Which came first, GT or Vette......

[opelenvy]

"The Opel GT is a two-seat sports car introduced by Opel in 1968. Its styling was unmistakably like the Chevrolet Corvette of that year. Although they were both designed by Larry Shinoda, the Opel GT came first and is regarded as his "Favorite" in his memoirs."

Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_GT

Main Opel page is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Opel_vehicles

This is a great site for info about ANYTHING!

[OpelJim]

I saw design drawings of a Opel Corvette from 1953
I always tell people who say my Corvette srunk in the washer, that the Chevy is just a BIG Opel GT.
No more, " Honey I srunk the Corvette " jokes eh!

[spdkilz02]

yea, thats definately something that everyone prolly gets tired of hearing.

[redblitz68]

Yepp, funny!

As far as I know the models of Vette 'n GT both have been initialized by Bill Mitchell of GM headquarters. Finally a German named Erhard Schnell has done 1st drawings for the GT, only then the guys found the old fashioned Stingray should be updesigned, too.

So, nothing to do with "Baby-Vette" and so on...

Keep on Opeling!

[rstrel]

My GT is currently in Croatia/Slovenia where there aren't many Corvettes. Since all the emblems have been shaved (except for the gas cap), everyone thinks its either a Corvette or Ferarri.

[Wolf Spyder]

At the 1965 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Adam Opel Company showed a new sports car named the Opel GT. After the GT prototype was unveiled. General Motors’ executives were impressed with the looks of the car so they asked the main designer, C.M. MacKichan, to come to America and work on the design change slated for the 1968 Corvette. He agreed.

Due to production issues in Europe and pressure from GM (the majority owner of the Adam Opel Company), the Corvette Stingray was released before the Opel GT. MacKichan, who served a stint as chief Chevrolet stylist, stated in his memoirs that the design was influenced heavily by the Corvair Monza Experimental of 1962, that the Opel GT came first and is regarded as his “Favorite”.



As a side note, in 1952 when Harley Earl, the father of the Corvette, sought support for a low-volume production, two seat sports car, it was named "Project Opel",


Saw this at a show...

http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showpho.../wolf%20spyder

[maglinjosvinn]

beautiful! i can't wait to share this tidbit at the car shows.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by Wolf Spyder At the 1965 Frankfurt Auto Show, the Adam Opel Company showed a new sports car named the Opel GT. After the GT prototype was unveiled, General Motors’ executives were impressed with the looks of the car so they asked the main designer, C.M. MacKichan, to come to America and work on the design change slated for the 1968 Corvette...

I recently picked up a copy of the "Opel GT Owners Workshop Manual" off eBay (I'm trying to get a little more educated on the car) and read with great interest the original Road & Track review of the Opel GT. In the review, they mention a couple times how they were "disappointed" that the Opel GT production car didn't have the same look as the prototype. I love the Opel GT look but would like to see what the original prototype looked like for comparison. Does anyone have a picture of the prototype they could post? BTW, in the same review, they slam the rotating headlights. That is one of my favorite parts of the car!

[opelenvy]

Originally Posted by newman27 Does anyone have a picture of the prototype they could post?

A quick search in the photo's turned up this:
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/search.php?searchid=220
I have seen a bunch of other pix of a yellow one in a showroom floating around here as well.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by opelenvy A quick search in the photo's turned up this: http://www.opelgt.com/photos/search.php?searchid=220 I have seen a bunch of other pix of a yellow one in a showroom floating around here as well.

Well I learned something here - I did a thread search for "prototype" thinking that would turn up photos as well. Thanks! OK, so the prototype has a little more of a sleek, low slope design. But, that front end is too long for my liking - looks like one of my son's pine-wood derby cars. All in all, I would say the production car followed the prototype relatively close.

[baronbors]

When people tell me my Opel GT looks like a small Vette, I tell them that it is a Vette. You see- in 1971 America was involved in the Vietnam war and since there was a metal shortage due to all the armaments going to the military, Chevy decided to use less metal in the Corvette. Most people just go " OH Yah- I remember that now ".

[newman27]

Originally Posted by baronbors When people tell me my Opel GT looks like a small Vette, I tell them that it is a Vette. You see- in 1971 America was involved in the Vietnam war and since there was a metal shortage due to all the armaments going to the military, Chevy decided to use less metal in the Corvette. Most people just go " OH Yah- I remember that now ".

You can lend your tale further credence by reminding the person of how the U.S. stopped making pennies out of copper in 1943 due to rationing during WW II.

[GTJIM]

When my GT was having the bodywork done there was a Ferrari Dino beside it. The owner was a bit dismissive of my "Corvette" till I pointed out that they are made of fibreglass and my 'project' was all steel.
His eyes went ROUND and he said: " Ghee! So you are having them make you a WHOLE steel Corvette!"
Made his Ferrari shade into insignificance.

[Danforths]

For what it's worth, my old plates were "LIL VET". Now the car is getting '87 Vette suspension with a custom tube chassis.