OPEL GT : THE BABY CORVETTE

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This Old Car

This Old Car

2 жыл бұрын

Since Opel wasn't equipped to build cars on a small scale (the plan was to build 20,000 a year), the Opel GT's sexy, flowing mono coke body was built by Brissoknow and Lotz in France. Up front, the independent suspension consisted of a set of unequal-length wishbones, a transverse leaf spring and tubular shock absorbers. In back of the OPEL GT, a solid axle was located by trailing arms and a panhard rod, and coupled to coil springs and tubular shocks. Considering all the thought that went into the location of the engine, it's surprising to learn that the Opel GT's weight distribution is nowhere close to ideal. 54 percent of the car's weight is over the front wheels, with only 46 at the rear, resulting in heavy understeer.
Production of the Opel GT began in 1968, and while only a handful of these very early cars were built, they are out there. From the start, the car was powered by either a 1.9-liter inline four-cylinder, or for the truly budget-conscious, a 1.1-liter four. It also bears mentioning the confusion regarding the correct model year for an Opel GT. These cars were sold through Buick dealers in the United States. In those days, Buick's model year ran from September to September, so a car sold in September of 1970 would have been titled as a 1971. Germany's model year ran from January to January, meaning that there was an awful lot of confusion about what parts and equipment were available on which years.
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@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Hey everyone. We want to thank you for supporting our channel. We have an eBay store with a ton of car posters and more! Please check our our store and support our channel. www.ebay.com/str/paylessposters
@jamesstuart3346
@jamesstuart3346 2 жыл бұрын
One of the most beautiful small cars ever made. The rear end is just about perfect
@poppyneese1811
@poppyneese1811 2 жыл бұрын
Absolutely I was a kid and these lil sports cars caught my eye even back then!!!
@winstonelston5743
@winstonelston5743 Ай бұрын
The GT was a beautiful small car. I'll probably never be able to afford an Avanti, but the GT might be attainable.
@bruceh92
@bruceh92 2 жыл бұрын
The GT was sold here in Canada also and as a young kid saw quite a few. The 'baby Vette" got a lot of attention. Thanks for vid boys 👍
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@richthomson6174
@richthomson6174 2 жыл бұрын
I had an orange 1973 Opel GT in high school…one of the funnest cars I’ve ever owned..
@daleswensen1283
@daleswensen1283 2 жыл бұрын
When I was a teenager back in the 70's, the Opel GT was always known as a "Poor Man's Vette" not a " Baby Corvette"
@kharnthebetrayer1575
@kharnthebetrayer1575 2 жыл бұрын
I heard that in the late 80s from my stepdad. But we both loved those little cars !!
@Diyemmanuwel
@Diyemmanuwel Жыл бұрын
Looks Toyota 3000 GT
@georgeharleydavidsonrider156
@georgeharleydavidsonrider156 Жыл бұрын
You’re right, they called it The poor man’s Corvette .
@Theesses162
@Theesses162 Жыл бұрын
I remember it being called the K-mart corvette 😂
@wonkydonkey7899
@wonkydonkey7899 8 ай бұрын
The video calls it “baby” rather than “poor man” to sound better.
@realitywithmj4334
@realitywithmj4334 2 жыл бұрын
i have an Opel since 1971 and it has over 2 million miles. nothing has ever broken and the only thing that i do is change the oil and give it a tune every 10k miles. great car that i will never get rid of.
@pharronrhodes3792
@pharronrhodes3792 2 жыл бұрын
2million miles and never broken? Did it come with a red cape and can leap tall buildings with a single bound?
@glnnchrstphr9717
@glnnchrstphr9717 2 жыл бұрын
Brings back memories! A friend of mine had a 71. He called me one day, that is in 84, and wanted me to go with him to buy a 74 Ontario orange Vette coupe. I got to drive the GT home. It was a about 70 miles each way. When we got back, I pulled the GT into his driveway and got out. I begged him to sell me the car. He would not part with it for 6 months. I finally paid him $500 for it. I was in love. I was 19 years-old at the time. It was flat black with the cool mag wheels, the 1.9 liter and the 4 speed trans, and black interior. I drove that car for 2 plus years before wrapping around a telephone pole. I never had any trouble with it except for the exhaust valve on number 4 cylinder would stick open. It would go about 1500 miles before it would hang up. All I did was change the oil, and that would cure it for another 1500 miles. That car got me laid several times. It lost me my virginity. God I miss that car. After killing that car, I found a 77 280Z. I ended up owning about 10 or 11 Z cars throughout my life after that. All first generation except the last one. A 81 ZX. Black, t-tops, 5-speed. Now I drive a minivan. Such is life.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@deanevangelista6359
@deanevangelista6359 2 жыл бұрын
I bought a used 1973 Opel Manta in 1976 for $800. I kept it for over ten years, until parts became hard to find. It was easy to work on, which was often necessary. Opel made a prototype electric car, using a 72 Manta. Great cars!
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Right on! I had never heard of a Manta! :)
@jeroenvandend
@jeroenvandend 21 күн бұрын
Bought mine 15 years ago '69 beauty. It trully is a lovely car
@Eric4471066
@Eric4471066 2 жыл бұрын
Fun fact about the Opel GT. In the final season of the original Get Smart tv series, the late comic actor, Don Adams drove a 1969 Opel GT as his personal car on that show. That car was beautiful and fast.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Boca Brothers Classic Cars Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@Oonagh72
@Oonagh72 2 жыл бұрын
Such a pretty little car. I only kind of remember them. I might buy a ‘72 Opel GT since I was born in October of ‘72 and the October birthstone is an opal.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
lol....Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@wrigman
@wrigman 2 ай бұрын
I had a 1971 Opel GT. I had it for 14 years. I got rid of the stock Solex carb for a Weber. The stock exhaust was put in the rubbish bin, a header went in its place. This made more power from the 1.9 liter engine. It was a fast ( for its time) little car. Not quick by any means. But it was after mods a dependable car. It was fun to drive, and fun to race against a Lotus Elan. At 63 years old I would like to have another one…..
@patricedonofrio2438
@patricedonofrio2438 Ай бұрын
I'd love to have mine, should have just kept it in storage ...😢
@garethjones2746
@garethjones2746 2 жыл бұрын
This car is absolutely beautiful
@shaunmcinnis566
@shaunmcinnis566 2 жыл бұрын
As a young person, I used to drive by one parked in a neighbours yard for years. I was always intrigued by the gorgeous design.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Oh wow!
@kennydemartini2169
@kennydemartini2169 2 жыл бұрын
I remember as a kid in the mid '70s a guy in town had one that was mini-tubbed, I remember seeing the polished aluminum rear wheel wells. It also had a polished super charger poking through the hood. That car was awesome!
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Cool! Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@selimpullu420
@selimpullu420 2 жыл бұрын
I remember a couple of these beauties from my childhood in 70’s. Thank you for bringing back my memories Boca Brothers.👍👏👏
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@richardadams4928
@richardadams4928 2 жыл бұрын
My Dad almost bought one of these new back around 69, I remember thinking it was VERY cool. He wound up years later buying an Opel Kadett EXACTLY like the first one you showed here, same paint color and scheme. It wasn't the same. Somebody managed to jam a 350 V-8 in one of these?!?! Holy crap.
@briansauer6695
@briansauer6695 2 жыл бұрын
As a kid and teen in the late 70's/early 80's, a father and son drag racing team lived on the street over from us. The father had a small block front engine rail, while his son had a '71 fiberglass Opel GT body on a tube frame that was set up like a funny car with the body lifting. He had a 355 race motor in it with a tunnel ram and it was tubbed out with some good sized slicks. I talked to him once in a while and he told me it would run 7.9's in the quarter! Every Sunday, while eating dinner with my family, they'd tune the cars up after racing Saturday and rev the engines up nicely. My sister and Mom would complain about the "racket" from those cars and say they wished they'd just shut them off, while my Dad and I would rebut this by saying NO!!! It's like the sweet sounds of our favorite songs! That race car is what really turned me on to Opels, but they would have to be tubbed out or at least have decent sized rubber on the back!
@williamegler8771
@williamegler8771 2 жыл бұрын
My aunt had one that she purchased new. Her previous vehicle was a Triumph GT6. The Triumph was a mechanical nightmare that overheated constantly and used so much oil that when she pulled into a gas station she filled the crankcase and checked the fuel level . It was also a freezer in the winter, even with the heater going full blast, and a sauna in the summer . The Opel was far more reliable/durable and with the optional A/C far more comfortable. With routine maintenance by a competent mechanic it easily passed 150k with no major engine or transmission issues. She kept it over twenty five years until it was rear-ended at a stoplight.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
OH WOW! Boca Brothers Classic Cars Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@glennstiller7616
@glennstiller7616 2 жыл бұрын
These were sold at Buick dealers in Canada. My dad bought a 1971 as a Demo and kept it in pristine condition right up until around 2010 when it got t-boned when someone ran a red light. To say he was chocked would be an understatement.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Oh WOW! Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@TairnKA
@TairnKA 2 жыл бұрын
It always amazed me how my 6'4" tall Karate instructor could get in and out of his Opel GT. ;-)
@hotwheelsbrothers687
@hotwheelsbrothers687 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. I love the GT and have had the pleasure of owning/restoring one over the last six years. I try to watch most videos that come out regarding the car and think y'all did a nice job on this one. What people don't know is that the Opel GT outperformed many other cars in their target market during their early production time period including the Porsche 914, BMW 2022, and Alfa Romeo 1750 Duetto. They were never meant to compete with "American muscle" but help usher in a new era of sports and personal cars... America wasn't quite ready for that, so it will always be compared to the Corvette and considered under-powered. Nice to see that the Opel GT has received a lot more love over the years as more people are recognizing the beautiful stylings of the unibody and the unique features. It's fun driving mine around town as it turns heads and people are constantly taking pictures of it on the road (most have no idea what it is). I've actually been flagged down a few times and it will draw a crowd in the Walmart parking lot :-). Thanks again for the video!
@bryanbrowning5746
@bryanbrowning5746 5 ай бұрын
I had a 1970 GT in high school, and kept it clean and shiny, as the girls really liked it compared to the hulking muscle cars that my friends had, until one of my buddies got a 70’ Camaro. He completely stole my thunder, as it were. I was stuck on small sports cars, and sold it to get a Fiat X1/9. That car got me out of the small sports groove, but definitely taught me a lot about how to wrench on my stuff. When it ran, it was great fun, but I always missed my little “Corvette”. Those were good days back then’
@patricedonofrio2438
@patricedonofrio2438 Ай бұрын
I miss mine too! It was the yellow one...alternator problems a constant! But this 74 year old lady would love driving it all around today! Wish I had kept it in storage! ❤❤
@brianshaw3045
@brianshaw3045 2 жыл бұрын
I had a 1971 model in high school, would love to still have it!
@sjm5482
@sjm5482 2 жыл бұрын
As with the 240Z, when new, I was too young to drive let alone own any car, but at age 11 or so I appreciated the styling of both the Opel and the 240Z. When one would drive by the house, me and my friends would stop and stare. Great vid, actually forgot about the model and never knew much about it!
@stephensavic9779
@stephensavic9779 2 жыл бұрын
I owned a 1972 .It was the gold colored one with a 4 speed manual transmission. It was a fun car to own but then problems started creeping up. First problem was the wire harness had to be replaced. But that was covered by warranty. Then the gas tank started to leak, again covered by warranty. Then the engine would not idle when it got up to normal operating temperature. This was due to to the carburetor base would get to hot and warp. The carburetor and intake manifold were both made out of aluminum and Opel did not use a good enough gasket to keep heat transfer to the carburetor. Luckily I found someone who was able to make a gasket out of bakelite which solved the problem. I still have the owner's manual which is in excellent condition. Wish I still had the car.
@jasoncarpp7742
@jasoncarpp7742 2 жыл бұрын
I had a neighbour when I was a boy who had an Opel GT. It was a chocolate brown colour. As attractive as the car was, I didn't like the colour. If it was red, or a two-tone colour combination, it might've looked better.
@davidgauthier2661
@davidgauthier2661 2 жыл бұрын
They were under the radar for me. Like the Dino.....i am sure they are big bucks .......i always loved the 280Z because in the early 1980s, u could buy one for peanuts. By then thevafter market could sell u an intercooled turbo for it and all the other hot rod goodies. The u could go out and trounce disco era Moustangs, Camaros, Vettes, and lower tier Firebirds. Miss the goog old days. I wasva little contra and el cheapo in my hot rodding 20s. Alsonhad a 79 vette that insuper stock drag raced.
@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel
@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel 2 жыл бұрын
@@davidgauthier2661 I recently picked up a 1970 Opel GT in pretty good shape for $2,000. I need to go through the brakes on it. Prices are pretty reasonable and parts are available. Don't seem to be as expensive as the Datsun 240Zs.
@o8thman812
@o8thman812 2 жыл бұрын
Maxwell Smart also drove a Gold Opel GT in the last series of Get Smart.
@patricedonofrio2438
@patricedonofrio2438 Ай бұрын
I also had the Opel GT in yellow! I called it my poor man's Vet. * corvette...unfortunately it needed an alternator often. After a while it was costing money with the alternative problem. A young man kept asking if he could buy it and finally I let him have it. I can't recall what I sold it for. Many years have gone buy and I wish I still had it! I thought I was fabulous driving it all around ...wonder what happened to it...? So many years have passed and how I wish I'd kept that car! ❤
@drewscustomdie-castakadrew9952
@drewscustomdie-castakadrew9952 2 жыл бұрын
The Opel GT is one of the cars that I've always loved the looks of yet I know how tend to be major headaches. Unfortunately I have some knowledge on the 4 cylinder in it, having owned a 74 Manta wagon. It was the only car I owned that burned to the ground. Great piece on such interesting car. Never knew about the wind tunnel testing or the drag coefficient. Think if I were to get one I'd end up dropping a Mustang Ecoboost 4 banger in for a real sleeper. Keep up the great videos 🍻
@TheGreatZantello
@TheGreatZantello 5 ай бұрын
My dad had bought two of these back in 1978. one was the 71 carbureted bright orange in color. And the rear-ended wrecked white one that was fuel injected for a parts car. I was just 14 years years old and when we went to my grandparents farm he let me drive the car up and down the Dead end road and I learned how to drive a four-speed manual shift. It did not take me long to figure out how to do donuts at the end of the road a half mile out of sight from prying eyes ! At that particular time my father was working for checker Marathon motors in Kalamazoo Michigan building taxi cabs and one morning on his way to work he blew the engine up trying to reach the 150 mph mark on the speedo .he said it threw the rod at 115 ! But that was a blessing in disguise for me because when I turned 15 he gave the car to me if I would fix it . And with help from my uncle and some friends I got it done in time to get my driver's license and I had a nice little 231 Buick V6 powered opel gt ! 😊
@glenkepic3208
@glenkepic3208 2 жыл бұрын
I always liked these as a kid but never knew anything about them. Thanx for the history lesson :)
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting Glen. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@glenkepic3208
@glenkepic3208 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel You're welcome and i am !
@HoosierDaddy_
@HoosierDaddy_ 2 жыл бұрын
Wow! At 1:58 that car looks like a shrunken 69/70 Nova! I've always liked the look of these old Opels. Very cool toys!
@cheapme1850
@cheapme1850 2 жыл бұрын
I was about to post the same! Looks like a scaled down Nova.
@alphatrion100
@alphatrion100 2 жыл бұрын
Its an opel kadett b coupe
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Boca Brothers Classic Cars Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@mgonzales56
@mgonzales56 2 жыл бұрын
In 1972 my oldest brother traded in his 1968 Camaro for a new Opel GT. It was brick orange and looked beautiful. I was a sophomore in high school and he let me drive it a couple of times. I drove the Camaro too. Both were great cars. I wish we still had them.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@mgonzales56
@mgonzales56 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel ok. I will.
@mario3804
@mario3804 2 жыл бұрын
I remember this car my uncle use to sell used cars and had a couple of them and sold out every time. People love the headlights and the sleek look.
@markchapmon8670
@markchapmon8670 2 жыл бұрын
My friends and I called it the poor man's Corvette. It looked awesome!, and I've always wanted one.
@nigeljones482
@nigeljones482 2 жыл бұрын
I owned an Opel GT with manual transmission of course, first thing i did was to lowered the car (the right way) about 2 inch that change really improved the car handling, upgraded to weber carbs another excellent performance increase, and yes indeed the transmission did fail, so I upgraded the transmission and as most Opel GT owners will tell you after the installation the gear stick is higher and off set to the right so I adjustment the gear stick back to the center and reduced the height of the gear stick linkage, I drove the car for 3 years, man that car was blast to drive.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Awesome Nigel
@johnbarker5009
@johnbarker5009 2 жыл бұрын
I love these little cars.
@haroldb2663
@haroldb2663 2 жыл бұрын
Love you guys, keep it going!
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you! Will do!
@Beecher_Dikov
@Beecher_Dikov 2 жыл бұрын
My brother's friend had one. Cool little car. I liked the way the hidden headlights worked....I was 12 or 13, didn't take much to impress me...
@dadtype2339
@dadtype2339 10 ай бұрын
Well, back when I was around it only got the Baby Vette name lol title,been it got the Fender Kit on, without that fender kit, it really doesn't look like a Vette, but you can see how it could. That fender kit is what made it. Really cool cars the Opel, I nearly bought a 68 GT in 2005, it had the fender kit. Once in a great while you see one pop up for sale and usually needs some love and thankfully there are still parts for these cars in abondance and pretty inexpensive too. Also just found your channel, I subscribed and mashed the like button ❤ 👍 thanks!
@djkenny1202
@djkenny1202 2 жыл бұрын
My dad was a mechanic in the 70’s to early 80’s. He called these the poor man’s Corvette when I was a little kid.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
LOL..... Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@djkenny1202
@djkenny1202 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel Been for a while. Love these. Be cool to see something on my 92 VW GTI 16v MK2 GTIs in general.
@keithoneil6711
@keithoneil6711 2 жыл бұрын
Very beautiful amazing perfect looking cars just love them all wow thanks friend
@billtorrence8102
@billtorrence8102 5 ай бұрын
i loved my 71 opel 1900 manta blue w/ white interior manual shift a fun car and well put together
@MicrophonicFool
@MicrophonicFool 2 жыл бұрын
I was never a vette guy, but I have always wanted an Opel GT. In the late 80's I saw a local ad for a '72. I came really close to buying it, but I instead moved away for school. In a small way I have never been sure if I made the right decision...
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Well I have a 93 vette that just sits in the garage. Needs more work than I thought when I bought it. It be great to have the Opel GT as well. lol...Thanks for watching and for the comment. Please help us by subscribing if you haven't already. We can't tell who is a subscriber and who isn't. Thanks!
@pharronrhodes3792
@pharronrhodes3792 2 жыл бұрын
You didnt.
@MicrophonicFool
@MicrophonicFool 2 жыл бұрын
@@pharronrhodes3792 I ended up now with 4 cars, one of which I consider to be as sexy. 1953 Studebaker Coupe. It did end up ok in the end
@Project_Low_Expectations
@Project_Low_Expectations 2 жыл бұрын
Ever since I was a kid I thought these were awesome!
@Doc1855
@Doc1855 2 жыл бұрын
My dad had a ‘73 Opel GT. The top speed was 110 mph. It was a great cat, except when the cable went out to rotate the headlights when he turned them on. Dad had to take out The whole dash to reinstall a new cable. He had around 200,000K miles when he sized it
@charlie225
@charlie225 2 жыл бұрын
Hey Bros, what a beautiful car the Opel GT. Not very fast but really sporty!😉
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
True that!
@m1t2a1
@m1t2a1 2 жыл бұрын
So many miles. Four years of bliss. Near top of the wish I had kept it list.
@jasoncarpp7742
@jasoncarpp7742 2 жыл бұрын
Another awesome video! I had a neighbour when I was a boy who had an Opel GT. As attractive as the car was, I didn't think it was a "Baby Corvette".
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Jason!
@randyluca6339
@randyluca6339 2 жыл бұрын
My brother’s girlfriend owned a yellow with black interior 4 speed 1970 Opal GT back in 1971. Whenever she came to our house she would give me the keys and I would take it out for a spin. I was 16 at the time and had a blast driving it. You brought back Great memories Boca Bros. Thanks
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Randy! Memories man. My bro just left my house. 57 soon to be 58 in June. Just talking about the days gone by. Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching and for the comment. Please help us by subscribing if you haven't already. We can't tell who is a subscriber and who isn't. Thanks!
@randyluca6339
@randyluca6339 2 жыл бұрын
I am a subscriber and love your informative and nostalgic videos. 👍
@Qusin111
@Qusin111 2 жыл бұрын
I had a few of these, best cars I ever owned
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
I see a few but am afraid I can't find parts. Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@chadhaire1711
@chadhaire1711 2 жыл бұрын
LOl..what bull...more reliable than your Fiat?
@viccionetti5907
@viccionetti5907 2 жыл бұрын
I owned 1970 Opel GT as a young man living in upstate N.Y. She was white with a red interior and was a really fun ride. Energetic, fun shifting and cornering, and I thoroughly loved the experience. However after driving her to Colorado several years later, I had to (reluctantly) trade her in. The car ran like a Swiss watch with zero mechanical issues but after suffering thru several brutal N.Y. winters with the accompanying salt used on the roads back then..the undercarriage and rockers were completely rusted out by the time I arrived in Denver and I was forced to trade her in. In 1975 I bought a brand new Triumph TR-7 and the nightmare REALLY began! But that’s another story. That Opel GT was the best little sports car I’d ever owned followed up by a really great Fiat 124 Spyder convertible. Fast forward til the fall of 1999 when I purchase a brand new red 2000 Mazda Miata I would own for 12 years of motoring bliss. I still think of that little Opel GT.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and for the comment VIC! Please help us by subscribing if you haven't already. We can't tell who is a subscriber and who isn't. Thanks!
@viccionetti5907
@viccionetti5907 2 жыл бұрын
Done!
@davidpeters6536
@davidpeters6536 2 жыл бұрын
The much overlooked and almost forgotten Opel GT was a cracker of a little sports coupe.
@briansmith8967
@briansmith8967 3 ай бұрын
Had a '69 Strato Blue GT. Added headers later on. Fun car all around! My brother worked at a GM dealer and had the parts catalog and price list catalog so I was able to get replacement parts over the years. Finally, though it was hard to get body/accessory parts so I had to give it up. Had it for 34 years.
@ferrellgriffin9955
@ferrellgriffin9955 Жыл бұрын
I am 59 years old and I use to own a open order 40 years ago and I loved that car I would love to find another one but that would be impossible but keep up the good work.
@christopherkraft1327
@christopherkraft1327 2 жыл бұрын
I remember when the Opal came out in the seventies. They were very sporty & popular!!! 👍
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@christopherkraft1327
@christopherkraft1327 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel I am subscribed!! 👍👍
@nathanchristopher6121
@nathanchristopher6121 2 жыл бұрын
I. remember when people could spell Opel.
@The_R-n-I_Guy
@The_R-n-I_Guy 2 жыл бұрын
It's a shame there aren't more original survivors. The Opel GT and the Pontiac Fiero mentioned are both great looking cars and I would love to have either of them. Or both
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
YUP Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@pharronrhodes3792
@pharronrhodes3792 2 жыл бұрын
Love these.
@bobstewart8032
@bobstewart8032 2 жыл бұрын
I always loved the look of the Opel GT.
@damageincorporatedmetal43v73
@damageincorporatedmetal43v73 2 жыл бұрын
My brother Rodge used to own a "71" GT, that car was so quick. I thought it was turbo charged, but it would roll rubber with the best of them back in the day...🤣
@derricklogan2058
@derricklogan2058 2 жыл бұрын
Although too low to the ground for my height and weight, (6'5, 418 lbs), and I wasn't always this heavy, I always thought that the Opel GT was a Gorgeous Vehicle just like the Corvette!!! I never owned either, but I used to imagine owning one!!! A 1:64 Scale, Metallic Blue for my small Hot Wheel Collection would be nice though.
@kevinbuja4373
@kevinbuja4373 2 жыл бұрын
The GT looked like a Corvette from the front, and a Ferrari 250 GTO from the rear.
@jamesstuart3346
@jamesstuart3346 2 жыл бұрын
Ironically the 240Z was an obvious copycat as well
@zzygyy
@zzygyy Жыл бұрын
My father purchased a 1970 opel GT brand new. I grew up riding in the back storage area. My father owned his opel from 1970 to 2003. Great little car. I learned how to drive stick on this car during the 80s. Fun fun.
@jrussellcase
@jrussellcase 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I never looked at this car and saw "Corvette", although I can see why others did. I always thought they looked like the old Saab Sonnet.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Russel. Let me lookup that Sonnet!
@Mike-rk8px
@Mike-rk8px 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel The Saab Sonnet is definitely a great car to do a show on! There were 3 models: the first in the late 50’s, then the Sonnet 2 in the 60’s, but the one you’ll want to focus on is the Sonnet 3 made between 1970-74. I’ve owned several since 1983, they were great cars. People are usually shocked it’s a SAAB because it looks Italian or English, it’s a very pretty car with perfect sports car proportions. In typical SAAB fashion they were extremely well designed, and had a strong emphasis on safety features. They were front wheel drive to plow through Swedish winters. Lots of owners put in more powerful engines, although the base V-4 Ford engine is a real hoot and makes a fantastic sound.
@29madmangaud29
@29madmangaud29 2 жыл бұрын
Yeah , I remember those , thought how beautiful little corvettes that they were. Too bad, you never see them anymore...
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
I've not seen one on the road in over 20 years!
@lifeofme3196
@lifeofme3196 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel I daily drive one. They do exist, just are hard to find driving.
@timdickey6517
@timdickey6517 8 ай бұрын
I had a '72 loved it!! Thinking bout trying to find one again
@geraldscott4302
@geraldscott4302 2 жыл бұрын
I always wanted one of those, but you almost never saw one, even back in the '70s. I don't remember seeing one in decades. The 240, 260, and 280Zs were wonderful cars, and the only Japanese car I have ever liked. Sadly they rusted away about as fast as they could be built.
@roberthaldeman5312
@roberthaldeman5312 2 жыл бұрын
Had one in High school fun car to drive.
@johnnyjames7139
@johnnyjames7139 2 жыл бұрын
I took a used one for a test drive, liked it very much. It is a wonder that I didn't destroy the engine on that test drive.
@hombre1965
@hombre1965 2 жыл бұрын
I had a ‘72 and it was a blast to drive. Got about 33mpg. Only problem was the distributer would loosen and the car would die. Got to where I would carry a screwdriver and just pop the hood tighten it back down and be on my way.
@songwriterjj6022
@songwriterjj6022 2 жыл бұрын
I've always wanted an Opel GT
@PD410712
@PD410712 2 жыл бұрын
Last year I found a 1969 with the 1100 engine. It had been sitting in a garage since 1984. It's fun to do drive but need some more tuning before it's perfect. Sold new in the US, so it lack anti-roll bars. Weight distribution is better with the 1100 than the 1900 engine. It sits further back. Only 60 bhp, but the car is very light.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
I found one in South Texas. Tempted but wouldn't know where to find parts! Have fun with it Tomas!
@thatguy6054
@thatguy6054 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel, Parts are relatively easy to come by as the car has a strong underground following, especially in Europe. "The Opel GT Source" in California has everything you need to keep them going.
@BIGLOVE4TRUTH
@BIGLOVE4TRUTH 2 жыл бұрын
Woah..my dad had a blue one that I drove when I was 16. It cornered like nothing else on the road. Better than the Datsun 1600 he used to own👍 I think his was a 70 or 71 model.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Better than a go-cart. lol Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@pcthayer
@pcthayer 2 жыл бұрын
I love hearing about those vintage cars like the Datsun 1600/2000 roadsters. I remember going to the Datsun dealer drooling over them and wishing I had the money to buy one since I was still in school at that time. (Japanese cars of that era didn't survive very well up here in New England since the salt rotted them out quickly.)
@Hawk1966
@Hawk1966 2 жыл бұрын
My sister had one. It was a mechanical nightmare, kept breaking down and leaving her stranded but she loved that car and took great offense at the "Baby Vette" nickname.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
WOW! Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@joeythomas9062
@joeythomas9062 Жыл бұрын
I had one in 97....it was a fast lil fun car to drive!
@shawnkelley9035
@shawnkelley9035 2 жыл бұрын
Just FYI. This is my favorite channel. Thank you
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, thanks!
@davidkastin4240
@davidkastin4240 2 жыл бұрын
Always love the Kadett and the GT.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@davidkastin4240
@davidkastin4240 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel I am subscribed and thanks for your good videos 👍
@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel
@JetSkiBuyFixPlaySellChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Just picked up a nice little project 1970 Opel GT a few weeks ago. Need to work on the brakes before I can take it for a test drive.
@billnasburg1361
@billnasburg1361 2 жыл бұрын
Real good vid. Thanks
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@Tony-fi6mb
@Tony-fi6mb 2 жыл бұрын
Great car I had one in high school. Looking for one now to restore. Most I’ve found are way over priced but I’m going to continue to look. Great channel guys keep it going.
@fixedguitar47
@fixedguitar47 2 жыл бұрын
Sold mine for $300 It was a take it or leave it situation. I miss that car.
@Tony-fi6mb
@Tony-fi6mb 2 жыл бұрын
Was a fun car to drive.
@fixedguitar47
@fixedguitar47 2 жыл бұрын
@@Tony-fi6mb - They we’re. But my 73 was just barley safe. The other two donor cars were rotted past the point of belief.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Boca Brothers Classic Cars Thanks for watching and the comment! We're asking our viewers for a little help. Can you please subscribe if you haven't already? We can't tell who is and who is not. lol....Again, appreciate ya watching!
@WC_Beer_Reviews
@WC_Beer_Reviews 2 жыл бұрын
Seems like a good candidate for a restomod. Think about putting a modern turbo 4 cylinder in one of those?
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
YUP. Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@roberthuffmann8204
@roberthuffmann8204 2 жыл бұрын
@@TheChill001 barely worth anything as it is. One was just on auction site bringatrailer and I don’t think it broke $5k. I know a couple of people sitting on quite a few of them because they’ve been cheap for ages.
@MrTheHillfolk
@MrTheHillfolk 2 жыл бұрын
Yeah try and not butcher it too bad if it's a nice one ,but if it's a little ratty why not? Keep the clean ones as they are. They really could use an injection of about 100 more hp so you could keep up with traffic.
@WC_Beer_Reviews
@WC_Beer_Reviews 2 жыл бұрын
@@TheChill001 because they're worth so much now? It would be a fun tinker toy if you found a ratty one and had something to Frankenstein it with.
@juppzmuda9725
@juppzmuda9725 2 жыл бұрын
@jeeping_foodie Similar mods has been done since the 1990s in Germany. I've seen the famous C20XE 16 Valve Engine more than one time in a GT. From there it's just a small step to the Turbo C20LET 😃
@robertkaplan1146
@robertkaplan1146 5 ай бұрын
Thanks good informative video.
@steppen10
@steppen10 2 жыл бұрын
I was in an accident in a GT back in 1970. I'm lucky to have survived and the damn thing folded up like an accordion. The windshield was breakaway and the police found my glasses about 100 feet down the road.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Oh No! Wow! THANKS FOR WATCH AND THE COMMENT. Please subscribe if you haven't already. We can't tell who is subscribed and who isn't.
@bluesharp59
@bluesharp59 2 жыл бұрын
Cool video and Thumbs Up ! Wishing you and all your subs all the best.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very much!
@bluesharp59
@bluesharp59 2 жыл бұрын
@@ThisOldCarChannel You are welcome.
@chets3597
@chets3597 2 жыл бұрын
My parents had a friend who was a navel aviator. He imported one of these from Europe and I occasionally was allowed to drive it. It had a three carbureted inline six and it was a rocket. All the dash was in German and kilometers and as a sixteen year old I had little idea how fast it would actually go but it was never passed.
@darrellkruse3416
@darrellkruse3416 Жыл бұрын
The Opel GT was revived in 2007 in Australia for a 3 year run on the GM Kappa platform as a sister car to the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky. They were manufactured in Wilmington Delaware until GM pulled the plug on the Pontiac and Saturn brand in 2009.
@OLDS98
@OLDS98 2 жыл бұрын
This was a great video. I did not see this one coming. Thank you for sharing. Great job on the footage and information. GM sold Opel and it and Vauxhall are owned by Stellantis now. This was another great effort as you had to research that footage.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
@galenkirby473
@galenkirby473 2 жыл бұрын
Although it was a two seater, I was able to fit five in it. Two guys, three girls. The 70s was great.
@carlosdad2204
@carlosdad2204 2 жыл бұрын
I was in the army, stationed in Germany and had just taken delivery of a new 1968 US spec Kadett when the GT was introduced. I was bummed out.
@killiam2868
@killiam2868 2 жыл бұрын
Had the opportunity to drive one and almost bought it but it was pre internet 90s finding parts was the deal breaker
@pcthayer
@pcthayer 2 жыл бұрын
My sister bought a new 1973 Opel GT and it was a fun car but it did break down and leave her stranded a few times due to electrical issues.
@valengreymoon5623
@valengreymoon5623 2 жыл бұрын
That aluminum Buick 215 cube V8 would probably have been the best engine for this car.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@chadhaire1711
@chadhaire1711 2 жыл бұрын
Sure Goober...a V8 in an engine bay that hardly fit that little four.......go sober up///
@valengreymoon5623
@valengreymoon5623 2 жыл бұрын
Ooh, another small thinker that has to resort to insults and name calling to get their point across.
@chadhaire1711
@chadhaire1711 2 жыл бұрын
@@valengreymoon5623 Sure Chief Greymoon--I would let you on my thread but you don't have a "reservation".....LOL.....
@valengreymoon5623
@valengreymoon5623 2 жыл бұрын
@@chadhaire1711 Such a snappy comeback for someone with no imagination. No wonder it took ya a few hours to think of it.
@jesseperry7141
@jesseperry7141 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. Thanks, you've earned a subscriber. However I don't think you can discuss the C3, the GT and the mako with out mentioning the Pontiac banshee.
@OneWildTurkey
@OneWildTurkey 2 жыл бұрын
Some folks might call it a 'baby Corvette' but it was for the looks only. I dated a young lady that owned one and I think we spent more time trying to fix her car than I did trying to get out of it. At 6' 1" I wasn't all that tall, but it took some real contortions to get in and out of that car. She wanted me to drive once but I just couldn't figure out how I could get in the driver's seat. The worst part was when we tried to go somewhere on the freeway or at night. It had no power when there were two people in it and the headlights would always get stuck halfway open or closed. That's one car I'll never forget.
@THROTTLEPOWER
@THROTTLEPOWER 2 жыл бұрын
Great vid!!!!!!!! 👍👍👍
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Thanks!!!
@msix1836
@msix1836 2 жыл бұрын
Great video, but let’s not forgetting the Opel Manta Sport Coupe. I had one for a short period of time, German engineering with great handling though it was underpowered.
@ThisOldCarChannel
@ThisOldCarChannel 2 жыл бұрын
Yup! Thanks for watching and for sharing. Please subscribe if you haven't already and help us out. We can't tell if you are or not. Again, thanks for watching!
@vannshuttleworth4738
@vannshuttleworth4738 2 жыл бұрын
The potential Opel buyer trying to fit in the car. Couldn't make that commercial today! (Pushing the seat back would help. )
@MrSmartAlec
@MrSmartAlec 2 жыл бұрын
During my college years in the early 70s a buddy had one of these. I swear every time he hit a bump something would short out in the car. The electrical system was not a strong point.
@rager1969
@rager1969 2 жыл бұрын
The Opal Cadette looks like a baby Chevelle. When I was a kid, I knew two people that had an Opal GT. One of them, the son of a friend of my mom's, was asked by his insurance company what model Opal he had and he replied "I don't know, it's just an Opal." He did this to keep them from charging him more for driving a sports car. I can't imagine this worked, but in the late 70s and with such an obscure nameplate, maybe it did.
@juppzmuda9725
@juppzmuda9725 2 жыл бұрын
The nameplate wasn't that obscure, it just was the founder's name 😉 Adam Opel AG, founded in Germany 1862. At times Opel was No.1 on Germany's market with classics like the Kadett, Ascona, Rekord and Manta.
@jeromewagschal9485
@jeromewagschal9485 8 ай бұрын
I once read that the GT 1900 was supposed to have a more powerful engine taken from one of their sedans back then which is why the European speedometers ( in km/h ) went up to 240 ( about 140 + mph ) but the people in charge decided to go with a smaller 1.9 L engine instead... Maybe they decided to build them all with the original speedometer instead because it looked more flashy 🙂🙂 Anyway, mine is a '73 with a more powerful engine ( Opel ) plus a few mods and the top speed is about 137 mph...plus wider tyres... Great video, well done 👍👍
@allenvestal4474
@allenvestal4474 2 жыл бұрын
Totaled one 4 days after I got it. Rack and pinion steering was very sensitive. Difficult to keep it in a straight line. A tiny change from the steering wheel would run you off the road.
@user-vs4hg4og5p
@user-vs4hg4og5p 6 ай бұрын
Half the body, half the engine ,lots of driving fun!😅
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