Opel Q's

[Georgia Girl]

Could anyone tell me a little about the Opel. I've wanted one since I saw one when I was 16 at a car show. Now I'm about to go off to college. For example whats the avg. gas mileage, power, if it ever came in a T-Top, general drivability and reliability, etc. Thanks guys.

[Phoenix]

Gas mileage ranges in the 20s depending on how you drive. I get about 25 mpg.

No T-Top, no vert, but some did have a vinyl top.

2 engine options 1.1 and 1.9. 1.1 is a little less common and harder to find parts, but they are there.

4 speed or auto but the autos are a little rarer.

69-70 1.9 had high compression engines with a little more hp, 71-73 had low comp with a litttle less.

Look here to find out a little more about specific years. Click on "Opel GT Model Year Recognition Chart".

You just missed a real nice get together. Pics are here in this thread.

[Georgia Girl]

Thanks alot. I would of thought it got a lil better gas mileage tho.

[Phoenix]

Some people do. And you can get even better with a 5 speed if you get a lot of highway miles, but it would be a lot of trouble for a person with low mechanical skills.

I like to have a little bit of fun with mine. The power is not tire frying but the car only weights 2200-2300 as compared to around double that on most cars then and now. My Thunderbird had a V8. I only got about 17 MPG. I thought that it was worth it for the fun that I had. Same principle for the fun that cost me some MPG.

BTW, if you want to see some good opels, come to the Orphan Car Show in Snellville on May 3RD. Here is the on going thread that we really should start a new thread for '08.

[Georgia Girl]

Also do they have power steering?

[Sparky73]

Also do they have power steering?

No power steering came as an option, and currently there are no kits for it. Your only option for power steering would be fabricating your own. There was just another thread about this posted about a week ago.. let me try to find it.

[Sparky73]

Here are a couple of threads:

Here or Here

[Paul]

They don't really need power steering..... My 20 year old daughter has been driving one for almost 3 years now with 4-speed tranny and no power steering... still loves it

[newman27]

Thanks alot. I would of thought it got a lil better gas mileage tho.

FWIW, in day to day commuting traffic, my 2006 Solstice gets worse gas mileage than my Opel. You didn't say you wanted a GT specifically, but, assuming you do, IMHO, gas mileage should not be a criteria for buying a sports car (unless you work for Consumers Report where sports cars get knocked for all kinds of stupid things like inconvenient cup holders and small trunk spaces). My point is that a sports car is not a practical thing, generally speaking, so many of the criteria you might use to pick the family sedan do not/should not apply. Good luck on finding an Opel you like and can live with - you won't regret it!

Matt

[Dale .D]

Thanks alot. I would of thought it got a lil better gas mileage tho.

Actually it should get better.With few mod I get 35 mpg Canadian gallon but even so!Fun to drive & a real head turner but there's several modification that should get changed.You can find them on this site.Not big on power without alot of work . Just a great little cruiser. Good luck

[Motor Mouth]

Let's be honest here, we're talking about a car that's coming up to 40yrs old, so fuel consumption be completely discounted.......it's not in the teens like say a Porsche et al and so the mid-20's is pretty good.

As some of the guys have pointed out they rekon to get low 30's and i can even achieve 30mpg, with a sensible right foot, with my 190bhp beastie. Best thing for achieving a reasonable consumption is to make sure the carb's set up properly, the engine is serviced and in good condition and things like the appropriate tyre pressures are maintained.

A GT to me is automotive art and the pleasure of owning / driving will far outway what it lacks in mpg.......at least you're not paying $9.30/gallon like us in the UK......now where's that spare diesel engine

[BQS4]

I have to add my $.02 worth here. My wife is a petite gal, 5' and she drives a 74 Sportwagon. Her daily trip is 60 miles a day through the toughest Atlanta traffic. Most of her travel is stop and go, and she has to fill her Wagon about twice a week, but, this is far better than when we had the '00 Blazer and it was sucking 30 gals a week compared to 20. As for power steering, I keep her tires to the proper pressure, which helps mileage too, but, it makes it easier for her, but, then she's no weight lifter and she scoots about with no problem. Her Wagon has 70 series tires. My Sportwagon has 60 series tires and she can still drive mine, save for the fact my Wagon is a 5-spd, hers is auto. I get 30+ out of mine, if I had Hwy to drive all the way to work and back, but, I don't. Mostly mine is 2 lanes and clooged with cars. But, I still get a weeks drive out of 10 gals. As for "WOW" factor? With a Wagon? LOL, we get them as much as my nephew with his GT. It's being D-I-F-F-E-R-E-N-T that makes people notice. Standing out from the "crowd". Like my nephew said, come to the Orphan Car Show in May and you'll see....

[markandson]

If you want to own one you either have to buy one that is already rebuilt by someone who knows their stuff or have the mechanical ability to do it yourself, or have a really good friend who wants to spend a lot of time with you working on it. As previously stated, these cars are 40 years old, you don't just pick one up used and start driving it. Not trying to sour you on these cars, I would not be doing what I am if I didn't love mine, just be sensible if you buy one.

[Georgia Girl]

I was just curious about the gas mileage, and I'm not naive enough to expect it to get amazing gas and such. I've just always loved the Opel GT and wanted to know more about it. I'm hoping to get one after I graduate college and all.

[Opelkurt]

I was just curious about the gas mileage, and I'm not naive enough to expect it to get amazing gas and such. I've just always loved the Opel GT and wanted to know more about it. I'm hoping to get one after I graduate college and all.

My '70 Opel GT with the original 4-speed and weber carb, in very good tune gets about 33 mpg @ 65 mph. My '72 with weber but converted to 5-speed got 37-38 mpg on a run around Lake Superior. Seriously.

-Kurt

[wrangler]

The best selling point about the GT is the 'cool' or 'wow' or 'what-is-it' factor that they seem to command. On the down side, as previously touched upon, is that as a 35+ old car, they do require occasional maintanence, but this is much easier done on an older carbeurated car, vs the new FI, computerized cars of today. If you own one and need to have a very dependable car... maybe not the best choice. But if you want to stand out and can live without wheels from time to time for a day or two, then it would be hard to beat. I have always found that having an Opel GT is a bit opposite of the old adage about a man and his boat:
"A man's best day is the day he buys a boat... his second best day is the day he sells it"
I hated having to sell my first GT... had the internet been around and this site, I would still have it. Gary's site and the contributions from the members have been invaluable, but you will at one point or another need to be able to 'turn a wrench'; but will love it when you have.
JMTCW,
Brett

[suncat]

I have been looking over Opel GTs for about 15 years since I saw a restoration in my community college garage. My son and I are ready to take the plunge, but we are not in it for a full-blown restoration at this point.

I am looking for a daily driver car we are not afraid of routine maintenance. I'm a guy that is comfortable with plugs, wires, carb tuning/rebuild, belt/alternator/filters type stuff - not an engine rebuilder (I know my limitations). Prices for GTs are all over the map and i understand that originality, correctness, and condition play into selling prices. What should I be budgeting for in a GT that is mechanically sound, drivable, but a body that may need TLC?

Also as important - what should I be looking for as far as danger signs for safety and the most expensive components to be marginal in a potential purchase car?

When the day comes, are there any members in the PHX/LA/SD/LV area?

Thanks in advance....

[Anonymous D]

Here's a link to an article, written to inform and answer some of the more common questions that would-be or new GT owners have:

GT "Things to Know"

Generally, the more you spend upfront (from a private party who has either an undamaged original-condition or a rebuilt GT), the less you will have to pay (to perform needed repairs yourself). This particularly applies to body work on a GT (which is generally harder to repair than common drivetrain issues).

[First opel 1981]

Personally, I prefer one with a sound body over a sound engine if I am going budget. The Opel engine (in its stock form) is pretty simple. It will cost far less to have someone rebuild a motor than it will to have someone repair cancer.
The interior is simple enough with the components from OGTS. You can refresh an interior for well under $1000.

What to look for, IMHO, is cancer in the fender wells, kicker panels, floorboards, belly pan, jack points and under the seats. If there is no cancer in these spots, then there shouldn't be horrible rust anywhere else.

[AZManta]

I have been looking over Opel GTs for about 15 years since I saw a restoration in my community college garage. My son and I are ready to take the plunge, but we are not in it for a full-blown restoration at this point.

I am looking for a daily driver car we are not afraid of routine maintenance. I'm a guy that is comfortable with plugs, wires, carb tuning/rebuild, belt/alternator/filters type stuff - not an engine rebuilder (I know my limitations). Prices for GTs are all over the map and i understand that originality, correctness, and condition play into selling prices. What should I be budgeting for in a GT that is mechanically sound, drivable, but a body that may need TLC?

Also as important - what should I be looking for as far as danger signs for safety and the most expensive components to be marginal in a potential purchase car?

When the day comes, are there any members in the PHX/LA/SD/LV area?

Thanks in advance....

I'm in Prescott, Arizona. about an hour north of Phoenix.