And so it begins. I just picked up a 73 GT project that was began by another member of the OpelGT.com family. First photo of it after coming off the trailer. more to follow
Unfortunately the bottom 12 inches of the car are not savable. It's a Minnesota car and the bottom half was encased in fiberglass. I salvaged everything I could and unless you have a need for the hood, roof or window frames, I suspect it is not worth anyone's efforts. The reason I even ask now is due to the public outcry when I first got the car and was debating restoration.
This may be a good subtopic to debate: When is a car too far gone to be considered for restoration?
Mike, Thanks for responding, the nose pan looks good in the pic, but I don't like fiberglass so ...! Now, to answer your question about "too far gone ...", a picture is worth 1000 words so you have already written a short story about this one! Well Done! :lmao:
Overall, I think I am ahead, but more damage than was visible is there when I got a closer look! I am still looking at the plastic bumper covers as mentioned in that thread, but a couple of different models look like better choices.
A fellow Opeler just came and picked up the car. He needed the rear window frame which was one of the few parts that seems good. So, onward and upward. The body is due back from the restorer in just a few weeks. he is cleaning up the last of the body work which is the nose. I'm just a few blocks away but haven't seen it for a month or so. Pictures have been coming via text messages and he has a full photo album of the work as well that he is planning to hand to me once completed.
No POR-15 used. All rusted metal was cut and replaced with good metal. Interior was painted a standard satin black and the engine bay was paint gloss black. the blue piping in the seats will match the primary exterior color of Opel Signal Blue.
My wife could spit nails right now. So, the dear wife and I are going to move north and everything is either shipped or packed in the cars. Last thing to do is load the GT and hit the road. It's not done and he wants 2 more hours. Aarrrggg. We are going on a year of it being in the shop. Yep, things happen and I am just at that oh well moment but not leaving without the car. Keeping wife happy and having the GT is a challenge sometimes.
PS - There was a discussion about this car NOT being J. Edgar Opel, but I noticed that the first line of text above the title uses that designation. Perhaps I had a pic of another car from a C&D cover that was a GT project car, but not J. Edgar?
Ok, so it's been a few years but I now have a deadline. Not much has been happening on the project since the last posts. I've torn down the front end and had everything powder coated, new bushings are in and i've been buying parts along the way. I am done with college classes till August and need to get this finished before I graduate in May 2021.
I know we are in "social distance" mode but if anyone wants to lend a hand this summer and is close to New Ulm, MN, I could really use the help. Jon, the son, is quite a distance away and has added to his own family so he isn't as available as he had been. Beverages and food are all I can offer. PM me.
Can see the famious OEM, arched front spring on your cart.
As long as one of those bicycles hanging over GT roof does not fall, you will be in great shape.
Mike that is a beautiful front end restore If I lived closer I would take you up on the offer. I love tinkering on Opel GT's and not worried about people contact
Thanks dpre. I am such an amateur at this. I have service manuals and OpelGT Source as provided great help. But I foolishly took things apart and got distracted and I am hoping to get the A arms on the correct sides. Also, the orginal bushings were disintegrating so I purchased the poly ones. However, I failed to safely put away the outer metal sleeves, which I removed before powder coated. I am missing one.
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