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 to Temecula (once just to inspect it and video tape it) get it with a truck and a trailer it was never started for some 30 or so years

When the GT got to the shop we went through it with a fine tooth comb.
Many of the original parts where still in very good condition and did not need to be replaced, it was stored in a climate controlled showroom floor so the rubber was in great shape (even the original tires were not dry rotted but replaced at the new owners request, saved but not on the GT now).

The gas tank was dry and clean as it had been run dry and drained prior to its hibernation.
All the fluids were drained and new fluids added.
A compression test was performed twice, oil pressure was checked and up to snuff, all cylinders were prepared properly and a new battery installed with new gas in the tank she was ready for ignition. She fired right up with just a little priming of the Solex and idled like a kitten just purring along so soft and gentle, like music to my ears.

I got to drive this GT from the shop to the radiator shop to have it flushed and it was quite an experience to drive a new perfectly new GT.

The utmost caution and care should be given to any automobile stored for 20 plus years, before it is put back on the road. Brakes are of course the first thing to attend to

I am planning on going to Tacoma this year for the gathering of the Opels
IF this GT has not sold by then I may be able to see it in the flesh so to speak.
IF someone is in a hurry and wants to pay my expenses to go there and inspect it NOW I will be happy to do so.

I do have a question or two about the originality which I know can be answered easily and there is nothing like a close up encounter with the real thing to dispell all doubts, and confirm the truth.

The first picture is a GT with less than 15,000 original miles, the second one is the GT for my friends Don and Debbie.

[OpelJim]

Originally Posted by 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!

I'll be in my AC GT !!

[newman27]

Originally Posted by 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!

I think the profile of the optimal buyer would be someone who:

• Is already into Opel GTs and is serious about restoring one but hasn't bought one yet
• Trully understands and appreciates what it costs to fully restore an Opel GT purchased for a few thousand dollars
• Has no interest in making a return on their "investment"

I would think you could convince a person meeting the criteria above that the car is worth $22K - $25K. The challenge is coming up with a cost effective marketing approach that finds such a buyer (assuming he or she isn't already in this forum).

[wodawic]

Thanks to ALL OF YOU for the invaluable information regarding this pending transaction. We greatly appreciate all of your insight into this Opelicious domain with which we are not necessarily well versed in.

Newman,

Thank you, and we couldn't agree with you more. Cost aware, yet effective marketing is the key here. Given the ultimate goal - which can be gleaned from my earlier posts - your comment is spot on.

So, here's the plan:

Thanks to a courteous invitation from MawandPawOpel, we will be showing her at the Tacoma Opel show on July 21st. As is - no modifications, unless we hear otherwise from some of the prestigious contacts they have given us.

It should be fun to meet some of you, and let you drool on "Oma's Gold" as I've now affectionately dubbed her. Unless of course we receive some outrageous offer before then...

Invites will be sent to all the usual suspects - auction houses, Gilchrist motors (the original dealer) and the like. But the real audience is you, the Opelgt forum members. I hope to see some of you there in July.

Warmest regards.

RR

[jeff denton]

I think Newman's profile is correct, obviously there would be one more description, that would be the buyer who has or could actually come up with 20 grand plus...which I have no doubt the car could be worth to the right person.
This would narrow it right down, now, wouldn't it?
I'd love to see this car. I wouldn't buy it, even if I fit the profile, simply because although I would like to have a very cherry GT, I would want one that goes like a bat out of hell also. I'd be disowned from my favorite online club forever if I touched a wrench to a car this perfect! And you know I would...