True 1968 GT?

[jordan]

Is this really a 68' gt? I see the square light lens in the dash, but the back panel isnt flat. What do you guys think?

[PROPEL]

You mean this one?

I think the November 1968 build date classifies it as an "early '69" example. The lack of a flat panel is weird, though...perhaps it was replaced at some point. But this GT does have other signs of being early... split front bumper, low shoulder belt mount, pushbutton hibeam stalk, chrome flip ashtray sitting on metal console plate.

[baz]

now who do we know in ely with a gt that just had a 2.4 put in it


motormouth come on fess up is this you

[jordan]

I forgot alll about putting the link in, don't I feel like an idiot

[GTJIM]

I see that this GT was first registered on 23 Nov, 1968.
This would have been done by the Dealer just as it was sold so the production date must be earlier than that - a couple of months earlier and it is a "1968" model as defined in the US of A ie: Built in September of 1968 or before.
As far as the U K is concerned it IS a 1968 Model because that was the year of its initial registration.

[baz]

as jim says we have a year that starts on jan 1st and ends on dec 31st
and so to us this would be a 68
mind you my gt was registered here in 78 so is classed as a 78 by DVLA as that will be fighting that when it goes back on the road as if its built before 73 a car is road tax exempt and mines an april 1970

[kwilford]

Hey, this is kinda fun!

OK, the indent in the tail panel says post '69. I don't see a split in the front bumper, but maybe my eyes are deceiving me. The black bumpers are GT/J, which is post '69, but the windows still have the chrome trip, so that says GT/L, so the bumbers were probably painted. I think I see the heater valve inside the engine compartment (post '69), which MAY have been changed as per the Factory Service Memo, but...

As Walter says, the square dash indicators say pre-'71. So does the push button on the indicator stalk for the high beam dimmer. As does the ash tray. And the lack of the rear console. I think the window cranks are in the correct place for the early model. I can't make out the seat belt shoulder mounts, but low mount says early model.

My guess would be that it's a '69 or even a '70. Maybe the registration date is somehow incorrect? Only way to REALLY tell is to look at the back of the gauges to see if they still have their build date sticker. And in any event, the "official" '68's were all prototypes, so by November '68 they are '69's. Hey, didn't '68's have some weird VIN number, in the same line as the Kadett in '68? As in they started with a "92" like the Kadett Rallye?

[Motor Mouth]

Well spotted Baz

I have to confess 'Yes' it is me and 'Yes' the car is a '68!

Having looked in the bible, Projekt 1484, and having spoken to the author in the past I'm not aware of any wierd chassis numbers and this car is no different.

To answer some of the question, the car does still have it's split front bumper, they where painted black as the chrome work isn't 100%. The seat belts are on a low mount, the gauges are also Series 1 (another '68 give away). I think at some time in the past the car has had a rear panel, but this was done many years ago, possibly still in the 70's as I have a pic of the car when it was restored, early 80's and this showed the indented rear panel, which I know isn't correct for a '68, but how many rear panels have any of us seen with the flat rear panel and there's no way Opel would have produced both for the Parts Department.......saying that my '69 2.4 has a flat rear panel

As for the car being a '69 or '70.....I can't see it somehow the chassis number is far too low, but even though I'm a GT freak theres no way I'm taking the dash out to confirm this.......that's way to extreme......but whoever Opelmaniowa is on ebay, nice question.

So there you have it, a '68 GT and a rarity......I've now owned every year going and so the only conquest left is to own a 1.1 or possibly a Conrero!

Happy Bidding......shipping to the US or NZ at the new owners expense

[baz]

mark are you going to give us poor souls a hint at the reserve? its ok we wont tell any one honest
and for those looking the join in the bumper shows just in the pic with the car pointing to the right just

[Motor Mouth]

I'd rather not disclose the reserve as I'll be advising interested parties to come to this site so that they can gain more information about the Marque and Model.

I think it's a fair price based on the condition and history and is on a par with the guide indicators in many of the UK classic car mags.

It's no where near the figure that YXY's car went up to....but then again it's not had the same amount of money spent on it.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by GTJIM I see that this GT was first registered on 23 Nov, 1968. This would have been done by the Dealer just as it was sold so the production date must be earlier than that - a couple of months earlier and it is a "1968" model as defined in the US of A ie: Built in September of 1968 or before.As far as the U K is concerned it IS a 1968 Model because that was the year of its initial registration.

Actually, September was first month of new model year here in US, so that would make it "built BEFORE September"!

[Motor Mouth]

As far as I'm aware the GT was available World Wide from September 68 onwards.....

I think the date may have been the 26th September (but I'll be corrected or will correct myself when I dig out the literature I have from Opel).

So you're right any Sept '68 car will have to have been made slightly earlier than that, especially for it to be shipped to the US dealers in time.

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by Motor Mouth Happy Bidding......shipping to [the US or] NZ at the new owners expense

But the steering wheel is on the wrong side for me!

[fredopelgt]

The oldest GT where acquainted is 94 15 582 00, Marks GT has the nr. 94
16 076 62.

If you look at the list from GT Journal anno 1989, so is Marks GT in
this list the third oldest GT.
Ok, it´s not a offical list, only from GT driver´s in europe, organice
by a private public-opinion poll over the " Journal ",
but i think it was one of the oldest GT´s or the first were produced
from opel.

I will ask Norbert Kelleter from Rüsselsheim, to become an offical paper
from Opel. Information provided by Oliver Schwiser Ople GT Club Germany

[GTJIM]

1969 *Cars built at Bochum beginning Chasis # -- 15 355 04

The serial numbers are contiguous and mixed between models so it would appear that ANY "1968" Model as far as the Factory was concerned would have been before this serial number... neither of the GTs mentioned above have numbers anywhere near this low....... QED??

There would have been 22,696 Opels of all models built in the Factory "1969" Model year BEFORE the earliset GT mentioned above. Not many in a mass production factory though.......and both "pre-production" (and "1968"??) GTs would have been built well before the start of these numbers - in my estimation.

[jlthunder]

Just crusin Ebay and came across this

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Opel-...spagenameZWDVW

It is stated that it is a '72 but it has a flat panel and rectangular dash indicator lights which indicate it is a '69 or '68.

It is in Ohio. Anyone out there close enough to look at it?

No Vin # stated in the ad

[CDN OpelNut]

That shifter is different. Is there a 5 speed in it?

[jlthunder]

Looks like a 4 speed with an aftermarket knob.

[opelgt73]

Originally Posted by jlthunder http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Opel-...spagenameZWDVW It is stated that it is a '72 but it has a flat panel and rectangular dash indicator lights which indicate it is a '69 or '68.

Doesn't have the two piece front bumper, or the pop out windows. Nor does it have the high beam button on the turn signal lever. The rear panel could be filled in after a rear ending. It looks like the standard melting pot GT, a few parts cars thrown together.

[jlthunder]

Originally Posted by opelgt73 Doesn't have the two piece front bumper, or the pop out windows. Nor does it have the high beam button on the turn signal lever. The rear panel could be filled in after a rear ending. It looks like the standard melting pot GT, a few parts cars thrown together.

Not all flat panels have a split bumper. It does have the '69 ashtray and '69 headlight handle. Pop out windows weren't installed until '71. You are correct about the high beam indicator on the turnsignal stalk. It also has the GM logo under the rear window and the "1900" on the rear panel which indicates a 68-70 model run. The symbols on the front fenders are missing(like a 71-73 should be) and it has '71-72 rims on it. I'm getting myself confused It is probably a standard GT but you never know

If anyone is in this area, get the VIN and that should narrow it down.