Cost of Restoring Your Opel GT

[ve39]

Hey guys i was wondering how much you spend on your opel gt all together
Car cost me 1500
getting it started and minimum repairs 3000
body work 5000
total: 9500 and a lot more (i'm thinking replacing the engine costomizing inside of it putting new sits and so on ...) to go if i don't crash it couse damn it's all one pice lol :o

[nobody]

So far the total is around 10000 US or 14200 Canadian, this is only parts and does not include any labor. I'm not done yet but that figure will hold up pretty close when it is done. I have around 400 or 500 hrs of labor in it and I wouldn't want to think about that cost if I would have farmed it out.

[GTJIM]

Shouldn't have started this - adding up the costs over the two years I have had the wee beast. All in New Zealand dollars which buy 0.60c US each at the moment.
Finished Jobs:
Purchase price $5,250; Inter-Island Transport $875; Body work and killer paint job $12,500; Sheet metal clips and bits from US $2,300; Misc parts from EBay $4,800; Wheels and tyres $900

Jobs being Done:
Motor $1,800; Upholstery $1,500; Wiring $1,200 Misc. finishing bits $2,000

Postage: Most bits came in from overseas - from around the World!!
$3,000

TOTAL: $NZ36,125 --- (faints)
$US21,675

[kwilford]

I just turned this into a poll. Tell us how much, including the purchase price but excluding insurance and operating costs such as gas and routine maintenance, you have spent on your Opel.

[madhatterpdc]

Are you looking for $$$ spent so far or are you looking for numbers based on estimated cost to completion for those of us that have a restoration in the near future.

So far, I have spent about $3,000 including acquisition cost. I have another $2,000 in parts and pieces that have been accumulated for the rebuild. I am estimating another $6,000 will need to be spent to complete.

I am guessing a grand total of $11,000 for a slammed, 150HP, with shiny paint. If you are to factor contingencies and real costs... I prefer not to think about that number, it might scare me into finding a more affordable hobby.

[Paul]

I'm not about to put into print how much I've spent on my Manta, 'cause my wife might find out........LOL

I've spent WAAAYYY more money than I intended, or even thought I could spend. And, I need to spend about another $500 to $1,000 once I get the engine assembled and the car running, on stuff like installation of the exhaust system, headliner, front and rear window glass and 3 row radiator recore.

Maybe next year I'll do body work and paint.

Someone shoot me and put me out of my misery........

Paul

[namba209]

That's kinda hard to figure out. I've been going "Looney Toons" over the past two years with my credit card, e-bay and PayPal getting an engine, tranny, posi-traction and various other parts I think I may need, along with using professionals to build parts that I want to be sure are right when it all goes together. I've got a standing order at OGTS and JustDashes for close to 2K and I'm still not done. A good guess of up to 10K and climbing is good enough for right now. Maybe when I get it all done, I'll sit down and figure exactly what the cost was, then again, maybe not. I don't know if I'll be able to stand the shock. :o

Ron

[ConreroGT]

Expense Report: 1972 Opel GT - 2.2l - 5-Speed 5/21/2004
PAID Planned Expense
Engine & Drivetrain
$1,650.00 1 2.2l block. (OGTS) Bored .040 over. (2243cc)
$450.00 2 Venolia pistons. (from Bob Legere)
$690.00 3 2.2l head. (OGTS) (Rebuilt by Roger Wilson of Opel Engineering.)
$160.00 4 Solid lifter cam. (OGTS)
$450.00 5 Roller Rockers (Cam Effects)
$600.00 6 Twin Weber DCOE 45.
$500.00 7 Intake manifolds. (Risse Motorsport)
$100.00 8 Sprint exhaust manifold. (OGTS) 2.5" exhaust pipe.
$65.00 9 Ignition is currently powered by the Crane XR700 system.
$130.00 10 Alternator is a modern, internally regulated 65 amp unit.
$1,200.00 11 A Getrag 5-Speed transmission. (OGTS)
$180.00 12 Clutch, 9" (OGTS) Rebuilt.
$120.00 13 Flywheel, 9" (OGTS). Used; slightly lightened.
$220.00 14 High performance custom radiator. (TGSI)
$165.00 15 Electric fan. (TGSI)
$230.00 16 Performace underdrive pulley set (TGSI)
N/A N/A 17 Future addition: Oil cooler with remote filter unit allowing for larger filter. (TGSI) $439.00
N/A N/A 18 Future addition: Installing Electromotive Ignition (distributerless) through TGSI Racing. $600.00
$6,910.00 $0.00 $6,910.00 Engine SubTotal including planned spending.
Body:
$320.00 1 Steinmetz flares (OGTS)
$120.00 2 Front spoiler (OGTS)
$80.00 3 Rear spoiler.
$2,000.00 4 Wheels are HRE model 526 (OGTS). 225x15x9 front, 265x15x10 rear.
$600.00 5 Upgraded brake system. (OGTS) Larger vented rotors with large ’75 style calipers.
$100.00 6 Steel braided brake lines. (OGTS)
$150.00 7 New Euro master cylinder. (OGTS) Does not have braike failure warning switch.
$615.00 $2,000.00 8 Paint is PPG Acrylic enamal. Ferrari Red.
$270.00 9 Rubber for glass and trim (OGTS).
$30.00 $612.00 10 Lights & Lens's (OGTS)
$800.00 11 Damage: Dent on rear driver-side decklid.
$3,985.00 $2,882.00 $6,867.00 Body Subtotal including planned spending.
Suspension:
$300.00 1 Lowered front and rear springs (OGTS).
$300.00 2 Front and rear anti-sway bars (OGTS)
$250.00 3 Koni red adjustable shocks. (OGTS)
$50.00 4 Front poly bushing kit (OGTS)
$100.00 5 Rear poly bushing kit (OGTS)
$300.00 $700.00 $1,000.00 Suspension Subtotal including planned spending.
Interior:
$300.00 1 Recaro seats.
$150.00 2 4 point seatbelt harness.
$50.00 3 Refurbished dash. (not installed yet)
$200.00 4 Additional gauge: Voltmeter & Oil Temp.
$300.00 5 New carpet and vinyl upholstery.
$200.00 6 MOMO steering wheel.
$500.00 $700.00 $1,200.00 Interior Subtotal including planned spending.
Miscellaneous:
$260.00 1 Polished/chromed: Valve cover, head access cover, cam cover, pulleys, thermostat housing, Alternator.
$100.00 2 Battery has been relocated to the lower rear shelf behind the seats w/ battery cutoff switch.
N/A N/A 3 Windshield wiper system is disabled. Wiper motor removed.
N/A N/A 4 The heater and heater box inside the engine compartment has been removed for carbuerator clearence.
$360.00 $0.00 $360.00 Miscellaneous Subtotal including planned spending.
TOTAL COST REMAINING GRAND TOTAL

$12,055.00 $4,282.00 $16,337.00

[jlthunder]

I've kept mine stock, but between body work and chrome work, it is over the 10K mark. Engine and trans was done in the 80's when I was single and had pleanty of money. Those days are over!!

[ve39]

$12,500 on body wow may be we should have a link to the picture of the car in this topic ,will post my when my car will come out of the work shop (2 weeks mechanic sayes )

Originally Posted by GTJIM Shouldn't have started this - adding up the costs over the two years I have had the wee beast. All in New Zealand dollars which buy 0.60c US each at the moment. Finished Jobs: Purchase price $5,250; Inter-Island Transport $875; Body work and killer paint job $12,500; Sheet metal clips and bits from US $2,300; Misc parts from EBay $4,800; Wheels and tyres $900 Jobs being Done: Motor $1,800; Upholstery $1,500; Wiring $1,200 Misc. finishing bits $2,000 Postage: Most bits came in from overseas - from around the World!! $3,000 TOTAL: $NZ36,125 --- (faints) $US21,675

[GTJIM]

There are pics of it in the GTJIM Gallery in memberes pictures.

The body shop "Rustorations" in Christchurch, NZ did the job magnificently.
Gave me a fixed price written contract for $NZ10,000 but when the paint came off there was a horror story with heaps of old lead work that had not been done correctly. The solder flux had rotted lots of the front sheet metal and the heat had warped the front and rear panels. It had been applied over old damage and just sculpted to shape without panel straightening

The panel beater gained an immeadiate drinking problem! So I brought in a front and rear clip from over yonder and paid him another 25%. He did not keep a real good track on the cost after that and the shop books show nearly $22,500 booked out against the job!! I reminded him of the fixed price contract and the extra bits I provided and we settled for the paid amount.
NOTE: Just looked at my own gallery - I paid him 50% extra - $15,000. I remember I "met him half way"!
So the whole panel and paint is actually a $NZ22,500 job. Included building the front from panels from 3 cars all dismantled and copper plated on the joins before re-spot welding; rust proofing; urethane skimming and a killer paint job

[opeldean]

money SAVED by working on a GT...

beer in garage fridge .75 beer in bar $3= $2.25

rattle can paint/filler $700 pro paint job $3000 =$2,300

Kansas city Property tax on a Gt $50...late model GM 300= $250

depreciation on a GT 0?.. verses depreciation on a late mdel car $2,000 year

insurance is cheap too...use this money you saved for gas,oil, maintainance
or for some nice Destec LED's with the money left over.

In way less than 5 years a $10,000 GT will pay for itself..

do you get the picture? Think like a woman?...INVEST in your GT so you can
save some money..

Honey look at all the money I am saving us!

[GTJIM]

Bucky, I am in awe of your accounting system! Wish you had made it known to me before I started. Unfortunately I don't drink beer so those savings are denied me.

[Dan]

Mine isn't exactly restored, but I've spent about $7000 building it. Just had to drop another $350 for new bearings, rings and gaskets along with a quick crank grinding (lost all my oil).

[Mr.MikeDMan]

i bought my gt for $600, and have only put about $150 into it
need new exhaust and rebuid on the old weber, then a paint fix up and i am pretty much done, as long as nothing gets broken on the way.

[Old Hippie]

No investment made yet, except for the $150 for the body and $250 for a 40K motor. I'm figureing about $10K to restore 2 GT's over the next 3 to 5 years. Since I'm a cheap bastard, I'm gonna try to keep it under $3000.

[oklaopel]

I'm in the same boat as the madhatter...not done yet and plenty more to do, so the 3K posted is just "so far" and that is just on the car, not including the shop I had built to keep my toys in and the additional tools I've needed along the way. So, by the time it is all said and done it will likely be in the 10K range. wow!

[pvcar]

1972 gt=$800
towing to bring gt home=$450
second 72 gt w/ a/c=$350
no towing expense

$2255 in parts from ogts that i can think of off the top of my head right now plus many other little things.

$1150 dollar paint job that they screw up on and have to re-do over again from the begining.

1 shop with endless supply of auto repair equpiment and an advanced automechanic with 45 years+ of auto repair.

and 18 months in the making

$5000+ so far and still growing almost every day.
a 1972 gt that i built from the ground up PRICELESS

[RallyBob]

Between tools, cars, and parts, I figure I've spent over $125,000 on Opels.

Somebody please have me committed.....

[GTJIM]

Bob, You ARE committed - to Opels!

Got back to my shed yesterday and hauled out the C&R Large Valve Kit that I tracked down on EBay. Dismantled a 1979 Holden Torana 19S Opel engine and found a realy sound head. But it is a four cam bearing head with a three bearing cam in it - from the factory! there is a blank 'cam bearing' in the unused postion to block off the oil. The motor has never been stripped before so it must have been done at the factory! No problem, I have a four bearing cam and bearing set - I'll just make very sure the oil holes are there.

More money to spend - on the engine this time!

[houserc]

The prior owner spent (I have all his receipts) around $6,000 on the GT I bought from him for around $3,800. So, the total invested in my GT would be alot higher from start to finish.

It still needs some body work and a good paint job. The PO had a quick paint job put on to transport it. Then it sat for about 4 years.

More dollars to sink in it yet...

[Killer Texas GT]

1976 paid $1525 for a 70 GT, my first one was a 69 bought in 72 for $1550, sold the 69 in 78 for $1800. Now the the 70 GT up to 98 I had $7000 tied up in it when it took 1st place modified at the 98 OMC picnic. Since then I have spent about another $3000 more on it and I am in the process of the 2nd restore on it. Now for the labor hours since 1977 when it got its first paint job, I have some where around $250,000 and still on the clock. My guess is about another $5000 into body and paint materials, new set of wheels and another 2000 hours of love cause it sure ain't paying the bills.

Killer Texas GT.
chopped, channeled, widened, hand made ground effects, suspension 4" wider /front coil springs, four wheel vented disc brake, power steering, tilt wheel, 380 lift solid cam, big chevy valves trip cut, dual 45mm webers, custom ram air intake, S-10 clutch, 5 speed, rebuilt 1.9 short block, 390 gears, new custom front end in the works, redo up date to ground effects, new custom hood along with a new paint job and wheels. Then I have to also get the wife's GT started and finished $700 invested thus far but no labor. I am getting to old to play with cars, but it is so much fun!!!

[Gary]

Originally Posted by ve39 ....wow may be we should have a link to the picture of the car in this topic

You are going to love our new "garage" feature, it will have places for a few photos, along with space for a complete description of your Opel(s) all tied into your profile.

Now if the developer will only release the multiple vehicle version....

[Old Hippie]

Gary, thats like wow, a very hip and groovy thing! Seriously, setup with the member names, it would put more of a face on who we talk to and the poor, poor conditions we Opel-holics have to work in.

[Jarrod Li]

Originally Posted by Gary You are going to love our new "garage" feature....

Is that the replacement for the old project worklogs?