General Motors has produced countless impressive sports cars over the years, like the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird and Chevrolet Corvette, just to name a few. As such, the little Opel GT sort of lives in the shadow of these bigger, more powerful and more American offerings – but that doesn’t mean the little German two-seater is any less deserving of our attention today.
This near-perfect 1973 Opel GT, which will be sold at RM Sotheby’s upcoming auction of the eclectic Elkhart Collection, will make even the most diehard of American car fans stand up and take notice. This car is described as an “exceptional unrestored example,” of the Opel GT breed and features original Rallye Orange paint and an all-original interior.
This car has also barely been driven over the years. With just 14,995 miles on the odometer at the time of RM Sotheby’s cataloguing, this car has been driven an average of just 319 miles per year. It’s offered with the original service manual and a collection of invoices from over the years as well.
RM Sotheby’s claims this is one of the “finest original examples,” of the Opel GT in existence. Like we noted above, though, the Opel GT hasn’t really caught on with enthusiasts and collectors yet, though, so even the best examples are still worth less than $30,000. RM Sotheby’s thinks this one will fetch between $20,000 and $25,000 when it heads to auction in late October – a great price for an all-original piece of GM history such as this, in our opinion.
The only downside to this car is the transmission. While the Opel GT seems like it is the perfect candidate for a notchy four-speed manual, it was also offered with a three-speed automatic. The automatic was a popular option in the car (perhaps because it was sold through Buick dealers) so not surprisingly, this model has the slushbox.
If that’s not enough to turn you off this Opel GT, check out the listing here for more information and photos.
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Comments
My Dad was a big GM Guy. All I can remember is Chevy Chevy Chevy. then in 1972 my Father bought a Buick 225, this was his go to church car. he also bought this Opal GT ( he said it was for Mother) she did not know how to drive a stick !
So dad and I took the Opal out to one of the new subdivisions that were under construction, and that is how I learned to drive.
the story above is right about the transmission, it was junk. we only had the Opal about 3 months and the trans started to whine. My dad took it to a friend and he drained the trans, It looked like half the gears and sincor’s were in the trans oil.
the trans was refilled with new oil and some saw dust. my dads friend said take it easy and it will be OK for a while,
my dad sold the car the next week.
“the trans was refilled with new oil and some saw dust. my dads friend said take it easy and it will be OK for a while, my dad sold the car the next week”
How honorable.
103,463 units of the Opel GT had been built, from August 1968 to July 1973, and more than half of that production had been exported to USA, where it was sold via the Buick dealer network. According to the German language Wikipedia, the car was very well received in USA.
It was a unique car for Opel, iconic, and is well remembered and a number of them are being kept alive by enthusiasts. The mentioned wiki-article says that various other engines and gearboxes of other Opel models can be used with this car.
The slogan used in the advertisement became an idomatic expression:
“Nur fliegen ist schöner” — in english maybe “Only flying is more fun” (but that does not really catch the sensual connotations of the German phrase).
I have a 1973 Opel also with the A/T, and have never had a problem with it in almost 50 years. I heard that its a durable transmission, although it robs what little power there is to be had.
Great car had one in 1971 an orange one cost $3300 brand new . It was an eye catcher and the lights retracted was brilliant. Shape in the front was out of this world. I do remember it was low lying and was in the shop for repairs because of that.
When I was young Chevy was King. I had 3/ 60’s Camaros and a 1970 SS RS before I was 25. my family lived GM.
both driving and working. for me to say what a piece of junk I think that the Opal was. ( far down the run as German cars go),
and also the thought that the Buick dealer saw my dad coming. Who would of had thought that a car with
only 20,000 miles on it would need a new transmission? But then again it was an Opal and not a Mercury Capri.
After I bought my Daughter a 2005 Chevy Malibu hatch back, a discovered the dealer sold us a car with factory steering and brake problems that GM would not re-call. and the car did not have a way to check both the oil or the trans fluid. that was the last GM car I bought. My Family now drives Nissan and Mazda’s.
Didn’t the 73 have different tail lights than the 69-72? They lost the single backing light, and integrated it into the tail lights. The other tail lights where also split in 73, orange/red. At least that’s how my 73 differed from my 69 and 70.
The beauty of the Opel GT was/is the balance (engine set back) which made it very close to 50/50. The handling / cornering is incredible. We have a 73 that is fresh out of restoration and a hoot to drive. I’m not much on the body mod kits I see on a lot of them …like the way they were styled. Other than performance mods (pistons / cam /crank / carb, ect) and some larger / fatter 15″ wheels & tires it’s stock and a blast to drive. Always draws a crowd when we park it somewhere. Here is a link to video the shop that did the work (including AC package) made. My wife and I are both missing a leg so we had an automatic put in it but still have the original 4 speed as well as a 5 speed that will both go with it if ever sold. That’s going to be a while …having too much fun with it right now! https://youtu.be/ngv4jLDkC-A
This was a awesome car, we still have some original detail part, radio etc. Had to sell when my son went to college, don’t think he has ever forgiven me he loved that car, been searching for another one, Auto transmission, central air Orange. This car I always thought looked prettier than any Corvette I have ever seen Ran over 300, miles on original engine