Opel GT project, thinking of getting it (convertible, unlimited, braking)
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I found a 71 Opel GT project for a few hundred dollars. It's all there and was parked running about 6 years ago. Anyone else here have one or any advice? I love the looks of it, who wouldn't since it looks like a mix between an early chrome bumper C3 and a later C3 fastback. If the drive train really is still good I might just stick with that, I'm not sure is a 350 would fit easily but a 3.8 probably would.
If you can get it for less than $1000 and it's really all there, not rusty, I don't see how you would go wrong. I'm not sure about parts availability, there is no doubt a forum dedicated to these as there is for just about every old car out there.
Offhand I would stick with a stock or near stock setup, it really does depend on the condition of the engine.
For a few hundred $, why not? A lot of parts are pretty close to standard GM, but IIRC the engines had valves that might as well have been made of cardboard. Take a hard look at the "frame" and the structural items.
The engine is a pretty standard chevy "stovebolt" 6 IIRC and there should be some easy bolt on upgrades.
However, steering, braking, suspension is all SIXTIES technology. A new Buick is better on all three categories than Corvettes and Jaguars from that era.
For under $2K you can get a rock solid Miata, not exciting but not prone to spontaneously shed parts either.
The engine is a pretty standard chevy "stovebolt" 6 IIRC and there should be some easy bolt on upgrades.
The engine is a 1.9 liter 4 cyl, and while upgrades are available, they are pretty weak. As a project car, however, swaps can be done fairly easily, from the GM 2.8 liter V6 to any number of imported RWD 4 cyls.
That one uses a Buick/Olds/Rover 3.5 liter V8, which is a great choice (also found in early Range Rovers here in the US) and actually weighs almost identical to the stock 1.9 liter.
I can list a dozen sources here in the US, as well as many more worldwide. You can get pretty much any part you need at your doorstep in a day or two.
I find it's easier to get parts for my Fiats and MGs now than when they were actualy being sold here new. I have a '61 Renault 4CV that up until the internet age, you couldn't get parts for unless you were lucky and ran across a guy with a parts car locally. Now, every part of that car can be delivered overnight if I needed it, thanks to the internet.
Dime a dozen and not quite unique enough. Hot rodders don't buy "off the rack" like that.
I'd rather build a car than buy it. And I'd rather build a unique car than one that has thousands of identical versions out there.
The OP would probably find one of the cars I listed more comfortable and practical than an Opel. From what I've read, Opels did not handle all that great and that is the main reason someone would buy a little car like that.
In fact, if the OP has never owned an Opel, he may be disappointed if he test drove one.
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