Found an old Opel GT... thinking about buying.

[Kelvin]

I found an old Opel GT for sale... I'm really really really tempted to buy it, but I'd appreciate some fellow gearhead advice.

Stats:

1972 Opel GT, 43,600 miles or so, Kansas car, absolutely ZERO rust, paint is oxidized, but decent, really needs to be polished and waxed, great interior, slight ding in front valence, otherwise the body is perfect. All in all the car is totally complete. It starts a little rough, but once warm runs and drives fine. The guy drove it from Kansas on a 3 state road trip last year.

Bad: It's an automatic. 3spd. The horn doesn't work, not sure if it's the button or the horn. The headlights don't work, they need a new wiring kit (common problem on old GTs), also has no power brakes at the moment... I think a vacuum line running to the booster needs to be redone.

The guy is asking $3200, but I talked him down to $2900 yesterday, when I test drove it. I'm pretty sure I could get it even lower, really. Speaking of which, it's quite fun to drive. Not exactly fast with only 80 some horsepower, but it's very small, and fun in the corners. It's just such an incredibly clean, cool little car! I checked on prices for parts, and they aren't too bad either. Rotors are about $27 each... and a lot of the parts are regular GM parts, ie, the alternator, and other things.

So... anybody have any real experience with one of these? Or knew a friend that had one? Any advice would be appreciated!

(I'll post pics in a few)

[Guyver280z]

Originally Posted by Kelvin

I found an old Opel GT for sale... I'm really really really tempted to buy it, but I'd appreciate some fellow gearhead advice.

Stats:

1972 Opel GT, 43,600 miles or so, Kansas car, absolutely ZERO rust, paint is oxidized, but decent, really needs to be polished and waxed, great interior, slight ding in front valence, otherwise the body is perfect. All in all the car is totally complete. It starts a little rough, but once warm runs and drives fine. The guy drove it from Kansas on a 3 state road trip last year.

Bad: It's an automatic. 3spd. The horn doesn't work, not sure if it's the button or the horn. The headlights don't work, they need a new wiring kit (common problem on old GTs), also has no power brakes at the moment... I think a vacuum line running to the booster needs to be redone.

The guy is asking $3200, but I talked him down to $2900 yesterday, when I test drove it. I'm pretty sure I could get it even lower, really. Speaking of which, it's quite fun to drive. Not exactly fast with only 80 some horsepower, but it's very small, and fun in the corners. It's just such an incredibly clean, cool little car! I checked on prices for parts, and they aren't too bad either. Rotors are about $27 each... and a lot of the parts are regular GM parts, ie, the alternator, and other things.

So... anybody have any real experience with one of these? Or knew a friend that had one? Any advice would be appreciated!

(I'll post pics in a few)

Great car indeed. Its built just like a scale corvette, and it can also use a V8 under the hood. A friend of mine had a twin turbo LS1 on his.... too bad he totaled it on the freeway.

Go for it. Great car

[Kelvin]

PICS!








1.9 liter cam in head! Yay!


freaking auto. That will have to go.

[michael]

Awesome find and if that is original rust free paint it is well worth it. I had a stick so I can't vouch for the auto. The headlights didn't work either along with the horn, I had to run a seperate button. It's biggest problem was the rust and it had a lot if it starts to rust on you get it fixed and fast! Working on it was a joy, I had to swap the motor before I took it home and it only took a weekend. The engine started up after sitting for 10 years. I wish you a lot of luck if you get it, they have a special place in my heart.

[Kelvin]

Well, from what I've read, the biggest problem with these cars is rust. And this car has none. :|

So.... I think I want to get it. It'll be my summer ride.

[RSVX]

I guess that will go well with the scooter you got a few years ago!

[Ron Mummert]

The last "New" car I ever bought was a '72 Opel 1900 coupe, also called the Manta. The GT was tempting, but it's illegal to put a baby in the trunk area I hear, so the coupe won out. It was a 4 speed, so I can't comment on the auto-box. I put 120,000 miles on the thing over 4 years, then let the wife have it to run errands, & kids all over the place for several more years. I had no major problems with the 1900cc engine (same as the GT), except I had an aftermarket A/C unit installed, & I think it put a strain on the little mill, so it suffered minor oil leaks from the valve cover occasionally. The car had no rust problems ever.

The purchase? I'd say go for it! They're rarer than SVXes in Kansas.

Good luck, Ron.

[Kelvin]

Argh. I didn't get it. The wife veto'd my power to buy it. Damn. What a cool car though. I'm going to get one eventually. With more power.