[First opel 1981]

I want!

 

[The Cub]

It’s got some rust. Underneath, more revealing pictures of the venerable areas that have the rust may help quite a bit for the sale. Not unreasonable at all to ask $1,400 overall it looks pretty solid everywhere but behind the front wheel in the pictures

 

[First opel 1981]

I'm close enough to see it in person and get better photos.
I want to see the interior and listen to it run.

Interesting that there's no contact info or pictures under the hood.
I missed the rust behind the front wheel because the picture was posted so small. I see it now.

Still want it.

 

[First opel 1981]

OH SNAP!!!

I know where this is. I'm going to go there on Saturday!!! I should call first. It might be gone.

 

[First opel 1981]

I went to look at it today and was disappointed that the pictures here were so flattering.
To get it started it needed a jump box and starter fluid.
It has the original Solex carb and it was dry despite having been started earlier in the day. There was a lot of gas smell from the carb so it's leaking out somehow.
It did, however, fire right up on starting fluid.
The charging system isn't working. It did stay running for 30 seconds, once, without the jump box.
There's a rattle coming from the area between the engine and auto transmission.
There's more cancer than we see in the photos. The passenger front is also bubbling. There's cancer at the lower of the rear quarter panel on the passenger side as well. The rear quarter panel on the driver side seemed to be intact.
The driver seat is ripped at the seams (expected) but the passenger seat is intact.
There's a definite mildew smell but not like it's been outside for years. More like it sat outside for a couple months in winter.
The fuse box was wet.
There was a red light on the dash to the right of center. I don't know what each light is so I assumed it was the charge light.
The rear bumper doesn't look bad in the photos but it's not great at all. It would have to be remade or replaced. It was rusty and bent up a bit.
The brakes needing work is because the brakes stick. Probably swollen lines but could also be rusted components or water in the brake line.
I couldn't drive it at all. Their policy is back a couple feet and forward a couple feet. Besides their policy, it wouldn't stay running without the ump box.
I forgot to check the mileage but I'd guess it had around 50-60K miles on it. The 1.9L engine looked original. With the original Solex carb that usually fails around 60K, I'm guessing. The pedal pads weren't worn out either.

I didn't buy it but left a "don't send it to the parts yard" offer. I don't expect them to take it.

 

[JudokaJohn]

Thanks for the update. If it were closer, I would be looking at it, too.Mechanical issues are the easy part, body and rust repair is tough.

 

[tonykim]

every time I see a 70 wagon like this I feel nostalgic for the past. I remember as a kid pulling a 70 wagon home that owner had done engine work on, damaged, and given up on in a church parking lot. through the years of being a teen we did a lot of work on that car and it was a lot of fun...except for when it had a bad attitude. Through the years i have bought and parted or fixed many kadetts and there is always something special about the experience. i hope they get the value of this down to where it needs to be and someone can buy it and fix it. the lines look very straight and it looks pretty complete and original. Regarding rust and other things that are broken....it's hard sometimes to remember these are now 50 year old cars. I wonder if the Germans thought they would last this long.

 

[JudokaJohn]

every time I see a 70 wagon like this I feel nostalgic for the past. I remember as a kid pulling a 70 wagon home that owner had done engine work on, damaged, and given up on in a church parking lot. through the years of being a teen we did a lot of work on that car and it was a lot of fun...except for when it had a bad attitude. Through the years i have bought and parted or fixed many kadetts and there is always something special about the experience. i hope they get the value of this down to where it needs to be and someone can buy it and fix it. the lines look very straight and it looks pretty complete and original. Regarding rust and other things that are broken....it's hard sometimes to remember these are now 50 year old cars. I wonder if the Germans thought they would last this long.

Me, too. We had a 1969 Yellow wagon with 1.1 and auto trans (my mom could not drive a manual).

I think most of the cars made in the late '60's to 70's were not expected to last that long. I'm sure many were crushed before their time just to make room. It's only now that we are starting to see the intrinsic value. And now we notice that they are rare due to planned obsolesence. Of course, many of those cars were ridden hard and never got to be out away at all.

 

[First opel 1981]

FWIW, no phone call this week. I wonder if the weekend supervisor even gave my info to the manager.