Is there a difference between a German released GT and a US one?

[First opel 1981]

I just bought another GT after letting my son take home the last one.
This one was purchased from the second owner who said she bought it from a man who bought it in Germany and then moved to the US.
My question is, is there any way to verify a difference? I have noticed a couple things that are a little out of the norm (for me).
For reference, it's a 73.
One thing is it has a mirror on both doors and though they look like they belong to the GT, they aren't the typical design I am familiar with.
The second thing I noticed is that there is no GM logo under the rear window. There are no indications there ever was one there.

If this one is, indeed, a special import from Germany, I think it would be a very rare car.

Any input?
Thanks.

[oldopelguy]

If it has side marker lights on the back then it's US spec.

[hrcollinsjr]

If it has side marker lights on the back then it's US spec.

First thing that comes to mind would be the side markers that have already been mentioned and second would be the speedometer in kilometers.

Of course if it were a GT/J there would be clues all over it.

Harold

[BQS4]

Well, one definite way to tell, look under the car, the Euro spec'd GTs had front and rear swaybars, the US spec'd did not.

[Gary]

There was a post a few years back that cryptically mentioned a Euro spec GT in the WA/OR area that was brought into the U.S. by someone in the military.

[opelwasp]

Actually there is a Euro spec GT down the street from my house. It does not have side markers and the front turn signals are passing lights. The front curved lenses dual as side markers and turn signals. Also the washer bottle has an electric pump built in.

[RallyBob]

Well, one definite way to tell, look under the car, the Euro spec'd GTs had front and rear swaybars, the US spec'd did not.

Euro spec GT's had optional front and rear sway bars....

But most of them were fitted from the factory.

[heimue]

Non-US spec GTs do not have a manufacuring date stamp in the driver's door.

Dieter

[RallyBob]

Non-US spec GTs do not have a manufacuring date stamp in the driver's door.

Dieter

And I suspect there are no 'DOT' and 'FMVSS' tags affixed anywhere.

DOT - Department of Motor Vehicles
FMVSS - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

[First opel 1981]

There was a post a few years back that cryptically mentioned a Euro spec GT in the WA/OR area that was brought into the U.S. by someone in the military.

Interesting as I am in the OR area.

The car has rear markers but the rest I will have to check out when the car is delivered in a couple hours.

Thanks everyone.

[JudokaJohn]

And I suspect there are no 'DOT' and 'FMVSS' tags affixed anywhere.

DOT - Department of Motor Vehicles
FMVSS - Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

DOT stands for Department of Transportation, not Motor Vehicles.

[RallyBob]

DOT stands for Department of Transportation, not Motor Vehicles.

Doh! Pretty obvious it's not DMV...guess my brain is sorta mushy right now. I need sleep.

[Motor Mouth]

US spec GT's will have a speedo reading mph, rear side markers, date of production / chassis plate sticker on drivers door, smog control down in the nose cone, the turn signals will be beneath the grill and your side lights will be within the curved lens above the bumper and its more likely not going to have Anti-roll bars, but more likely to have openning rear quarter windows.

There were no European GT's built with the side markers as standard and so if you have seen what is regarded as a 'Euro' car with the side markers then it's likely to have had wing work or will have been re-imported into Europe from the US. There can of course be some Euro GT's with mph speedos as the ones offically imported into the UK, 170, will have had an mph speedo.

I think that about covers it.

[First opel 1981]

US spec GT's will have a speedo reading mph, rear side markers, date of production / chassis plate sticker on drivers door, smog control down in the nose cone, the turn signals will be beneath the grill and your side lights will be within the curved lens above the bumper and its more likely not going to have Anti-roll bars, but more likely to have openning rear quarter windows.

There were no European GT's built with the side markers as standard and so if you have seen what is regarded as a 'Euro' car with the side markers then it's likely to have had wing work or will have been re-imported into Europe from the US. There can of course be some Euro GT's with mph speedos as the ones offically imported into the UK, 170, will have had an mph speedo.

I think that about covers it.

Thanks.
This GT is definately not a euro GT which doesn't disappoint me as I suspected the story wan't accurate but it is still a nice find with minimum rust. No rocker damage, floorboards intact, and for the most part unmolested.

Thanks again.

[Motor Mouth]

Thanks.
This GT is definately not a euro GT which doesn't disappoint me as I suspected the story wan't accurate but it is still a nice find with minimum rust. No rocker damage, floorboards intact, and for the most part unmolested.

Thanks again.

Pleased to have helped.....a Euro GT would more likely be full of holes anyway.

[wklopf]

It is still possible that the story was essentially correct. It could have been a US spec car ordered for European delivery and after a period of use there, it was brought to the US. Bill

[Redskinsjbs]

Were all of the GTs built with holes for the side markers and the Euro models that were lacking them simpley had the hole filed in; or were the GTs built without holes for the side markers and then the holes were cut for the US market?

[jlthunder]

The euro spec GTs did not have the holes stamped out for the rear side marker light. If you had a euro spec GT and wanted the side marker lights, you would have to make your own hole. No blanks were installed

[Sparky73]

The second thing I noticed is that there is no GM logo under the rear window. There are no indications there ever was one there.
Thanks.

I'm not sure about the Euro GT, but I know that the GM Emblem was not on the US 71-73, only the 69-70.

HTH, Jon

[Motor Mouth]

It is still possible that the story was essentially correct. It could have been a US spec car ordered for European delivery and after a period of use there, it was brought to the US. Bill

Yes, this is possible. I did own a GT that was ordered for a US serviceman who actually collected the car from the factory and although the car was a US spec it nevered got a sniff of US soil. That said though, she is still a US car and to US specification.

Were all of the GTs built with holes for the side markers and the Euro models that were lacking them simpley had the hole filed in; or were the GTs built without holes for the side markers and then the holes were cut for the US market?

No, No, no.......only the US market cars had the side mark holes, so the rear wing pressings were completely different. In all my dealings with GT's and Euro owners there aren't many who would actually want a US side marker installed, infact most US cars making into the UK, at least, have the side marker holes filled as they're seen as spoiling the natural lines.