Sitting Since 1986: 1972 Opel GT
What is it about the Opel GT? Despite not being enormously collectible, when one comes up for sale, it’s hard not to stop and stare at it. The “baby Vette” is certainly an eye-catching car, but it’s never quite risen to the level of being valued like a high-end rarity. Does that mean it’s actually a smart buy in the vintage car market as you won’t have to shell out a ton of cash to own one? I know of a local owner who certainly seems to extract a ton of joy from the driving experience, seeing as he takes it out and hustles around backroads any chance he gets. This one was a barn find that had been sitting since 1986, and curiously, the seller had it repainted Corvette Yellow before diving into the mechanical restoration. Find it here on eBay for $9,500 or best offer.
Now, as part of the respray, he also had any and all rust addressed, as he notes there was a fair amount of rot to repair upon removing it from its long-term hiding spot. The Opel looks sharp with nicely preserved chrome bumpers, clear and crack-free lenses, and seemingly straight body panels with good shut lines. The seller doesn’t confirm where the rust was, just that there was a “fair amount” of it. It’s an interesting project for sure, given rusty Opel GTs don’t typically get treated to a custom respray and rust repair as they’re just not worth that much. Perhaps the seller saw a complete car with a healthy drivetrain and decided it was worth the work.
The interior is decent but it’s hard to tell what’s going on with the floor. In particular, I can’t quite assess what’s happening on the left-hand side where the door makes contact with the lower sill – is that rotted away, or some sort of primer-gray body filler? Or neither? I’ll let the readers decide; all I know is that it looks odd, whatever it is. It could be optical illusions created by the lack of carpeting as well, and at least the interior photos reveal that the dashboard is in good shape and all gauges are accounted for. The seller claims that when fuel is poured down the carb, the engine wakes up and the tachometer even wiggles.
Despite appearing mostly complete and sporting a fresh paint job, the seller acknowledges that the next owner will have to take the reins to address all the usual suspects when a car is left sitting, including the fuel system, cooling system, braking components, exhaust system, electrical work, and more. He also notes that the brake pedal is stuck. The shifter moves through the gears and the all-important headlight buckets still rotate when triggered via the switch, so it’s not all bad news. The seller could also simply be covering his rear end by noting that with any long-stored car, you should expect to go through each major system and determine what the specific needs are. Would you restore this Opel GT to perfection?
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Comments
The headlight buckets aren’t triggered via a switch; they’re mechanical, cable-operated via a big lever on the center console. That’s also why they both rotate the same direction rather than mirror-image, simpler (and lighter) mechanism to operate by cable pull.
Regarding the floors, my Opel Manta rusted through in about the same place on both sides. It was where the jack pads met the floor. I guess it must have held the salt in the crevices. I fixed mine by making a patch panel and welding it in, along with mocking up something of a jack pad from a short piece of tube steel. I would guess the owner of this did something similar.
I agree, what is it about a “Dopel GT” that makes us always seemingly take notice,,,until we see the goofy price they want for one. Clearly trying to snag someone who never heard what a POS they really were. Based on the outdated Kadett, there was nothing swoopy about it underneath. To be clear, they SOMEWHAT resembled a Corvette, but more accurately, the similarity comes in the cost. You could get a 2 year old 427 ‘Vette for the same money. The similarity obviously ended there. Oh, the shortcomings are many, dug up everytime one of these surfaces, Opels were good cars, the GT is one just about every owner would like to forget.
My self-maintained GT went 150k with me. Yes, there were many problems…it was comfortable, got decent mileage and handled very well on the twisties. Gosh, I am so glad I didn’t know a used big block Vette was available for the same kind of chump change. I woulda given it a lot of thought. Not.
Howard,
Sorry, I have to disagree. My GT lasted for 12 years before I sold it with no mechanical issues. I took care of it and it was fun to drive. I have since owned 911’s, XKE’s, Jensen Healey, TR6, Alfa Spider, and a few more. The GT was not as visceral a driving experience but it served 3 of my family well. Each to his or her own.
However, this one is WAY overpriced!
I’m glad you disagree, cars like this always have 2 sides, and it’s good to hear the good, not always bad. I never said they weren’t dependable cars. I’ve had several Opels, and all were good cars. It’s just the GT was riding on it’s previous models underpinnings, and while mechanics were unkillable( if properly maintained that is, that many didn’t do) it had so many poor designs, headlights froze and then yanked and broken by frustrated owner, no 5 speed, no back seat or trunk, and Kadett suspension, lousy heater, I’m sorry, made it a poor car. Now, my daughter had a Saturn SC1, that could very well have been the “updated” Opel GT. It had everything the GT didn’t have.
Opel GTs have always been an eye-catcher. Worked with a kid who had a white one and swore there was a mouse living in it.
He & I worked at an airport valet lot in the mid ’70s when I was about 17. What a terrific job it was, driving all those cars – I might’ve done it for free!
With the underbody rust, and what is hiding under the paint? 2357.00 max
Definitely a lot of Bondo on this looks like that’s how they “fixed “ the rust would be very careful about checking this body and underside with a magnet before buying at 10 large
Seems to have rust in all the typical areas of this car what a fun toy to have
Had one. Restored it and enjoyed it.
EBay listing shows a clear Florida Title, the title is actually a Salvage rebuildable title. Title was only issued this month, something strange here and very over priced
I love the Opel GT. But would not touch this one. If those interior shots reflect the level of craftsmanship that is hiding under that paint, then it is time to start over. Bodywork, paint, mild tune-up, new battery, PB Blaster on the headlight linkage and set of boy racer wheels does not turn a $1200 car into a $9000 car. I couldn’t own it anyway, it would drive me bonkers hear people call it a “mini Vette” or “baby Vette”.
I hate lipstick ona pig but it duz show off the dash’n ext ‘skin’.
“…Would you restore this Opel GT to perfection?…”
no but I’d get it further along…my “comfortable to drive” and all maintenance /safety upto date. Small car like this easier than the “500” above.
The real question is which idiot wasted a coat of yellow paint on all that rust in the rockers. Crappy poorly done paint job. This GT deserves better.
The same guy that put plugs, point, condenser, & wires on it but didn’t bother to clean the carb & run it off of a gas can. It may take awhile, but hopefully he comes to his senses and drops the asking price to $2000 or less. Then it can find a loving home.
I had an uncle who had one of these, he replaced a Triumph Spitfire convertible with this.
I was impressed by the looks of it, but it did not last him too long. But by the time he got it, it was a bondo buggy with a cheap paint job & wobbly floors. I believe the timing belt went on it, it just stopped running one day and that was that.
My uncle was in college at the time, so no money to get it fixed. Off to the junkyard it went!
He had a winter beater ’66 Electra that became his year ’round car for a while.