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I haven't been posting around here lately since I haven’t had a GT in over a year but I'm getting another one soon. I just graduated from Purdue and moved to Chicago for a job, though after this project is over and my girlfriend finishes with Pharmacy school next spring my plan is to move to San Diego. There is a lot of stuff I was going to buy first (plasma tv, New keyboard and guitar amp) but since I have been driving a Corvette everyday, and damn does it ride rough, I figured I would get another car first. I had been looking at picking up a late 90's BMW 750iL but ...... like I knew I would...... I came back to Opels.
Been looking for quite a while at different ones that are for sale in various conditions. I always knew that there are a lot of GT's out there just sitting in garages that the owners wouldn't mind getting rid of. So I decided to put a wanted at up on craigslist for the Chicago area and got quite a few responses.
I went to look at one of them yesterday, here are the details he gave me over the phone:
Always garaged
Orig Fireglow but now repainted Yellow and black(coincidently EXACTLY like my last GT.
103K miles
Solex (AWESOME!!!!!!)
Engine is Froze
No rust
Last driven in 93
Comes with extra engine and trans, and a host of other parts including a NOS NIB Gas cap.
Here is what I found when I got there:
Rear quarters were OEM replacements
Bondo in every quarter - BUT I believe it is from accidents, the car was mostly driven in the city and prob had the fenders banged up a few times. The rear quarter replacement was excellent work but one side was hit at a later point and the work is kind of shoddy. The floors were completely solid and even had all the original insulation.
Interior is in excellent shape, only one small crack on the dash. Seat is broken though, but comes with an extra seat.
Headlights rolled over but go past where they are supposed to stop.
Electrical is a complete mess, someone stole the stereo and ripped half the wires out.
The hood hinge has broken off.
I offered him $700 for it, he settled on $800. Not the best deal I have gotten but good considering you never find rust free ones here in the north and with my new job I don't have the time to travel to pick up a rust free one.
I was hoping for a car with not as much previous body work that I could really sink some money into and do a primo resto. But being that this car has been in a wreck or two I think I am just going to restore it to be a daily driver. It might be a good one for an engine transplant down the road. The current owner says that the motor is stuck because it has been sitting for so long but there was nothing wrong with it. Hopefully I can get it freed up and not have to install the other motor. Either way I will have an extra motor to get rid of. I was also thinking I might drop in one of the 2.2L FI motors that Gill sells. Anyone know how much those run? I seem to remember they were in the $1500 range.
My biggest problem with it is the broken hood hinge. That’s one problem I have never run into in any of the other 7 GT's I have owned. Being that I don't have the big garage that I used to I am going to have to have it done at a body shop. Does anyone know how much that might cost?
Anyway when I start the resto I will put up weekly updates of my progress and pictures.
Been looking for quite a while at different ones that are for sale in various conditions. I always knew that there are a lot of GT's out there just sitting in garages that the owners wouldn't mind getting rid of. So I decided to put a wanted at up on craigslist for the Chicago area and got quite a few responses.
I went to look at one of them yesterday, here are the details he gave me over the phone:
Always garaged
Orig Fireglow but now repainted Yellow and black(coincidently EXACTLY like my last GT.
103K miles
Solex (AWESOME!!!!!!)
Engine is Froze
No rust
Last driven in 93
Comes with extra engine and trans, and a host of other parts including a NOS NIB Gas cap.
Here is what I found when I got there:
Rear quarters were OEM replacements
Bondo in every quarter - BUT I believe it is from accidents, the car was mostly driven in the city and prob had the fenders banged up a few times. The rear quarter replacement was excellent work but one side was hit at a later point and the work is kind of shoddy. The floors were completely solid and even had all the original insulation.
Interior is in excellent shape, only one small crack on the dash. Seat is broken though, but comes with an extra seat.
Headlights rolled over but go past where they are supposed to stop.
Electrical is a complete mess, someone stole the stereo and ripped half the wires out.
The hood hinge has broken off.
I offered him $700 for it, he settled on $800. Not the best deal I have gotten but good considering you never find rust free ones here in the north and with my new job I don't have the time to travel to pick up a rust free one.
I was hoping for a car with not as much previous body work that I could really sink some money into and do a primo resto. But being that this car has been in a wreck or two I think I am just going to restore it to be a daily driver. It might be a good one for an engine transplant down the road. The current owner says that the motor is stuck because it has been sitting for so long but there was nothing wrong with it. Hopefully I can get it freed up and not have to install the other motor. Either way I will have an extra motor to get rid of. I was also thinking I might drop in one of the 2.2L FI motors that Gill sells. Anyone know how much those run? I seem to remember they were in the $1500 range.
My biggest problem with it is the broken hood hinge. That’s one problem I have never run into in any of the other 7 GT's I have owned. Being that I don't have the big garage that I used to I am going to have to have it done at a body shop. Does anyone know how much that might cost?
Anyway when I start the resto I will put up weekly updates of my progress and pictures.