Tip: Buyer Beware!

[grslightng02]

Buyers (especially those new to the OPEL GT world) Beware! This 1973 GT is listed on EBAY in Tucson, AZ with very misleading information. I wouldn't be so concerned about a few mistakes here and there in an ad, except that the seller writes a long ad with such authority, it misleads the buyer to make him sound like an expert, which he clearly is not.

Seller claims the car to be "VERY VERY RARE", rust free, a 389 V8, and original "unmolested interior".

While it's becoming more and more rare to see a GT "on the road" and as much as I would love to see someone buy and restore this car, I would like them to do so under honest advertising terms. The car is not rust free, it has surface rust in many places, and the beginning of corrosion on the rocker panel behind the drivers side front fender. The car clearly has the 1900cc motor with a weber, not a 389 V8. The interior has been reupholstered in velour and is no longer the original vinyl.

Once again, not to sound bitter, but read the ad and you'll understand why I'm concerned. If you buy the car, best of luck and we would all love to see another restored GT. Just do so with caution, and the correct information.

[heimue]

Link to ebay

I don't think the car is THAT bad. Yes, it has quite some dings and dents, but the base condition is better than most Opels that haven't been restored yet. The underbody looks great, and there are really lots of pictures to look at. As for the 389-V8, it already has been removed, the seller has even explained (in the Q&A) section that it got in accidentally because he used another car auction as a template.

Dieter

[yellaopelgt]

He also states the pink slip is original.....it clearly says it expires in 1981. Unless there's somthing I'm missing, this isnt the original. You'd think that someone that deals in cars wouldnt try to use the term "original" so loosely. It does cause a bit of confusion when sellers try to up-sell things and acting naive about it doesnt help. On the other hand, it doesnt look all that bad of a car, a good start for a daily driver. But to someone without any expierience with Opels, the ad is quite a bit mis-leading. Must have cost them a pretty penny just to list that car....dont think I've ever seen that many pics on a single auction!!!
Joe

[grslightng02]

Heimue "I don't think the car is THAT bad."

Yes the car is not that bad, however I was commenting more on the way the ad was written.

Also from a west coast point of view.... we have A LOT more GT's out here that are rust free because of no snow and no road salt. What looks "clean" according to midwest or eastcoast standards differs from what can be bought here. I just bought a nearly perfect 1970 GT body with 2 minor dings and NO corrosion for $500.00.

I just don't want to see someone new to the Opel world misled, or charged too much money.

[rrossjr]

Originally Posted by yellaopelgt ....dont think I've ever seen that many pics on a single auction!!! Joe

Me either (or as many non-blurry photos taken at dusk from 50 feet away with a pin-hole camera anyway!) It seems that "rust-free" on eBay has come to mean "no structural rust-at least none that I can see." As always, caveat emptor, but this car is definitely better documented than the first GT I purchased on the bay.
Ron in Indy

[BMWonly]

Yeah, compare to the listing of the GT that our friend Todd M. is trying to sell on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=130259291668

Blurry dark pictures. Not that this is a bad car (2.2l 5-speed sounds pretty good to me), but the documentation of the AZ car shows me that the seller is not trying to hide anything.

Dieter (2)

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by rrossjr Me either (or as many non-blurry photos taken at dusk from 50 feet away with a pin-hole camera anyway!) It seems that "rust-free" on eBay has come to mean "no structural rust-at least none that I can see." As always, caveat emptor, but this car is definitely better documented than the first GT I purchased on the bay. Ron in Indy

Last year on the first Manta I checked out, "rust-free" seemed to mean the rust wouldn't cost anything extra.

[opelspyder]

Todd from Opels Unlimited seem to use one of the first camera phones to take pictures-they are always blurry, I think I would step up to a 40 dollar camera at least-then the pictures would be somewhat clearer
Keith

[Mike Preble]

If someone on the site is really interested in this car, remember that there are people who live in Tucson who could intervene if requested. Just make the arrangements. Even a place to store the car until transportation is arranged.

Mike

[grslightng02]

I was in Tucson last week when I found this car listed on EBAY. I was tempted to go and look at it in person... especially after the seller emailed me back with some "choice words" that I'll leave out of this email.

Whoever ends up buying it, I'll be happy to see another restored GT out there!