Planning on buying 1973 Opel GT...Need advice!

[73OpelMan]

Hello fellow Opel Lovers,

My name is Spencer, or call me Supaman (either one) I JUST joined this forum the day after I saw my first Opel (Yesterday) I absolutly fell in love with the car and it is selling for $4,000 and I want to buy it so badly but here is where my parents got involved.

I am 17 years old and own a 1968 Plymouth Valiant, and I am a big classic car fan and love to restore and show off at local shows or cruises. The problem is my mom does not want me to get this Opel because I am already having problems with the valiants engine.

Now I am not comparing a Plymouth Engine to a Opel's Engine but I do need to know quite a few things about the car because I am new to the statistics on the car and do not know much

List of things I need to know:
1. Any common engine problems ranging from battery to Piston rings and everything inbetween (Basiccly anything that is typical to go wrong in a Opel GT)
2. I have looked up a lot on the mpg of the Opel but alittle more refreshment will be for the better to convincing my mom to let me get it so if you have an Opel and are posting please tell me how many mpg you get on full tank.
3. How much would the cost be to get an Opel that is Class 4 in looks and damage to getting it to be a Class 2 almost perfect showcar.
4. How easy and where can I find the best parts for 1973 Opel GT's?
5. Are Opel GT's and other types of Opels (other year GT's) able to use parts off of different years or are they too different?
6. There is some bubbled rust along the lower bottom of the side of the car (Not the doors but the panel below that) it has not gone through but I think it is getting close. Will that be a "fix it now" thing to do or "not too big of a problem right now" thing?

Well thats everything, thanks for being here so I have someone to help me out.

Your Friendly Opel Lover (New lover)
73OpelMan

[baz]

hi spencer and welcome to opelgt.com
to run through your list

Originally Posted by 73OpelMan List of things I need to know: 1. Any common engine problems ranging from battery to Piston rings and everything inbetween (Basiccly anything that is typical to go wrong in a Opel GT) 2. I have looked up a lot on the mpg of the Opel but alittle more refreshment will be for the better to convincing my mom to let me get it so if you have an Opel and are posting please tell me how many mpg you get on full tank. 3. How much would the cost be to get an Opel that is Class 4 in looks and damage to getting it to be a Class 2 almost perfect showcar. 4. How easy and where can I find the best parts for 1973 Opel GT's? 5. Are Opel GT's and other types of Opels (other year GT's) able to use parts off of different years or are they too different? 6. There is some bubbled rust along the lower bottom of the side of the car (Not the doors but the panel below that) it has not gone through but I think it is getting close. Will that be a "fix it now" thing to do or "not too big of a problem right now" thing? Well thats everything, thanks for being here so I have someone to help me out. Your Friendly Opel Lover (New lover) 73OpelMan

1:the gt can have issues with the wiring to the lights front and back as its almost 40 years old but they are easy fixes ,its just a swop thing
the ignition switch can give a little trouble through age but a search for "otto start" will show you how to fix if it happens
the carb is not well liked but a swop to a weber dg*s (theres a choice of 3 ) will get you an easyer carb to tune
2:milage depends on where you are and what gas you use but around 30 is the norm, theres a poll of folks milage that will show it best
3:like any car this will depend on what you find as you go through he car but if you look on
http://www.opelgtsource.com/
you will see the cost of things
4: see 3
5:as the car is a unibody and the rocker under the door is structural it needs to be done as soon as for the structural strength of the body

hope this helps