Best GT Year for Quality and Performance

rockytopmark · 05-03-2005

What is everyone's opinion, Subjective and/or Objective... as to what was the year the GT was built with the most Quality and Performance?

greensmurf20 · 05-03-2005

best performers were probably 69 and 70 GTs, which had high compression engines, best quality built were probably the 73's, had extra bracing in the doors what whatnot.

baz · 05-03-2005

i thought the best year for both was 2005 as they just get faster and better

jlthunder · 05-03-2005

I'd have to say '71 and 72 because they have the better rear axle(well you can get parts for it) and don't have the dreaded 2 extra holes in the cylinder head.

saxybiker · 05-03-2005

My little 69 outruns all our other ones!

Vickie

Motor Mouth · 05-03-2005

I have to say '68 purely because I can and it's not on the list!

Worst engine has to be '73......it's asthmatic!

neuropel · 05-03-2005

Years ago (perhaps even on the old Armory list) there was a discussion on this and the '72 GT was rationalized as being the best one to have.

Dang...has it been 10 years since those old days? WOW!!

GTJIM · 05-03-2005

The '69/'70's had the best performance with high compression engines but the quality of the cars is reputed to have improved through to '72
A '72 with retro-fitted 9:1 pistons and a 32/36 DCD Weber is one of the best!
THe original owner of my '72 had these fitted in late 1972 after taking the car back to the dealer and complaining about lack of power - so mine has the best of both eras.
BTW: The bodyshop that restored my car had a 1975 Ferrari there at the same time and the comparison between the Opel and Ferrari bodywork was a revelation - the Ferrari was noticeably inferior!

Al Olmo · 07-22-2005

Originally Posted by jlthunder

and don't have the dreaded 2 extra holes in the cylinder head.

Can you explain what this is??.

jlthunder · 07-22-2005

Yes, I can

From Mid Model Year 1972 until 1975, there were two extra holes drilled in the front of the head, in front of the timing gear. They went into the timing case. It may of been a response to oil leaks.

The problem with these heads is that they were "hardened" so the valves could tolerate the unleaded fuel being introduced. They were not very tolerant to heat, sooooooo if you overheated just once, you were very likely to crack a valve or the head. The earlier style heads were more tolerant to heat.

There are others here who could go into more detail.

HTH

Jeff

Al Olmo · 07-22-2005

I see

I never knew about this.

gtmaxx · 05-19-2007

Thats Cool....But i have a 1971 Gt with a 1970 Gt 1.9L Motor with the high Compression so id like to know what the diffrence is instead of the loss of about 20whp loss from 1970 to 1971 because of the emmision law in 1971. P.s...I got a CD player for my car today and put it in it's all coming together! Slowly

View Poll Results: What is the Best GT Year for Quality and Performance?
1969	11	15.28%
1970	20	27.78%
1971	10	13.89%
1972	18	25.00%
1973	15	20.83%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 72. You may not vote on this poll

05-03-2005	#1 (permalink)
rockytopmark Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 134	Best GT Year for Quality and Performance What is everyone's opinion, Subjective and/or Objective... as to what was the year the GT was built with the most Quality and Performance?

05-03-2005	#2 (permalink)
greensmurf20 OPEL-LESS!!! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Gobles michigan 49055 Posts: 2,112	best performers were probably 69 and 70 GTs, which had high compression engines, best quality built were probably the 73's, had extra bracing in the doors what whatnot. __________________ previousely owned 8 GTs and 1 manta. currently own 92 25th anniversary Z28. Ttop, 350, T56 swap, many upgrades, basically a complete restore. 67 chevy sportvan deluxe....next in line.

05-03-2005	#3 (permalink)
baz opel free after 26 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,941 Real Name: barry williams	i thought the best year for both was 2005 as they just get faster and better __________________ Copyright © 2003-2009 barry williams All Rights Reserved save praying to God for sunday today we pray to Nike and run like hell

05-03-2005	#4 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	I'd have to say '71 and 72 because they have the better rear axle(well you can get parts for it) and don't have the dreaded 2 extra holes in the cylinder head. __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

05-03-2005	#6 (permalink)
Motor Mouth 'NO,......O P E L..G T!' Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Lincoln, UK Posts: 589	I have to say '68 purely because I can and it's not on the list! Worst engine has to be '73......it's asthmatic! __________________ Mark I used to have an Opel....now i have a collection 69 GT 2.5 FI, Getrag, Irmscher Big Brakes, LSD, Lowered, 8" & 8.5" BBS RM's, Leather.....ex Dealer Opel Team 70 GT 1.9 Weber, 4 Speed 70 GT 1.9 Twin Weber, 4 Speed, Alloys 71 GT 2.0 Weber, Getrag, Lenk Styling, Alloys 71 GT 3.5 V8 Holley, RHD, TARGA, Leather Recaros 75 Commodore GS Coupe, 2.5 Twin Carb, Auto 76 Commodore GS/E Coupe, 2.8 FI, Auto, Alloys, LSD, Sunroof

05-03-2005	#7 (permalink)
neuropel Rice Cooker Join Date: May 2002 Location: Spring Church, PA Posts: 1,787	Years ago (perhaps even on the old Armory list) there was a discussion on this and the '72 GT was rationalized as being the best one to have. Dang...has it been 10 years since those old days? WOW!! __________________ "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." -Abraham Lincoln ________________ 1972 GT 2.4L 1974 Manta GT/E 2.2L 1973 Manta Rallye 2.5L

05-03-2005	#8 (permalink)
GTJIM Old Opeler Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,686	Where Were You - in '72! The '69/'70's had the best performance with high compression engines but the quality of the cars is reputed to have improved through to '72 A '72 with retro-fitted 9:1 pistons and a 32/36 DCD Weber is one of the best! THe original owner of my '72 had these fitted in late 1972 after taking the car back to the dealer and complaining about lack of power - so mine has the best of both eras. BTW: The bodyshop that restored my car had a 1975 Ferrari there at the same time and the comparison between the Opel and Ferrari bodywork was a revelation - the Ferrari was noticeably inferior! __________________ GTJim Opel Owner since last Century! Copyright © 2000-2009 J D Henry All Rights Reserved

07-22-2005	#10 (permalink)
jlthunder 1000 Post Club Join Date: May 2003 Location: Salfordville, PA Posts: 2,143 Real Name: Jeff	Yes, I can From Mid Model Year 1972 until 1975, there were two extra holes drilled in the front of the head, in front of the timing gear. They went into the timing case. It may of been a response to oil leaks. The problem with these heads is that they were "hardened" so the valves could tolerate the unleaded fuel being introduced. They were not very tolerant to heat, sooooooo if you overheated just once, you were very likely to crack a valve or the head. The earlier style heads were more tolerant to heat. There are others here who could go into more detail. HTH Jeff __________________ 1972 Opel GT, Owner since 1983 2001 Saab 9-5 SE 3.0 Turbo V6 Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 1973 GT, Parted out, R.I.P. 1968 Kadette, Owner since 2006, Sold, 28 June 2008

07-22-2005	#11 (permalink)
Al Olmo Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 153	I see I never knew about this. __________________ Al Olmo 1970 GT 1970 GT 2003 BMW CL motorcycle

05-19-2007	#12 (permalink)
gtmaxx 1971 OPEL GT 1.9L 4-speed Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Grants Pass,Oregon Posts: 216	Thats Cool....But i have a 1971 Gt with a 1970 Gt 1.9L Motor with the high Compression so id like to know what the diffrence is instead of the loss of about 20whp loss from 1970 to 1971 because of the emmision law in 1971. P.s...I got a CD player for my car today and put it in it's all coming together! Slowly __________________ 1971 Opel Gt 1.9L 4-Speed Hugger Orange

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