Parked in 1982: 1970 Opel GT
Opel GTs are a dime a dozen, seemingly, but there are some that pop up with greater potential for rescue than others. This particular car looks quite past the point of saving, but closer inspection reveals an interesting candidate for restoration. Although it has been bounced from barn to barn for the last few decades, rust isn’t as bad as you might expect. Find this 1970 Opel GT – with a custom Impala-inspired rear end – here on eBay with a $3,500 opening bid.
Check out the custom treatment out back. The seller claims a light rear end accident prompted the previous owner to get creative with a set of taillights from an Impala. I’m not sure how I feel about this change, but I guess it beats having the car totaled out by the insurance company (assuming the work was done for cash by a buddy, or some other non-official arrangement.) The car was also repainted at the same time, from Brilliant White to a silver color more commonly seen on a Corvette. There is some rust-through noted on the front right fender.
Here’s where this project really becomes worthy of a closer look to me: the interior is surprisingly sound, with red vinyl buckets and dash pad that look excellent. The carpet is also red, along with the headliner, the latter of which I’m guessing was a custom job. Even the e-brake handle is red, which has to be aftermarket. Overall, this is a the biggest surprise of this car, as the exterior condition would lead one to believe the interior was completely trashed. The seller says the seats aren’t perfect, but they look perfectly usable as-is to me.
Engine-wise, the seller provides almost excruciating detail on how he did the first-time startup procedure correctly and carefully, right down to “…removed the distributor and used a drill to turn the oil pump for some time to get the oil up in the bearings and throughout the engine.” He notes the engine not only turns over but will also fire up with no strange sounds emitting from the crankcase. He’s done the cap / rotor / and wires, but notes the “…water pump, alternator, regulator, brake system, clutch, fuel lines, gas tank cleaning etc.” should all be done.
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Comments
Those Impala tail lights look goofy on this car.
I agree, they do look goofy. I think part of the reason they look odd is they appear slapped onto a flat rear. If they were slightly frenched they would probably look better.
I think they would look better as individual lights ….. Corvette lenses would be too obvious, but perhaps ’65 Biscayne lenses, so there are only 2 not 3 on each side. Or better yet 1st generation Firebird lights, just two horizontal bars.
I agree. The two or three Biscayne/Impala taillights would look great, without much of the unattractive casing. Two or three round taillights per side, tastefully done, would look great. Sometimes less IS more.
Judging from the picture of the car on the trailer and rinsed off, the car is in much better shape than you might guess from the photos here.
Looks more like an auction buy when the keys are zip tied to the column. The over explained prep kinda makes me think he was picking off the better parts than his gt had. Is that mud dauber handy work at the back rocker? Body aside from the tail lights looks pretty good. Not my cup of tea. But it don’t look like it would be a deal to get it road worthy.
Far too rusty to deal with on a car of the Opal’s value when done. I guess it didn’t go in the barn soon enough. The rust will be worse when seen in person.The cars in my barn are rust free, but in California.
If only it wasn’t so expensive there are straight rust free Opel Gt’s in CA for under $1000 that would make a nice car with this one. I will never deal with rust of this magnitude on a cheap car.
I’m not seeing that much rust but then I’m not allowed to do bodywork either. There’s always fiberglass & bondo for a quick fix. A gallon of POR may stanch the rest of the cancer and the nice bits are compelling to make an acceptable driver. But then I’m a sucker for these mini-Vettes. Price is way high, however, and the taillights are grotesque.
How much does a cheap car cover cost?
Crush it but not until the tail lights are removed
Hi Marty, I’m on the Left Coast and they are here at the price you mention. Most of the ones I’ve seen need an engine rebuild and interior, so we’re probably looking at about a $5000.00 project if somebody else does the labor. I am a Senior Collector so others do my labor on my cars I’m sorry to say. Always liked wrenching. No more.
Lights are hideous, but the red interior is fairly rare and only available in 69-70 on white or silver cars.
I remember a heck of a race I had against one of these in SCCA showroom stock class at Seattle International raceway back in ’71 or ’72. I in my ’71 Fiat 124 spider. The Opel got away from me and had about half the front straight on me about mid way through the race. Trying to catch up, I spun off into the grass at the bottom of the hill going into turn 3 I think it was. Pretty sure at that point the cause was lost. The Opel driver may have become complacent with his lead, not sure, but I caught and passed him on the last lap. Great fun
Is the camshaft in the head of this car?? Something just doesn’t look normal.
yes it is