Cost of Restoring Your Opel GT

[GTJIM]

There is a M/c rent outfit here and the North coast is better than Big Sur!

There is coast everywhere!

[Washout]

I've got a 1950 Willys Overland that is my primary project right now and it has been disassembled for the past two years. As I've started reassembling it now I needed an insparation to help me stay focused, I wanted an everyday driver to play with. That was the focus when I bought my 1970 GT for 1600.00 last year. I did most of the standard upgrades to make it relable, i.e. electronic ignition, 65 amp alt, did the valves and sealed up a few leaks, added sway bars front and rear and added a killer sterio. This and insidentals brought my "can jump in it and go for a cruse" car to the 3500.00 range. Once the truck is completed I will get stupid with the opel, body work and paint, engine rebuild, EFI, Turbo and so on.

I guess my point is, for a new guy that can do his own wrenching the cost to get something you are not ashamed to be seen in can be pretty resonable.

P.S. No, I'd rather not say what I've got invested in the Willys.

[Thom71GT]

I guess if you count since my 71 GT was bought new by my Father, with ALL the repairs, modifications, etc... It is easily over 15,000 dollars. Since I got it out of storage 2 years ago, I'd say I have spent somewhere around 2 - 2500 in tools and parts since then.

[Motor Mouth]

Just wondering if any of you guys/gals out there have ever bitten off more than you could chew in a GT restoration?

I checked a car last week that was so bad that the bottom 3inches of the inner front wings were completely missing. I told the guy the car was for spares only and offered him £300....'na' he said, 'some one could spend a little time and make that into a nice little runner.'

To be honest he could be right if the person was a genius with a welder and grinder, I just think the car should be left to go to the big Opel Carpark in the sky!

Luckily I've never had to do a big resto, but it'd be good to hear how some of you got on / or maybe are getting on with projects at the mo.

[GTJIM]

I checked a car last week that was so bad that the bottom 3inches of the inner front wings were completely missing. I told the guy the car was for spares only and offered him £300....'na' he said, 'some one could spend a little time and make that into a nice little runner.'

To be honest he could be right if the person was a genius with a welder and grinder, I just think the car should be left to go to the big Opel Carpark in the sky!

Shame on you! An official of an Opel Club wanting to consign a GT to the rust bin of history.

There are many and varied reasons for restoring quite far gone examples of any collectible car. One is rarity - with less than 200 GT's in Britain they are few and far between - each one being 1/2% of the total available pool unless costly importing is undertaken, with attendant compliance problems for LHD cars in a RHD country.

Have a look at "Practical Classics" or some of your other local magazines to see how far people go doing rust repairs on far more common cars in Britain.

There are maybe five GTs in New Zealand and two recent imports have very little chance of being able to be used as they are LHD. Fortunately, the one whose bodywork I restored (see gallery), has an existing LHD "Exemption Letter" and is on the Restoration Register with "live" registration plates.
As such it is one of the few chances of owning AND driving a GT in New Zealand.

In the Vintage and Hot Rod scene today's rusted junk is tomorrows gold! The GT scene is rapidly becoming the same. After all, they are not making any more of them.

[Thom71GT]

In response to the gentlman that said he couldnt see putting thousands into a car that would only trade for 5 - 6k. I'll put whatever it takes to get my car the way I want it. See, I will never......NEVER EEEEVVVEER sell my GT. SO, I can spend 15, 20, even 30k on fixing it up JUUUUUUUUst the way I want it and I can drive around in a car that gets just as many turns, looks, stares and questions as the guy that spent 100 - 200k on some exotic.

Now, I know, never-say-never. I guess if someone offered me 50 grand, I might do it. But I can guarantee that a good chunk of that 50 grand would go to buy another GT and fix it up just the same way.

Actually, I probably WOULDNT sell my GT even for a hundred grand, but I would offer to build one to the same guy for 100 grand.

[Old Hippie]

I HAVE to say this: Rust is a pain, BUT! it is always removable and treatable. It only depends on how dirty you want to get and how much you like your car. With alittle practice, anyone can mig-weld. talk to bodymen, the only reason they will say "No" is because of time vs money. When it's your "toy", time vs money becomes very less important. Patience and love of car will always get you by.

[DennisGardiner]

I belong to the, "I've spent too much money on my Opel club".
I have ent over $28,000 in parts (not including any labor) on my
2.4L 1973 GT.

I have $6-7000 into my Manta already.
Dennis

[oldopelguy]

Turbo motor parts and all, I probably have $8-9k into my wagon, but I easilly have another $9-14 into the other 4 Opels. Oh well, spread out over a few years, it sure beats payments on a new car.

[West Coast GT]

Since we're addressing the financial logic of restoring our GTs (and other Opels); we've basically got two approaches here.

1. Investment. Don't even think that you (or any of us) will get back the cost we've sunk into restoring an Opel. At least until they are recognized as collectable. This could happen. Look what happened with the Austin 3000. 20 years ago they went for next to nothing. Today...

But basically, if we're in this for return on investment, then we should get out and look at real estate.

2. Cost of Driving something Cool. This makes sense. So what's comparable to a GT in today's selection of new cars? Comparable being a low priced sports car with low to moderate performance, low on creature comforts, affordable to youngsters? Entry level Volkswagens and Fords in the $13,000 to $20,000 range. Toyota, Honda, Kia, and Mitsubishi have their respective models in this market. Is that what we want to drive?

So, can we spend under $10,000 and have an unusual sports car of comparable characteristics? Sure can. And we can upgrade some areas to boot.

What would happen if we sunk $20,000 into a GT? I'll bet some of the talented Opel GT Forum crowd here could have a car comparable in comfort, styling, and yes, dare I say it, performance with the Lotus Elise. By the way, that is one kick-ass (can I say that) automobile. I'm not into buying new autos, but that Lotus would be my 1st choice. Price for that car? 41k euros. Speculation here in the US is $40,000 dollars. But, as with any new release of a truly cool car that would be considered a "milestone" model, dealership gouging will bump that baby to the $45k - $48k range.

Does it make financial sense to sink $20k into an Opel? Yes, when we consider the end result (improved performance & creature comfort), and compare it to what it would cost to obtain the same level of automobile in a new car today. And we haven't factored in the "cool quotient” yet. Except for the Elise, I haven’t seen a more slippery sexy design than the GT. To me, it’s better looking than a Ferrari.

Have you guys had a chance to see Gil’s GT from Opel GT Source? I’m thinking maybe it could be in a class with Porsche. And I mean one of the good ones. I only got a chance to look at it at the Opel picnic he hosted last month, (and it looks damn good) but I’m betting it would perform close to a ‘Vette, BMW, Porsche level. I’m real curious what it cost, but don’t know him well enough to ask. His car could very well be the standard by which all others are measured.

Picture this; you’ve set up a $20,000 five-year loan, put the money into an account dedicated to your GT. What would you do to your car, and how good would it be? Better than anything on the market for $20,000?

Makes sense to me.

[SoCalOpelGT]

West Coast GT - well said and I agree on everything you outlined.

Just want to add this: Locate the following book and enjoy in the listing's of the newly added Opel GT to the "collectible car status". The 71" ~ 75' Opel Manta 1900/Coupe/Rallye/Luxus also made it. * I may not of accurately remembered Manta descriptions.

[GTJIM]

West Coast GT - well said and I agree on everything you outlined.

WC GT offers a calm and rational reason as to why it is sensible to spend thousands on a GT - and you agree with everything! Even produce documentary evidence.

You are BOTH as mad as the rest of us.

[SoCalOpelGT]

WC GT offers a calm and rational reason as to why it is sensible to spend thousands on a GT - and you agree with everything! Even produce documentary evidence.

You are BOTH as mad as the rest of us.

Hi GTJIM,

How are things in the Opel world "down under"?

I hope everyone reads what WC GT has to say. He did do a good job as well as others, on this topic!

I'm proud to be a part of this mad GT group.

[GTJIM]

Hi GTJIM,

How are things in the Opel world "down under"?

I hope everyone reads what WC GT has to say. He did do a good job as well as others, on this topic!

I'm proud to be a part of this mad GT group.

The "Down Under" part of Opeldom is fine - especially since I found this fine group of Opelers. WC GT's article is persuasive and right on the money!

Also very proud to be part of this mad GT group

"I have never suffered from insanity - Infact I quite enjoy it" Sir Issac Newton

[calvin]

Well it should have been $150 cause that’s what I paid for a running, extra engine extra tranny 3 starters and a ton of other parts, would pass inspection dented and a bit rusty Manta.. 'cept I had the bug left over from my army days in the late 70ies

so when I saw an drivetrainless, not to rusty TX Manta with a fancy suspension lowered with 3 extra sway bars, koni's, for $600 with extra wheels and dual Weber 40ies needing a rebuild, 4 race tires, 2 race radiators, a racing harness and for another 1500 and then Bob Legeres how too article... mind you it took me two years to get the money to buy all that and the cars sitting for about two years while I scratched up the 3,000 for the engine and 1500 for brakes, paint seats and bodywork, all work done more or less by me. .A non pro (and it shows if you look closely)

First I killed a tranny and then 3 months latter lunched the engine so I am back to square two.
So this round add another 3 grand on top of that for the engine with "NECESSARY" improvements like dual Weber 48ies and roller rockers with a ton of stuff never finished from the first round.

By the time I am done I bet I will have at least ten grand in not counting any labor.

[nobody]

Since this thread has taken a bit of a turn to why instead of how much. I figured I could post to how I look at it. when I got the latest GTs they were from a few pics on another site. One was supposed to be parts and the other running, it turned out the running car was junk and the parts car was the keeper. However they came with a boatload of parts, a big NOS batch of stuff. I've continued to stockpile parts and sell a few of the duplicates to finance the car. I still have more parts than I started with and the bottom line financially is that I have almost no money in the car but alot of labor and lets not forget all the time involved making it all work this way. If you ever get the chance to buy Opel parts or cars in bulk do it, they are becoming too rare and the ones left need those parts more now than ever. It is a labor of love for me to sort and send parts to people, But then again it finances my wild ideas and the restore in general. I've gotten to know a few Opelers that way that rarely if ever show up here, so there are more plusses. Besides any Opel or Opel part deserves to be used if it has any use left in it. My balance sheet shows a + 200 or so on the car. does this mean I have a 10 K car for 200 bucks? less labor of course.

[opeldean]

I will be glad to sell my marker lights for way less than $280.
Nobody..this person has more in a light than you have in you whole car..
except the bllod sweat and tears!

[cjkca]

$400.00 Purchase of 70 GT 1900 S.
$2.00 Can of GoJo
$0.00 Dismantleing GT

Dreaming about what it will look like finished ....PRICELESS

[opeldean]

I bought the best opel my budget could afford over a year ago . It was $7000.($200 a month on a
3 year car loan with about 5% interest)
I paid professionals for a new windshield and seals put in, firewall and gas tank welded plus some miscellaneous stuff . This
Put me close to $8,500 at the start. It is a basic solid CA car, not a spec of rust.
Body and frame is all straight. Since then I have driven it almost 10,000 miles.

I have spent approx another $200 a month in “stuff” every month for the last
15 months.$700 in paint for my first try at a paint job that I will need to redo to be better. For example, last month it was a rear end, this month are 2.0 opel exhaust Valves @ 28 ea. Before that ET alloy wheels were $200. Misc. stuff like
Plugs, electronic ignition, sprint manifold,2 in exhaust, carb rebuild, destec lights,
2 car covers to keep her cool in the summer, etc. I can drop the column and pull
The instrument panel in 10 min or less!

I am not just repairing the car, I am fixing it up to my satisfaction. I just want a
Solid, fun, daily driver. and that is what it is and much more.

Cost of acquisition:
My brother traveled the 2000 + miles to go get the car and bring it back.Plus he
Gave me a satellite radio ..then later an OGTS dash for my birthday. What is
The added value? Priceless

Future costs; A friend is building a cylinder head for me and will install a fresh
Engine. I will buy all the parts but he is donating his labor thru friendship and things I have helped him with..
What is the value ? priceless!

Currently I have a real nice, sporty car that runs awesome for about $11,500.
In a year and a half it will be close to $14000. The car is reliable and can be driven anywhere.It is practical to a degree.
Insurance and taxes are cheap. I have only needed one tow! I carry a
Powered jumpers, oil, fluids, hand tools and a vo-meter.

I have no regrets. The car and my hobby is costing me about $400 a month.
I have friends who spend that a month in bars,sporting events,jet skiis,boats,etc.
It will be paid off
In a year and a half. I have owned a bunch of cars in my life. This is by far the most fun. I will keep the car my entire life as there is an emotional bond.

I have driven her 150 miles in the last 2 days between my jobs. Life is good..
Even if your opel is not running ..at least you got one.

[truman]

This one on ebay looks interesting and the spare parts list is impressive- http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6390