72 GT with under 600 original miles

[namba209]

Those stripes were a dealer option, that is, put on by the dealer after it was off-loaded from the transport truck. I've seen a lot of those here in SoCal whe the cars first came out. Judging by the pics and all the decals, it does appear to be as advertised.

[opelspyder]

That car does look to be what it is, I cannot see any signs of overspray in the pics, and the pics are very thorough. What a nice car and a good color choice too. That will be a good car for one of our members, if any come up with the cash
Keith

[soybean]

I agree with Keith. That is one pristine car. That is the cleanest, newest original I've seen. In my opinion the odometer has not been rolled back, and the way the jack is stored and condition of it, this may very well be the real deal. Either way your grandmother has a valuable car. Take your time with selling it. In my opinion that car is worth quite a lot.
Jarrell

[opelnut10]

Very original unspoiled example, while it is true it has been in storage for the past 23 years and will need some work to make drivable again it can be made into a very nice restored GT with a little work. It is much too nice a car to modify and every piece of it appears to be there. A little surface rust here and there but nothing that cannot be easily fixed. If someone is looking for an original, unmolested GT this one is certainly one to put on your list.

[CoriolisSTORM]

I want!!!! Anybody want a Caliber?

[dallasmanta]

unbelievable find.... Sorry for the family loss.

Take your time finding this GT the best home you can. I would consider buying it if I could get the boss to bless one more car in the drive way. Ron

[tomking]

Well it cant be worth more than the 25K the new one in Kentucky is priced at. And I havent heard it has sold yet??

[jvandyke]

Wow, all I can say is....wow. Short of true '68 dealer demo in silver and red, this is as good as it gets. (I only scanned a few pics though)
Seeing as how that one (which was re-done and not stock, and many more miles and whether you feel "redone really nice and modified to be "better" is worth more than "as delivered by dealer")
sold for $12,600
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...8750774&rd=1,1
I'd say this is "worth" $20,000 and I'd expect to get it, might get much much more than that if the right few people start fighting over it.
Clean it up, send to Barrett Jackson, retire. or least take a really nice vacation.....

I wonder though, since sitting undriven all that time if it would be better not to even try to start it. The value is in the originality but to make it drivable it probably should be gone through from stem to stern, prime the oil pump, change out all fluids(?) brake at least, check all rubber hoses, boots, seals. This really is "neglect" in a sense, since long term storage should include heavy doses of proper protection like waxes and such, blocks, engine prep, blah blah blah. A potential "collector" status buyer may pay more it it is completely untouched. Just wondering.
Is the antennae just not extended? Isn't that the little key on the key chain for it? I wonder if it was ever even up.
Cool

PS I see tomcat said the same thing really about gaskets, personally if I had the car and didn't care to keep it, I think I'd maximize my profit and simplify life by advertizing heavily all original as is and go for $20,000, if no go, then maybe sink in some money cleaning it up and making it back to road worthy, then try again, hard to think that way, if I had it I KNOW what I'd do and sell it isn't even on the radar.

[OriginalOpelGTOwner]

Sure was fun reviewing the photos of this very fine car and yes it does look original compared to mine. My car is original but with 32,000 miles. Happy I never sold it.

[azopelnut]

Will the car be at this year's Tacoma Opel show?? I think that would be enough incentive for me to escape the Arizona heat for the cool breezes of Tacoma!

[gtzero]

Originally Posted by OriginalOpelGTOwner Sure was fun reviewing the photos of this very fine car and yes it does look original compared to mine. My car is original but with 32,000 miles. Happy I never sold it.

HOLY COW! I put that much on my first GT within 3 months!

Wodawic,

Sorry for your family loss. That's a beautiful car you have there. I never would have thought that there'd be another sub-1000 mile GT out there at this point in time. Just boggles the mind to think what else might be out there undiscovered.

Thanks for the photos. It's nice to see what a GT looked like when delivered new.

I wish you and your family the best,

Manny

[wodawic]

Thanks to all you folks for the fine comments and questions:

Tomking: No we're taking our time selling it, waiting for for that "right few people" to start fighting over it as Jvandyke said.

Jvandyke: I tend to agree with you to leave it alone. The value is in the originality, and the "right" person would surely want to do it their own way.

Asopelnut: When is the Tacoma show? I was considering showing it there. That would certainly generate some interest ;-)

And I'm not sure about the little key, I'll find out and let you know.

RR

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by wodawic And I'm not sure about the little key, I'll find out and let you know. RR

The little key will have a stylized "H" on it meaning Hirschmann. It's the original German manufacturer of the OEM antenna. The antenna will have a black plastic cap that comes off (with a little effort) and there's a slot in the tip of the metal antenna. You stick the little key in the slot, turn it a 1/4 turn left or right, and you use the key to pull the antenna up.

[jvandyke]

Originally Posted by wodawic Jvandyke: I tend to agree with you to leave it alone. The value is in the originality, and the "right" person would surely want to do it their own way.RR

I guess that could cut both ways though, a really involved purist would rather do it themselves or supervise the work themselves while the next guy would rather buy one ready to go and not bother with it. Maybe you should shoot for the overly wealthy collector who doesn't much care to tinker, just wants it in the collection (Jay Leno?).
That Barrett Jackson or ebay or some other well publicized auction is probably where you make more money. Maybe Hemmings?
Need to find those guys who don't blink at dropping 50K on a new toy and therefore really don't care about dropping 20 on a cool old car. They may not peruse ebay much though.

Of course I'd much rather see one of the "true believers" like this bunch get it. You could always donate it to one of us as a benevolent contribution to the cause?

[namba209]

IMHO, This could very well end up being a trailer queen. On the other hand, it could be made to be driveable, but then, completly original goes out the window. Safety things like the brake lines would have to be changed along with the headlight wiring, and of course chasiing down the elusive trons that escaped during the course of years. Of course to drive it, the running gear would probably have to be gone through, as others have said, new gaskets along with all new fluids. But either way it's a beauty, from the pics. Maintaining a car as pristine as this one appears would be fun and the accolades it receives would be well worth the effort. Ask Tom Adkins about his Ms Opel, a beautifully maintained car, with its own transport trailer.

[newman27]

Originally Posted by namba209 IMHO, This could very well end up being a trailer queen. On the other hand, it could be made to be driveable, but then, completly original goes out the window.

This is a tough one. I know if I were to buy it, it would be driven regularly - I just can't see owning a car that I don't drive. I probably wouldn't drive it in the rain but that would likely be the only limitation. On the other hand, preserving it either by trailering it to shows or by loaning it to a car museum would be nice since so few in this condition are left on the planet.

[Phoenix]

Can I just say that while this car IS original, that lets not be too liberal with the value. At 20G, its the kind of price that MAY be attainable but might take months or even years to sell, even with tons of advertising and exposure. I recall a untitled Hemi car on the east coast that the seller was looking for close to a Mill for and had had it advertised for years. GT's rarely go for over 10 grand and those that do usually have a lot into them.

Barrett Jackson would be a very scary experience even if you had a car like Dallas. I did a lot of searching and couldn't find a record of an Opel being auction there at all. While it is a very special car, there are people there with much more at stake then a couple of ten grand at the max, so don't expect them to go much out of their way. I did find some Opels that were put on auction at Kruse International but none broke 10 Grand.

All I'm saying is that you can only get as much as someone is willing to pay, that is the true determination of value.

[wodawic]

Thanks Phoenix,

Your input, as well as everyone else's, is appreciated.

[jeff denton]

Sooner or later there's gonna have to be an asking price mentioned, and I am on pins and needles wondering what it's gonna be!

[greenopelgt]

This 72 Opel GT is awesome!!! Does it still have the original tires and inner tubes? Not really a question! As most of you know, I advertise Ms. Opel as 98% Factory original and it has turned into sort of a community challenge BUT remember folks while she rides long distances in her trailer home she runs with the dogs (other Opels ) when she gets there if she is not wearing her original footwear. I agree, if you have an Opel (regardless of model) you gotta drive them or they get stiff - real stiff. Luckily for me the Previous Owner really maintained and drove Ms. Opel occassionally ( 13,186 original miles when I got her ) to my continuing advantage. I have put about 1,000 miles on her per year. Outside of a second pair of shoes for speeds over 60 mph, a rear resonator, one belt, points and a condenser - Ms. Opel is pretty much today the way she came to me five years ago. She is not a 100 point car but she holds her own in competition with other "originals" and she scored well at the "Standards of Excellence Judging" at the Carlisle show in 2005. Ms. Opel does not do as well in "local" shows where Cameros and Mustangs rule. Really good restorations or modifies make Ms. Opel look like a "Plain Jane" to many but that is OK, too.
Let's face it folks, we will probably never see an Opel at a major auction. Like, I am still amazed the Concours d"Elegance at Ault Park accepted Ms. Opel for display and judging but she stood proud beside the Sunbeam Tiger 3 that the guy had already invested $80K plus. He probably has paid more in taxes for his car than I have invested in Ms. Opel total.
I love to watch the Opel fever hit this site when another "pristine" Opel is discovered in the USA.

Off to Charlotte early tomorrow morning to see Oooner and hang a lip over the pulled pork and baby back ribs. Awesome folks!!!! I will drive a long way for great food. I also hope to see my friends Soybean, Keith, Harold Jr. and many others including some new friends. We have had snow, sunshine, hail and rain just this afternoon so I'm looking forward to southern temps and hospitality.

[OpelJim]

As most of you all know about 2 years ago I had the honor and pleasure of selling/delivering a 1973 99.75% perfect Gt to Don and Debbie.

I went twice 40 hours to Redding and back