like 0
    • Rick
      Feb 17, 2021 at 1:18pm

      The car is a rebadged Isuzu Gemini from Japan. It has nothing in common with any true Opel from Germany.

      Like 6
      • Chris In Australia
        Feb 18, 2021 at 3:21am

        Yes they do. My Holden Gemini van had many Opel stamped parts in it.

        Like 3
    • Kevin
      Feb 19, 2021 at 2:44am

      Actually based on the Australian holden Gemini….. GM is Holden parent company….

      Like 0
  5. Jim
    Feb 16, 2021 at 2:09pm

    Looks very chevettish.

    Like 2
  6. sir_mike
    Feb 16, 2021 at 4:32pm

    Opel’s were fine cars until the brains rebadged an Isuzu

    Like 3
  7. Steve S
    Feb 16, 2021 at 5:47pm

    Also known as the Isuzu I-Mark.

    Like 3
    • Bob C.
      Feb 17, 2021 at 10:44am

      The later I Marks became Chevy Spectrums.

      Like 0
    • Howard Kerr
      Feb 17, 2021 at 4:34pm

      Folks put V6s and V8s in the very related Chevy Chevette, why not buy this and put a Buick V6 in it?

      Like 0
  8. till
    Feb 16, 2021 at 11:34pm

    Send ist to Germany and you will geht 3000 Nicks. Or even more with a clear title. Greetings from Bavaria

    Like 6
  9. Francis
    Feb 17, 2021 at 1:24am

    This is a good car. In Japan and Asian region the name is “Izusu Gemini” good Powerful motor and very stable rear suspension. Good runner and reliable car. Later version had Diesel engine with Turbo and inter-cooler, with automatic Transmission that can even out ran gasoline engine of the same size

    Like 2
  10. Howard A Howard AMember
    Feb 17, 2021 at 4:11am

    I swear, you hang around this site long enough, every oddball that was ever created, will show up, and behind that , is usually Scotty. I think he’d have great luck with a site “Just Oddballs”,,,no wait, too vague, and would attract FB nutjobs, I know, “Scottys Oddball Classic Cars”, or “S.O.C.C”.Where to begin,,, I was a big German Opel fan, had several, good cars, then this abomination came along. A Jap car with the Opel name, being sold through our hallowed Buick dealers, good heavens, that was worse than the German ones. It fell on even deafer(?) ears. In all fairness, the Isuzu Opel was another good car, far superior to anything we had seen in small cars, but had a snowballs chance in Hades, and Americans didn’t give it a chance, even though, it eventually is where small cars went. Naturally, the biggest concern was rust. The front shock towers rusted, deeming the car undriveable. Fact is, these don’t look none too safe either. 2 bids, up to, $530 bucks,,,now we’re talkin’ my kind of bidding,,

    Like 0
  11. scott
    Feb 17, 2021 at 8:52am

    bought one brand new in 76 from a dealer in San Diego..red 2 door ..had american racing rims as an upgrade and am/fm stereo…

    Like 0
  12. gary f kirk
    Feb 17, 2021 at 9:42am

    these are a gemini in australia very reliable also came with diesel engine the went forever

    Like 1
  13. Steve Clinton
    Feb 17, 2021 at 9:50am

    $660, with 4 days left. Not much interest in it. Imagine that.

    Like 0
  14. genemak1
    Feb 17, 2021 at 10:12am

    My Dad bought one of these new. A GM-T world car via Isuzu Gemini from Japan. His was the same except his was silver with all vinyl black seats and Michelin XZX tires. It was a handsome car. It rode fairly firm, had rack and pinion steering which was unassisted and gave a lot of road feel responsiveness. This was a fun car to throw into the twisty corners on a country road. He owned it in the northeast and the problem in that environment on these was rust. It already started rusting within 3 years, especially in the lower front fender, rockers, and lower door areas. The head gasket went around 70k miles and he had it re-done. Also the clearcoat on the silver paint lasted about 5 years after the clearcoat began to flake away, especially on the roof. Yes it was based on the GM-T world car (Opel Kadett- Germany, Chevrolet Chevette USA & Brazil, Isuzu Gemini-Japan) etc.) This one looks like it has and aftermarket A/C system mounted under the dashboard. This one also appears to have lived in FL forever, since according to the photos provided it is relatively rust free. Good luck to all who are bidding. It’ll make a fun and unusual car.

    Like 0
  15. Major Thom
    Feb 17, 2021 at 10:38am

    Remember the Opel by Isuzu advertising campaign where the Opel was to be reviewed in a five-car unbiased subcompact shootout for which Buick promised to publish the results…no matter what the outcome. The Opel placed…second, behind the VW Rabbit. There is an article about it on this month’s Hemmings.com

    Like 1
  16. RodOpel
    Feb 17, 2021 at 11:51am

    I bought a complete 79 model of this car for parts last year for $230, its an auto as well I was hoping it had a 5 spd as I want to swap one into mine, I have a 77 coupe 4 spd, I personally like them , as they are different and my first car was a 78 4 door Kadett Special in gold, this is the closest I can get to it unless I import a Kadett C from Europe. I had never knew these existed until I found mine, the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same cars

    Like 8
  17. Christopher Gentry
    Feb 17, 2021 at 1:17pm

    Yeah. I had a GEO/Chevy Spectrum. With out question worse car I ever owned. No idea how related it was to this. I kinda like this. But as soon as some said I Mark / spectrum I thought oh no

    Like 0
  18. Maestro1
    Feb 17, 2021 at 1:19pm

    I had an Isuzu, which is the same car essentially, that I bought in a package because I wanted the Packard it came with. It, too, had an automatic so the 0-60 times were about three months. But it was a good little car for City traffic.
    I sold it when we moved.

    Like 1
  19. Rod Panhard
    Feb 17, 2021 at 2:01pm

    My family had one. It was a 2-door with a 4-speed and no a/c. I don’t remember what brand of tires were on it, but they were terrible in the rain and the car would easily spin out. The brake pads are tiny, an area that’s about the same as a large postage stamp. It was reliable and as reasonably comfortable as any Japanese econobox from the late 1970s. I just don’t think Buick salesmen knew how to sell an import, and only Buick loyalists were likely to see these when trading every two or three years.

    Like 0
  20. FrankY
    Feb 17, 2021 at 2:10pm

    Where is Joe Isuzu when you need him.

    Like 0
  21. Car Nut Tacoma
    Feb 17, 2021 at 4:15pm

    Nice looking car. I’ve heard of the Buick/Opel car. I was too young at the time to drive when this car was on the market, but I remember cars like this. :)

    Like 0
  22. Bill C.
    Feb 17, 2021 at 5:54pm

    I was with my parents when they were buying a new 82 Civic. The dealership also sold Isuzus, and there was an i-Mark on the floor. All I remember is it was burgundy, with plaid seats, a stick shift, and I think a diesel. It was pretty optioned up for the time, alloy wheels, luggage rack, sunroof, extra trim, etc.

    Like 0
  23. Chris In Australia
    Feb 18, 2021 at 3:23am

    There’s at least one of these in Australia, the owner gets quite a few looks at Gemini shows & clubs

    Like 2
  24. ramblergarage
    Feb 18, 2021 at 7:36am

    The German Opels were great cars. My sister had a 67 wagon that she drove from PA to MO to college making lots of trips and it just kept going and going. Not sure this thing is up to those standards.

    Like 1
  25. Ward William
    Feb 18, 2021 at 8:31am

    These were marketed in Australia back around 1976 as the Holden Gemini and they were a decent little runabout although we got the sweet hatchback version that actually had decent lines. They are in fact just a variation of the Chevette if I am not mistaken.

    Like 1
  26. MitchRossMember
    Feb 18, 2021 at 6:13pm

    Wow, so much incorrect information. This car is an Opel Kadett, Not the Kadett that was sold in the US until 1970 but the one sold in Europe. It was also assembled in Japan by GM subsidiary Isuzu, it was also assembled in Korea as a Deawoo and in many South American countries as a Chevrolet Chevette, It is a T car and shares it’s platform with the North American Chevette and Acadian as well as the Vauxhall Chevette, it was the first World Car.

    Like 1
  27. BhoweMember
    Feb 18, 2021 at 8:49pm

    You can definitely see the chevette dna in the shape of the windshield and A pillars

    Like 0
    • MitchRossMember
      Feb 19, 2021 at 3:34pm

      Actually, this came out before the Chevette. The front clips are interchangeable

      Like 1
  28. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor
    Mar 11, 2021 at 6:52am

    Auction update: this one sold for $1,375.

    Like 1
  29. Jerome Gillum
    Feb 7, 2022 at 5:51am

    My first car was a 78 Buick Opel coupe. Loved that car. It was really reliable and made many a trip from ATL to VA Beach when I would come home during my college breaks. Would love to find a running coupe.

    Like 1

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