Baby Corvette Is Actually The FATHER: Opel Kept The Corvette's Secret | Barn Find Hunter - Ep. 123

[@tngdwn8350]

My father had a disassembled one from a scrapyard lying around for a long time and restored it a couple of years ago. Very nice and interesting car and he had fun restoring it. He still owns it and drives it in the summer months.

[@frankresciniti2762]

In 1973 I bought a brand new OpelGt and raced it in SCCA showroom stock class that year. I was 19. I won 11 out of 13 races that year. Anyone who says the were not fast just didn’t know how to drive it. Spent a lot of time cornering on two wheels! All I did to the car was put a roll hope in it! What a great car. Could and did beat Triumph GT6 & Spitfire’s, Porsche 914’s, MGB’s and of course other Opel Gt’s. What a great car! I need to get in touch with that guy and get another one!

[@N1RKW]

Back in the early 80s I had a school teacher that drove an Opel GT. She knew I was into cars, so one day she took me outside and allowed me to look it over top to bottom. I've always admired them since then, though I have seldom seen any others around. Very cool little cars.

[@simbanugz2906]

awesome im 42 never seen one in person. Cool teacher

[@fastinradfordable]

Allowed to look top to bottom huh Did she ever get arrested?

[@brentfellers9632]

Loved em as a kid...old man now

[@carltonbalfe]

I had a teacher in Commerce City, Colorado that had one in 1995 she bought new in 1970 still like new. I had a 73 was my 1st car.

[@alelectric2767]

@@fastinradfordable LOL! Was thinking the same thing.

[@schwibbs1286]

So cool to see Opels featured more and more. I love my 74 Opel Manta Rallye!

[@davidshields220]

I had the lime green with black hood that I occasionally got some grief over. It ran great until it died at 80K. I wish I could find another. Oh, the Opel color schemes seem to be returning over the last few years.

[@incognitotorpedo42]

I had a 73 Manta Rallye. Great car. I put 175,000 miles on it. Had it until 1990.

[@Ray56z]

@@incognitotorpedo42 I had the '73 Manta Rally GT and the '73 GT at the same time in the mid '70s. Drive trains were identical except the Manta had split headers. Manta ran better, rode better, handled better. If I still had it today I wouldn't be displeased in the slightest.

[@bigchevs1]

I just pulled 2 1974 opel manta's from a farmer's field near my farm in NC. My intension is to restore them. Both are unique and in good shape!

[@p.d.nickthielen6600]

They have a very good balance and handle really well for a mid 70s car

[@winteroutside7014]

@@greatestevar because ted nugent had intensities in ten cities

[@bigchevs1]

@@greatestevar Its a short car so I am trying to stretch it out...

[@GoinManta]

PM me if you need help or parts.. I have a few parts left.

[@l3v4rt]

best of luck with restoration man! Hope my content help you with manta bodywork :)

[@nw8000]

I am from England and most of these cars were around in my childhood, I am very surprised there is a following for these gems in the good old US of A thank you Guys

[@donquixote3927]

Often thought I’d like to import a V6 Aussie Marina. I had no idea Morris Minors were ever raced in America.

[@feedingravens]

Well, over there some cars are totally exotic, would be rarer than a Ferrari. My Opel (your Vauxhall) Calibra was afaik never sold in the US. And it still looks good, even young turks are looking here in Germany.

[@williamholcombe31]

56 years old I have only seen one opel GT in person when it was 15 years in VA Beach Va. in one of my neighbors garage. Awesome little car . his was 100 all original and very low miles. Thanks

[@benncojr]

It is good to see that the Opel GT is still loved. I had and restored 2 when I was younger. They were a great car and the 1.9 eng was very reliable. The issue with the car was they always had some type of trouble with the electrical and that was because they were getting older and the wires were wearing out and shorting out.

[@keithbogus989]

I felt your pain, with mine after 2,000 miles the condenser would burn out, I always carried two spares with me and could change it out in a matter of minutes. But oh my what a rust bucket.

[@sonofagun1037]

tell me about it, I had one and with every electrical fix I did another one showed up. The car had a battery drain, I fixed that, the car stopped turning off, I fixed that, the car stopped charging the battery, I fixed that, and then the blinker stopped working. I do miss my Opel though. It may have been a basket case but man it was the neatest basket out there.

[@flipnotrab]

Age had nothing to do with their electric. All kinds of terrible craftsmanship in the harness. But it made them cheap to snag from people tired of throwing money in them. We turned over 5 of them in the early 90’s. Water pumps too.

[@davidashton2361]

I bought a new one from a dealership in Germany. I had it for 6 years and the only thing that went wrong with it was the battery went flat after about 4 years and I had to buy a new one. I though that was a bit strange after only 4 years and then 6 years later the clutch went. Not completely since I could still get it to move but there was a lot of slip. Not long after that I sold it cheap, slipping clutch and all. Wish I hadn't but I didn't have the money to get it fixed at the time For all I know it may have only needed a bit of adjustment.

[@ifga16]

When I was a senior in high school, there was a Buick dealer a few blocks from the school. Every time I had free time, I'd walk down and sit in the 1970 in the bright yellow GT in the showroom. This was my bucket wish car. It still is but I did get a 1973 Manta Rally. It lasted twelve years and 144K miles before I got new car fever after a cylinder started losing compression. I still miss the thing. My Manta was peppy and handled very well. Taking me from St Louis to Columbia MO during college and from Pensacola, Florida to Bremerton, WA. Plus many other voyages during my Navy career.

[@Vampirebear13]

Another brilliant episode Tom !!! I've said it before & I'll say it again... When I lived in East TN in the late 80's, there were older guys who'd have barns FULL of cars. It was a regular, everyday thing to drive thru the countryside & you'd see a modest house, with a guy's truck in the driveway & his wife's 4 door sedan in the garage but slightly off in the distance, there'd always be a barn or garage & if you knew who to ask, you could go back & the guy would show you his collection. East TN, North Carolina, North Georgia & most of Alabama is car hunting heaven.

[@Jangocat]

I remember seeing those on the road when I was a kid. I always liked the style of those cars, it was a beautiful body style in it's day. Nothing looked that futuristic in that era.

[@evanswinford7165]

I had an Austin Marina 4 door, a '73. People say they suck but once I got all the long ignored problems sorted out it was a decent driver. One thing I never could fix was the non functioning fan, a bit of a problem when I lived in South Lake Tahoe. Good to see a few people preserving this rare car. When I owned mine I never saw another in traffic, a few parked but none on the road.

[@hmsjr0154]

My dad use to service the opel’s back in the late 60’ to early 80’s when he was a service tech at a Buick dealership in Maryland. When the dealership was sold. All the old opel spares was given to my dad. We spent a long weekend cleaning out the opel parts room. Which at the time had 2 of the opel racing engines still in the crates with an FOB from Germany stamped all over it. If we only kept those parts to this day!

[@1dkdank]

Always a good day when Barn Find Hunter is on!!

[@williamegler8771]

I LOVE Opel's! My father and grandfather were both engineers at Opel for their entire careers. My mother's family owns several dealerships. I own a model of each year from 1958 to 1975. My more modern vehicles have been rebadged Opel's including a Cadillac Catera and a couple of Saturn Astras. My daily drivers are a Buick Casada and a TourX

[@feedingravens]

My cars: Opel Ascona B (shares many small parts with the Opel GT) (my first car with 18, my parents wanted to avoid I buy a motorcycle) Audi 100 GL 5E (used up my father's car til the valve seals gave way) Opel Vectra hatchback Opel Astra H Opel Calibra from 1994 (the era of the Vectra), a V6 DOHC 24V with 170 hp. My after-midlife-crisis car. So I somehow unintentionally became a real Opel maniac.

[@troynov1965]

My best friend back in the 80s had a 73 Opel Manta. We even repainted it ( I worked at the local auto body shop) . Its was s good little car and I always like the style of it. We cruised around all over the place in that Manta.

[@darrylbarger3795]

My Opel story is as a sophomore at the University of MD in 1973 I had a 62 MGA Roadster my Dad and I restored and a MGB GT that I was restoring so I needed a driver for the cold rainy days till the BGT was on the road. I purchased a 68 I think Opel Kadett Wagon. I drove the wheels off that little wagon. I got very good at replacing the clutch which didn't appreciate my driving style. I belonged to the MG Car Club and even autocrossed the wagon a few times. I drove it flat out all the time. Great little car. I always admired and desired an Opel GT.

[@meatloafseagal5713]

In the mid 90s on summer break from high school. I went to help out a friend clear out his grandfather's sprawling estate. Among the pristine Deuce Coupes, Unimogs and bitchin camaros.. .. we spotted several guitar cases in the rafters, covered in bat and pigeon poo. Two of those cases held Stradivarius Violins. Well over 100k at the time. These videos remind me of that week. Thanks for the memories

[@johnwynne2179]

Remember as a kid in 72-73 going on a road trip, first dream car, in France towards Dijon, Citroen DS, amazing, get to Switzerland, Opel GT's everywhere, wow, they where stunning, hopefully they get back on the road

[@tedschmaltz4346]

I had many friends over the years (I'm 64) that have had these - even helped a friend rebuild his 1.9 waaaay back in the day. I've always loved the styling of these cars.

[@feedingravens]

With the build quality of Opel at that time, time for a rebuild was at 10 years or so. Had an Ascona B back then, the rust just ate it up all around.

[@shonbratton1906]

Grew up in 70’s, we had 3 opel’s . To this day I love all working man’s cars. Not so much the exotic’s, my favorite is 75 or so Manta. These GT’s where commonly seen, mostly running. Cool story of Marshal Co. Tn.

[@danacri2667]

I owned a 1968 Opel GT and loved it. Would love to own another if I could find one in restored condition. Would pay up for one

[@campwalosi4256]

To answer your question "who bought the Opel GT new?" That would be me. My dad was having his Buick serviced, saw a picture of one and was put on a waiting list. It came...blue, 1.1, with a four speed. I learned how to shift gears on the way home. I was a happy 17 year old until the 240Z came soon after. Twice the car for the same money. I rest my case...

[@winteroutside7014]

meh i waited for the Porsche version, the 944 to come out

[@astonike8383]

@@winteroutside7014 liar

[@rickfromthecape3135]

@@astonike8383 Sometimes I hate the internet....

[@hasseslaggmek3573]

I for one totally get that (see my other comment) even though i only had a lesser 4-cylinder version of the L-series engine in my Datsun. Definitely on another level than the Opel in many ways, the Datsun/Nissan OHC engine had its roots in Mercedes´s first mass production SOHC engine (i think that debuted in 1958) which was licensed first to the Gloria motor company and when Nissan bought them they kept the engine and started their own development which proved to be a very easy-reving machine, but that´s well known to anyone that has been toying with them 🙂. The Opel not really that easily, but it can be done. Btw, i recall back in the 80s someone using forged Mahle pistons made for the Opel engine to extend the bore of the Datsun/Nissan engine and make them tougher (wish i´d known that tip the time i had a piston crack...) but can´t say which ones, i think there was some minor machining needed to make them fit the connecting rods.

[@Derf1313]

Lol, had a buddy with a manta when I was in college, out for an afternoon cruise, he shouts "in flight repairs", which is how I learned to drive from the passenger seat, while he pulled a birds nest of wires from under the dash & did repairs! Such great memories. Thanx !

[@zzygyy]

My Father drove a 1970 Opel GT Daily from 1970-2003. He loved that car.

[@landroversforever]

Wish these videos were longer every single time! Just love all the background stories to each car.

[@sammolloy1]

The Bugeye and MK II Sprites had as you say half springs. Some called them “quarter eliptics”. They were stiffer than the later, full leaf spring suspension. A problem had developed when the mounts rusted and the rear axle went wonky.

[@mindovermotor]

I met Harold today at the parts store. Super nice guy that really helped me out with a sticky situation. Man, what an awesome collection! I could snoop around that place for months! 😜👍 Hopefully our paths will cross again. 😀

[@YTjndallas]

I had a 1972 Opel GT from about 1986-1992. It was bright Orange that leaned to the red side just a bit.

[@jamesmisener3006]

Good one Tom. Haven't seen an Opel in years but I know where 30 are now. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@penboyasgod6103]

So, are you going to buy one ... or two ... or ... ?

[@richarddonley8288]

Where. I want one.

[@richardsolano5453]

In college I had a ‘73 Opel 1900 with a Weber. I loved that car. It was a blast to drive. Not fast but fun! One time, my aftermarket fog lights shorted out and melted down wires like he described. Afterwards, I couldn’t get it started until I disconnected the small wire from the coil. Turns out, the tach was shorting the ignition.

[@tygiovanni5314]

I dove a 72 Kadet, in the late 80's in Austria, great little commuter.

[@martinbones681]

I had a 73 Opel GT. Absolutely loved driving it!

[@ronjones1077]

I sat in a GT in the Buick show room in Seattle in 1969. I then did the same with the 240Z and remember wanting the Opel just due to the styling. Up her in Anchorage Alaska many years ago a guy put a GT body on a Stingray chassis with a small block and raced it in the local Fur Rondy in down town Anchorage. The body was so tiny it looked like a 4x4 sitting up on it.

[@davidsobel3303]

I was always intrigued with these and the Saab Sonnet, both of which you never see on the road anymore..

[@lindaorr1028]

My first car was a 1964 Opel Cadet station wagon. 2 door seated 4 with a back space and hatch back. 4 on the floor, Robin's egg blue. I'd take my friends to the drive in when it was raining. I'd back into the space, lift the hatch and we'd lay down real comfy and watch the movie without having to use windshield wipers. Drove that little car all over new England.

[@robertcinsc2171]

Spring of 68, i went car shopping with my dad. I was in 1st grade. I saw a yellow 68 Opel GT and asked if we could buy it. My dad reminded me that we had 6 in our family. We went home with the new 70 Chevy Townsman wagon. I never forgot the Opel GT.

[@aftonline]

That "Austin" Marina intrigues me. These were made by British Motors Corporation, or British Leyland Motors Corporation as it later became, who owned Austin, Morris, Triumph, Jaguar, Rover, etc for a short period of time during the 60's and 70's, but the Marina was always a Morris Marina everywhere else other than America. It had the same torsion bar suspension as that Morris Minor, and was intended to be a more conventional competitor to the likes of the Ford Cortina and Vauxhall Victor of the time in the UK, whereas the Austin/Morris 1800 (ADO 17) had the more advanced hydrolastic suspension and transverse engine front wheel drive like the Mini, but the Marina was just a straightforward front engine rear wheel drive layout. I had a Morris 1100 (ADO16) as my first car in NZ, we got all the British cars as a former colony of mother England, which worked out well until the Japanese started making better, cheaper cars and ended up copying the Mini's revolutionary front wheel drive design and improving on it, and the rest, as we know, is history.

[@GeorgesMiniatureCars]

I love the Opel GT, a mini Corvette that won't get you in trouble with the law like the Vette could!! I have a KZbin friend, Youngtimer Oldtimer in Germany that loves Opels too. So I get to see all the best original surviving Opels in his car show videos. Opels are very popular in Australia and South America too! Awesome to see an American collector with an appreciation for these cars in various states of repair!!!!

[@bmwloco]

Girl I knew in High School had an Opal GT. Always liked 'em. I was in a '71 Fiat Spyder at the time. 5 speed, 4 wheel discs and double overhead cam engine!

[@bartbullock9742]

I owned a 70 open GT, I put about 150,000 mi on it, I sold it to some people from Belgium, they shipped it back , completely refurbished it and sold it as used, new.. at a new car dealership. Folks when I tell you that little car handled well, it is an understatement, pinpoint steering, very forgiving on the edge in a corner, the motor... Absolutely bulletproof!!!!!

[@BlueSkyScholar]

Had a 2 door 74 1900 for a couple of years in HS. It's only redeeming quality is it was durable. My aunt bought it new but it had been thoroughly ran through the wringer by her sister, 2 brothers, father and my brother by the time it made it to me in 1990.

[@windronner1]

I was literally knocked out the very first time I saw the GT as a kid. And later, I made friends with a guy who put together a 175-225hp version that he said was a monster. Terrific video

[@briansmith8967]

I had a '69 Strato Blue GT, but after about 25 years or so it was impossible to find parts. Even my friends from Germany said that the only parts available were from the car clubs. Had to finally give mine up after 37 years. Was the most fun car I ever had.

[@Chongo_657]

suprised to see a Marina in there. Hats off to you dude!

[@jimyed]

Loved those cars when I saw them as kid growing up in the 70's . I didn't realize they were so under powered. They look so fast.

[@fixedguitar47]

The Solex carb and a few other issues. The 1.9 could never breath properly. Lot of people cut out the hood dome cause of issues.

[@dr.michaelbagbydcbacktohea855]

I had a 70 with the 1900 and a 4 speed and it was pretty quick. I later had a 71 and 73 Manta with the same drive train and they were quicker than they looked. I had plenty of room in them too, and I'm over 6' tall (well I was then).

[@forcedanonymity1791]

Those Opels with a transverse mounted 600 whp turbo’d Honda K20 (05 Acura RSX Type S) or K24 (CR-V)) swap and LSA 6speed swap would be a BLAST.

[@MasterThimself]

For the 1900s (Ascona they were called Here) im with you on that. Northern Europe is strong on this... But for the GT... Man those things are very cramped under the Hood. Honda k series maybe... But to put a LS in there. I don't think its possible

[@barryolsen3902]

I saw my first Opel GT in 89 and loved them ever since. I ended buying a 69 about 7 years ago and now have it totally ripped apart with the body on a rotisserie. Its been fun learning about it along the way, and yes the rotating head lights are the coolest ever!

[@sgtsempersquid531]

I had a 1971 Kadette for awhile and loved it. I called it the Breadbox because of its shape. I had it before I was old enough for a drivers license so it didn't get driven too much. Always wanted a GT but couldn't find one in good condition.

[@protestagain]

That blue Opel 1900 is called Ascona in Europe. A mid-sized car and came as a rear driven in A and B. The C was front driven. The "sports-car" of the A and B was called Manta. The collectible is the rally version, called Ascona 400 made on the B plattform. Back in 1980, I drove one Ascona A with a 1,6 liter engine, trimmed to 160 hp. It wasn't slow. It was a road legal rally car. One of my best car memories. That car would drive circles around American cars back in those days.

[@RusteeUte]

Fun fact for you Tom. Here in Australia, the Marina was badged as a Morris. Not exactly loved and rare to see one even at an All British Day car show.

[@kimt6333]

Morris and Austin merged in '52, so I think it depended on the market what brand they were labelled as.

[@bennetfox]

Back in the early '80s my Dad had a body shop and we had one of these cars come through. I don't remember much about it other than it was red, but the headlights were the part that I remember most!

[@jeffrippe6559]

I bought a brand new Buick/Opel in 1976. It had a 1900cc Isuzu engine. It was a blast to drive.

[@rjs2005]

My neighbor back when I was a kid in Panama City FL drove home a brand-new '70 Opel GT- white with black interior. I was awestruck by the styling, and he frequently took me for rides in that "Baby Vette" as he called it. He also had a '67 Cougar XR7 with a 390, white with black interior again. I've owned a Cougar, never a GT. Always wanted one to swap in a Miata drivetrain.

[@eskimogioia9848]

I was just thinking as I was watching this that swapping in a Miata drive train and engine would be a fun project and make a fun car to drive. Wish I had the money and time to do stuff like that.

[@rjs2005]

@@tts8361 easier no question- but what's the availability of those engines, especially in Southeastern NC? I can find NA or NB Miata drivetrains fairly easily, or even GM Ecotec drivetrains that may be more difficult to adapt, but cheaper/easier to obtain.

[@17713bb]

When the GT was very new, my father was a Buick dealer. He put me on a bus trip to drive a GT four hours back from a distribution point. So, at sixteen I am off on a quick adventure. I was promptly stopped by the police because they were curious and had never seen an Opel GT before. Heck, it was probably the first one that I had ever seen.

[@dieselpwr782]

Just love that Morris, that was my first car, was stolen several years ago and I never recovered it. Hope to find another some day.

[@six-pack1332]

Someone stole a Morris Minor?

[@georgegonzalez2476]

A friend of mine around 1971, his father bought him an Opel GT. Really cool-looking car, but barely a 2-seater inside. I often ended up riding horizontal on the package shelf. The car was often in the Buick dealer's shop. It went through belts, clutch cables, clutches and tires. The wiper fuse would blow if there was even a trace of snow or ice on the windshield. Parts had to come from Germany so it often was sitting at the dealership for a month or two. They lent him a powder-blue Ford LTD-II which was even slower than the Opel GT, even with a 351 V8. One summer they lent him a Cougar which had a bit more power but by the time it was time to return it, the red paint had faded to rose, it was burning a quart of oil every gas fillup, the upholstery was falling apart, and the steering was goosey-loosey. The dealership was a bit dismayed. It probably got flipped to the auction and fetched no more than $75. The Cougar, that is. The GT was so low, one time he went out to the car in a parking lot and somebody had apparently backed up a big Detroit car right up the hood all the way to the windshield. A muffler clamp from the Detroit iron peeled the hood right back. They seemed like good times.

[@boblabastida5171]

The C3 1968 Corvette was designed after the 1965 Mako Shark Corvette show car. So, I beg to differ that the 1968 Opel GT is the father in the design of the C3. Corvette. My opinion is that the Opel GT and C3 Corvette cars were both inspired by the 65 Mako Shark.

[@dennisdose5697]

Pretty sure both cars were designed by Tony Lapine while he was at gm.

[@ncdave4]

Love, love, love the Opel section.. always loved the Opel GT drove a 1960 Opel Rekord wagon (my moms).. then, while stationed in Germany in the 70s drove a late 60s Rekord sedan before I bought a VW Bug... ahh memories

[@Ben-Rogue]

Those Opels are beautiful!

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

I grew up in Germany in the late '60s/early '70s near Munich & my uncle Rudy bought a new red one in '71 & I thought it was the coolest little car! Happy that this guy is a collector of them since I havent seen one here in the States in at least 35 yrs & luckily I'm just down the road from him in Georgia GO DAWGS - WOOF ✌💖☮

[@marchenning5037]

I've been chasing the same GT for 23 years now. Saw it in the summer of 99 standing with a broken clutch. It hasn't moved since 98. 3 times a year I go visit the owner and he says not yet. Owned 14 Opels so far from a 71 manta all the way through to a 2006 Opel Corsa. All shapes and sizes mainly Kadetts and Monzas. For some reason after 2006 they seem to have lost the plot and well all the new ones are just generic looking cars. All the motors were tough as nails I had one that I did the head on 3 times but it ran to 600 000 kms before it started puffing a little smoke.

[@Xusia01]

There's a drivable Opel GT in my neighborhood. I haven't talked to the owner, but I admire it every time I drive by!

[@MegaEdge777]

I made friends with a 16y/o kid who drove an Opel GT in the 10th grade at my high school in 86'. I had to ride in the coolest car on campus! That Opel was fun, but we spent alot of time doing repairs.

[@adubbelde1]

I picked up a high mileage Opel Kadett in 78. I worked it like it was a big truck. made a hitch that sandwiched the floor pan as well as the bumper mounts and pulled a trailer with it. Used it while building my house. After that I drove it to work for a few years, ultimately selling it to a co-worker who drove it for a few more years. I froze the motor on New Years Eve of 68 and picked up a 1.9 out of a junkyard. It ran well but used oil. Overall, I loved that car

[@bigbri4090]

That's a sweet 66 Coronet. My first car that I purchased back in 1989 was the exact twin, same color. However, I don't recall having AC lol.

[@jsmythib]

Love that station wagon. You dont see those at all anymore. My dad drove one in the early 80's.

[@majobis]

My first car in the early '80's of my high school years was a 1975 Opel Manta yellow in color with the automatic and A/C. Very similar to the one at 10:00 mark in the video (except it was a 2 door model). It had a dent in the RR quarter which I popped most of it out with a bottle jack so I could replace the tail light with another one from a junk lot. I replaced the carb with a Webber that had manual choke on it. Repainted the rally wheels myself. Drove my drunk friends around in it and about 8 bucks to fill the tank at that time. Great car and wish I still had it. My dad originally bought the Opel Kadett until the engine locked up. We also had a 1976 Opel orange in color made by Izuzu, and my grandmother loved to ride in that car when me or my mother picked her up in it. Although one year I saw a silver Opel Manta in a junk lot and it had the fuel injected engine in it and should have bought it. Like I said I still wish I had my Opel again

[@RoyCousins]

The Morris Marina (here badged as Austin for export to the US) was the replacement for the Morris Minor. Original convertible Minors are now fairly rare.

[@jamesbondero6170]

I remember walking to school in the early 70's past the Buick dealer and stopping to look at the Opels!

[@deadprivacy]

To see marina in a collection and so rare is really kinda funny. Used to be everywhere In the UK...

[@isaacsrandomvideos667]

love the lights on these

[@randymack2222]

The Pontiac solstice/Saturn sky, had another sibling not available in the US market! Sold under the Opel GT name.

[@bozodog428]

My brother in law bought one for my sister back in 74. She drove it once and called it a slug! She went out and bought herself a new Pontiac Firebird with the 350 and A/C. He wound up driving it for a few years and then sold it.

[@rkohnke1]

I had a 1970 Opel GT that I bought in 1984. If I still had it, I probably would have several of them on hand as well. I remember that some of the parts were impossible to find. I do miss it though.

[@z31online]

Hah! Those are my Z cars. I finally have those in my shop now. Thanks David for storing them!

[@maxheadroom224]

Bravo

[@davidboudreau4054]

My Dad had an Opel GT, he bought it new in 1970 I think. It had a manual transmission and was painted in the bright orange color. It had no back seats but we were small kids so we sat back there anyways. We also had a 1967 Jaguar 420 Saloon. He had the Opel for many years and eventually traded it in on a Toyota Corolla. I do have the 67 Jag though. I fully restored it about 15 years ago. It also was our daily driver for many years.

[@janfswedane]

The Blue 4-door is an Opel Ascona A-model. They are pretty rare in Europe too since they rotted out within 2-3 years. In Europe some GT's are retrofitted with Rotary engines or High Output Japanese 4 cyl engines.

[@gainerman]

Had one of those in high school, the interior was nice on those .the cable operated headlights were a crowd pleaser. The oil pressure fed timing chain tensioner took mine out

[@JCWren]

I had a 1975 Opel Ascona with the 1.9L fuel injection. It was a fun little German econobox, and you could slam it through the gears. Actually bought a 2nd one that I was going to use as a SCCA car, but ended turning it into a daily drive for a friend of mine. There was a guy named Harold in Conyers, GA that worked for Buick in the Opel division. He was a wealth of information.

[@JCWren]

One thing about the GTs is they were REALLY bad about rusting out under the A frame. It trapped moisture really bad, and if you find a GT, odds are the front end is shot.

[@micharrison529]

A Morris Marina in the US!! Never realised they were exported over there.. can't imagine anyone wanting one!

[@trickstothetrades1801]

My best friend had a yellow GT when we were in school and i loved riding around in it. It was such a unique car and I always keep my eye open for one but never see one so this was awesome to see. Thank you

[@davidturk6170]

Had a 1971 Manta. Bought it from one of my college roommates. It was a great running car.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

The Opel GT is a great looking little car. I'd love to have one in any condition

[@scratchbuiltreplicas824]

I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THESE SHOWS. THE ONLY PROBLEM I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IS THAT THESE ARE NOT LONG ENOUGH. LOL

[@charles1964]

I had a '72 GT in 1980 and he's right about it being tight under the hood. The 1900 vapor locked constantly, along with it burning points and other electrical gremlins. Later on I had a '74 Manta Rallye 1900 that was more reliable and actually handled better than the GT. I was never impressed with the mono spring front end set-up, but nowadays I bet you could sort all that out

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

Our puppy friends stole the show

[@heinerda4768]

I am always suprised, when this fine old cars are stored outside without any protection. So, sun and rain destroyed they more and more. Why not use a simple cover to protect them??? The Opel Kadett and Ascona station wagons are very, very raw cars in Germany and it is hard to see, when they rust away 😖.

[@MisterLumpkin]

I always get a chuckle when somone's "collection" is rotting out in a field.

[@ronhood7773]

I've owned 4 Opal's. 3gt's and a 2dr Cadette. My brother had a Kadett GT with a factory under dash gauge pod and 2 carbs. Always loved the brand. Wish I could afford another GT!!!

[@MojoWrangler]

One of my cousins in W VA was into Opel GT back in the 70's 80's and even that early on having one or two running required quite a few parts cars. He had a beautiful white one and five other mostly complete parts cars. He ended up dying in a crash in the car in the mid to late 80's. One of the parts cars was a red Opel that I was absolutely infatuated with. Unfortunately, his parents would not sell the car on the grounds that they didn't want to see one of them "kill someone else" (never mind my cousin's responsibility in the crash). We would go up there every few years back when grandma was alive, and I would get to see them slowly deteriorate away from neglect. Somewhere in a yard in Elkins, W VA there are still the husks of these cars laying in the weeds to rot. I cannot imagine much being left by now.

[@rehhaus5857]

My first car was a 74 Opel Manta Rallye, did the carb swap to the Weber. Really fun car to drive. Miss it.

[@dougupah8778]

I drove a 74 Opel Manta while in college, that was in the late 80's, early 90's, pretty reliable but not much on looks. I think I paid about $400 for it but it got me through collage.

[@schwibbs1286]

I have a 74 Manta Rallye. White w/ red interior. Got it back on the road and have put about 20,000 miles on it in the last few years. Very very fun car

[@rehhaus5857]

@@schwibbs1286 Sounds great. My Manta was also the White exterior, Black hood with black pin stripes, and the Red Interior. 👍

[@kevinsellsit5584]

Just out of high school I was in a California "all makes car club". I was the tuner for all the import cars with dual points multi carbs etc ... My neighbor bought an Opel GT and joined the club. I did everything in my power to get that 1900 to make power. Pick any of the 1/2 dozen 1600cc 510's pull one plug wire and it would smoke that GT. My German Ford would beat new IROC Camero's so he basically had a car we all loved to look at but wouldn't get out of its own way. What this guy should do is K-swap one of his GT's, put a 6-speed sequential behind it, and spend the rest of his life enjoying a naturally aspirated 260 HP air-conditioned GT with new car reliability. I know that put a smile on his face, I hope he realizes how do-able it is and that it could EASILY be funded by selling off a few trinkets he has lying around. I'd even do it for him if he would let me build two of them. Yeah, I would want one!

[@oldmanwillyboy2786]

My Brother-in-Law's father had the only Right-Hand drive Opel GT in the UK, he ordered it from the Opel Factory in Stuttgart(I think?) and he specified it come with the 3.0ltr Engine that was being developed for the Opel Monza. It cost more to buy, in '71 than an E-Type........

[@craigluhr7243]

I had a 72 Opel GT in college. It was a fun reliable car. But, slow as molasses.

[@308253427]

Ha har…. Molasses!

[@martinbones681]

I put a Holley QJ carb on mine and it improved the performance immensely. Downside was having to tweak the jets every 3 weeks...

[@Bbutler787]

Thanks for the content. I own a 70 GT and a 69 Kadett Caravan and show them both here in Kansas. Both cars draw a lot of attention at the car shows and it’s fun talking to people about their memories of owning one or having friends that owned one. I think they have risen in value over the past couple of years and it’s getting tougher to find deals for these cars. Parts are readily available from suppliers on the West Coast and Germany but the prices are also going up. If you really want one, be prepared to deal with “rust” everywhere.

[@haroldcollins2074]

Hello Bruce Butler! I wish my cars looked as good as yours do.

[@bobbycuesroadhouse2204]

My buddy had a yellow one with a small block Chevy in four-speed Saginaw about 15 years ago we put a shifter in it, Rocket ship with a narrow 9 inch

[@morrisminor4252]

And it’s crazy seeing a a Morris marina in America and at least this one hasn’t a piano dropped on it like top gear

[@jekutube9]

know a person that has quite a few Opel GTs stashed on his property (former mechanic), for a couple of decades; he say's he plans to fix them one day! he's 70 +yrs old, so I'm beginning to doubt it. My brother dumped his 74 Opel Manta 4 speed on me when he joined the military(lime Green, I painted the hood flat black). Car almost did me in when the break line broke, while driving it to college (commuted). But I used the parking break to drive it home - and my friend hopped in, because he hated taking the bus that much -lol. we all survived - even the car. Traded it for a 1973 VW bus.

[@dennisdose5697]

IIRC the GT and the C3 were both designed by Anatoly Lapine (also did the 928). I had a 72 Manta, my brother had a 74 Manta with a sunroof and dad then got a 73 Manta. Later I had a 75 sport wagon. The front sheet metal was badly rumpled. I found a 74 Manta parts car the same orange color and realized the door skins and windshield were the same and thought the fenders, nose and hood would bolt right on. They did, and I ended up with possibly the only Manta sport wagon in the world! It looked totally factory until you opened the hood and saw the sizable gap between the grill and the frame of the wagon. Surprised there were no Mantas on his place as I think they were more popular than the sedans and wagons (Ascona in Europe). The Manta was a pretty little coupe with good lines and proportions. Minnesota winters were not kind to those cars but I really enjoyed owning them. Hmm, did a bit of looking, Lapine was involved with both Corvette and the Opel GT but probably not as head designer, maybe more a connecting ligament. 🤔

[@dainsmart6237]

I don't know what they called the marina but in my country it was called Morris marina and they where rust boxes on wheals the engine was an A series but you have added twin SU carbs which was of a TRIUMPH or MG CAR, I HAD A 1972 TRIUMPH TOLEDO 1.500 CC and I loved it with all my heart but rust was a constant nightmare no matter what you did .