STLtoday - Sporty Opel GT two-seater sometimes called "Baby Vette"
Sporty Opel GT two-seater sometimes called "Baby Vette"
![Image]()
'70 Opel
Charley and Laura Malloy's 1970 Opel GT.
Bruce Kunz
05/05/2008
Four+Four+One Trivia Question of the Week:TM 1. What is the latest year of OPEL GT production? 2. What country is the home of the Opel automobile and in what city is its headquarters? 3. You may have owned an Opel or knew someone who did. How many other models besides GT can you name that were marketed here in the United States? 3. This one’s for the loyal Opel followers: Who was the founder of Opel and for the production of what other products was he well known? 4. What modern day Cadillac was manufactured by Opel? 5. After 147 years of publication, on January 10, 1969, this well known magazine printed its last issue. What was the name of this publication, known for its well-written pop culture fiction, articles on current events, brief human interest features, single panel cartoons and covers illustrated by Norman Rockwell? 6. Name the 1969 hit single (and the artist who performed it) with the following lyrics: “When I kissed you girl I knew how sweet a kiss could be (Knew how sweet a kiss could be), Like the summer sunshine pour your sweetness over me (Pour your sweetness over me)”. 7. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched becoming the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. Can you name the three astronauts on board that historic flight? 8. This popular children’s show debuted on November 10, 1969 and included a character with a pet worm named Slimy. Name the show and the character. 9. Besides the GT, how many other Opel models can you name that were offered in the United States?
This week’s trivia answers may be found on my web site at the-fin-man.
Back in the day… at the turn of the sixties decade, I was but a poor college kid with a rich kid’s appetite for cars. Like many a lad at the time, I envied the adults and the affluent kids who drove Corvette Sting Rays, a totally new style for 1968. The likelihood of me owning a Corvette... well, I might as well have been wishing for a bright red Ferrari. Instead, I had to be content with a five hundred dollar English Ford which would have to do until… well, although I’ve owned a spate of fine cars over the years, both collectibles and daily drivers as well, I’m still waiting for that ‘Vette. (Father’s Day is June 15th honey.)
If you think there’s a familial resemblance between the ‘68 Corvette and the little red sports car, the 1969 Opel GT shown in the photo above, you’re not alone. Opel, the German division of GM, introduced the sporty little Opel two-seater in 1968 and dubbed it the GT. Since its inception in 1968, many have referred to it as the ‘poor man’s Corvette’ or ‘baby ‘Vette,’ for it mimicked the new Sting Ray’s styling from the blunt rear end with its upswept tail, four round lights and slim, divided rear bumpers, right down to the pop up headlamps– low budget affairs which required tugging a manually operated lever beneath the dash.
Although some may say there’s no comparison between the venerable Corvette and its pint-sized Deutschland impersonator... and Corvette enthusiasts may be appalled that anyone would even attempt to make such a comparison, I have no qualms about doing so. Therefore, Corvette fans, take a blind eye to the next couple of paragraphs while I delve into a comparison of the two vehicles.
Although its general shape was similar to Chevy’s famous sports car, that’s where the similarity ended. Corvettes, as nearly anyone with even an inkling of automobile knowledge knows, are muscular, V-8 powered (since 1955) bullies of formidable stature with a proven and consistent track record... particularly in the realm of straight line zero to sixty times. The Opel GT, on the other hand, was tiny in comparison and driven by a humble ‘four banger’ producing a mere 67 horsepower from a displacement of approximately 66 cubic inches– barely over one liter. Volume wise, you could fit six and a half Opel GT engines in the same space as one Corvette 427 cubic inch V-8. The most powerful versions of the 427 engine produced 430 plus horsepower, about six and a half times the power of the standard Opel engine. (An optional 1.9 liter four cylinder engine which produced 102 horsepower was available in Opel automobiles.) Weight-wise, the diminutive Opel GT tipped the Toledo at just 1,815 pounds... about half the bulk of a 427 equipped Corvette.
Finally, lets look at the bottom line. Charley reported that his Opel GT had a sticker price of $3,284.00 back in 1969. Although a stripped down Corvette would have run Charley around $4,700.00 (not as big a spread as I would have expected), a fully equipped example could have topped the seven grand mark, more than double the tab for the Opel GT.
The list of optional equipment on GTs was limited and included automatic transmission (a four speed manual was standard fare), air conditioning and that larger four cylinder engine. As one might expect, with that spread of nearly $3,000.00 from the base ‘Vette to a fully equipped model, rest assured the options list for Chevy’s sports car ran multiple pages.
A rainbow of colors was offered on both the Corvette and the Opel GT. The ones I remember seeing the most of were the bright red (like Charley’s car), orange, blue and a very nice dark metallic forest green that made one think of British Racing Green. Interiors were trimmed in leather and available in black or tan.
Opel GT sales totaled around 103,000 for the five model year run. Despite the potentially significant premiums, Corvette sales totaled 135,346 for the same period.
If this story has enticed you to run out and pick up an Opel GT for summer ‘08 cruisin, you can expect to pay just under $10,000.00 for a show quality example, whereas that ‘68 ‘Vette will cost you dearly in comparison– about three times that amount. If equipped with one of the rare, high output 427s, the tab could run as much as $60,000.00 OR MORE! That’s about 24,000 barbecue cheese Chuck-A-Burgers with cole slaw!
Fuel economy? Ah, fa get abod it. The Opel GT wins hands down. (Well, we have to give the underdog credit for something.)
Assembled in Germany with a body built in France and engine of English origin, the Opel GT was truly an international car. The Opel GT’s looks were nearly as seductive as those of the ‘Vette, and those who bought the Opel GT, like Charley and Laura Malloy of St. Louis, Missouri, enjoyed a small, thrifty sports car that handled well and delivered great gas mileage… and after all, gas was pushing sixty-five cents per gallon back then!
Opels were marketed and serviced in the U.S. by Buick dealers. The Malloys, newlyweds at the time, purchased their red Opel GT (a 1970 model shown in the photo above) on Christmas Eve of 1969 from Allen Buick in Brighton, Massachusetts. Laura fell head over heels for the GT just as she had for Charley, so they traded in her 1968 Chevy for the sporty little Opel GT. Through the years, Charley, who celebrates his 64th birthday tomorrow, has managed to hold on to the Opel GT AND Laura. What a lucky guy!
Oh, by the way... readers please join me in wishing Charley Malloy a happy 64th birthday, Tuesday, May 6th!
Are you hungry for even more information on the stylish Opel GT? You can learn more (and see pictures of the exciting new 2008 Opel GT roadster) by visiting the Opel Motorsports Club at Opel Motorsports Club.
Do you know the difference between antique, collectible and Classic Cars? The FIN MAN can explain this and much more about the interesting cars of the late twentieth century. Bruce Kunz is available for your group’s meeting or special event and is currently booking engagements through December, 2008. During his appearance, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at fifties, sixties and seventies American automobiles. His program includes a PowerPoint presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana, particularly from the fifties and sixties. Guests also have the opportunity to play “FINS for FUNTM,” the video car trivia game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname “The FIN MAN.” The game involves identifying the year, make and model of fifties and sixties cars by viewing just a small section of the rear quarter. Contestants compete for auto related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors such as Fast Lane Classic Cars, Chuck-A-Burger, Gateway Classic Cars, Meguiars auto care products and Advance Auto Parts. For more information on guest appearances, click on this link: the-fin-man.
Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the Gateway Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your kudos, comments, complaints and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
Copyright 1987-2008, Bruce Kunz, The FIN MAN, PH Enterprises.
Sporty Opel GT two-seater sometimes called "Baby Vette"
'70 Opel
Charley and Laura Malloy's 1970 Opel GT.
Bruce Kunz
05/05/2008
Four+Four+One Trivia Question of the Week:TM 1. What is the latest year of OPEL GT production? 2. What country is the home of the Opel automobile and in what city is its headquarters? 3. You may have owned an Opel or knew someone who did. How many other models besides GT can you name that were marketed here in the United States? 3. This one’s for the loyal Opel followers: Who was the founder of Opel and for the production of what other products was he well known? 4. What modern day Cadillac was manufactured by Opel? 5. After 147 years of publication, on January 10, 1969, this well known magazine printed its last issue. What was the name of this publication, known for its well-written pop culture fiction, articles on current events, brief human interest features, single panel cartoons and covers illustrated by Norman Rockwell? 6. Name the 1969 hit single (and the artist who performed it) with the following lyrics: “When I kissed you girl I knew how sweet a kiss could be (Knew how sweet a kiss could be), Like the summer sunshine pour your sweetness over me (Pour your sweetness over me)”. 7. On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 was launched becoming the first manned spacecraft to land on the moon. Can you name the three astronauts on board that historic flight? 8. This popular children’s show debuted on November 10, 1969 and included a character with a pet worm named Slimy. Name the show and the character. 9. Besides the GT, how many other Opel models can you name that were offered in the United States?
This week’s trivia answers may be found on my web site at the-fin-man.
Back in the day… at the turn of the sixties decade, I was but a poor college kid with a rich kid’s appetite for cars. Like many a lad at the time, I envied the adults and the affluent kids who drove Corvette Sting Rays, a totally new style for 1968. The likelihood of me owning a Corvette... well, I might as well have been wishing for a bright red Ferrari. Instead, I had to be content with a five hundred dollar English Ford which would have to do until… well, although I’ve owned a spate of fine cars over the years, both collectibles and daily drivers as well, I’m still waiting for that ‘Vette. (Father’s Day is June 15th honey.)
If you think there’s a familial resemblance between the ‘68 Corvette and the little red sports car, the 1969 Opel GT shown in the photo above, you’re not alone. Opel, the German division of GM, introduced the sporty little Opel two-seater in 1968 and dubbed it the GT. Since its inception in 1968, many have referred to it as the ‘poor man’s Corvette’ or ‘baby ‘Vette,’ for it mimicked the new Sting Ray’s styling from the blunt rear end with its upswept tail, four round lights and slim, divided rear bumpers, right down to the pop up headlamps– low budget affairs which required tugging a manually operated lever beneath the dash.
Although some may say there’s no comparison between the venerable Corvette and its pint-sized Deutschland impersonator... and Corvette enthusiasts may be appalled that anyone would even attempt to make such a comparison, I have no qualms about doing so. Therefore, Corvette fans, take a blind eye to the next couple of paragraphs while I delve into a comparison of the two vehicles.
Although its general shape was similar to Chevy’s famous sports car, that’s where the similarity ended. Corvettes, as nearly anyone with even an inkling of automobile knowledge knows, are muscular, V-8 powered (since 1955) bullies of formidable stature with a proven and consistent track record... particularly in the realm of straight line zero to sixty times. The Opel GT, on the other hand, was tiny in comparison and driven by a humble ‘four banger’ producing a mere 67 horsepower from a displacement of approximately 66 cubic inches– barely over one liter. Volume wise, you could fit six and a half Opel GT engines in the same space as one Corvette 427 cubic inch V-8. The most powerful versions of the 427 engine produced 430 plus horsepower, about six and a half times the power of the standard Opel engine. (An optional 1.9 liter four cylinder engine which produced 102 horsepower was available in Opel automobiles.) Weight-wise, the diminutive Opel GT tipped the Toledo at just 1,815 pounds... about half the bulk of a 427 equipped Corvette.
Finally, lets look at the bottom line. Charley reported that his Opel GT had a sticker price of $3,284.00 back in 1969. Although a stripped down Corvette would have run Charley around $4,700.00 (not as big a spread as I would have expected), a fully equipped example could have topped the seven grand mark, more than double the tab for the Opel GT.
The list of optional equipment on GTs was limited and included automatic transmission (a four speed manual was standard fare), air conditioning and that larger four cylinder engine. As one might expect, with that spread of nearly $3,000.00 from the base ‘Vette to a fully equipped model, rest assured the options list for Chevy’s sports car ran multiple pages.
A rainbow of colors was offered on both the Corvette and the Opel GT. The ones I remember seeing the most of were the bright red (like Charley’s car), orange, blue and a very nice dark metallic forest green that made one think of British Racing Green. Interiors were trimmed in leather and available in black or tan.
Opel GT sales totaled around 103,000 for the five model year run. Despite the potentially significant premiums, Corvette sales totaled 135,346 for the same period.
If this story has enticed you to run out and pick up an Opel GT for summer ‘08 cruisin, you can expect to pay just under $10,000.00 for a show quality example, whereas that ‘68 ‘Vette will cost you dearly in comparison– about three times that amount. If equipped with one of the rare, high output 427s, the tab could run as much as $60,000.00 OR MORE! That’s about 24,000 barbecue cheese Chuck-A-Burgers with cole slaw!
Fuel economy? Ah, fa get abod it. The Opel GT wins hands down. (Well, we have to give the underdog credit for something.)
Assembled in Germany with a body built in France and engine of English origin, the Opel GT was truly an international car. The Opel GT’s looks were nearly as seductive as those of the ‘Vette, and those who bought the Opel GT, like Charley and Laura Malloy of St. Louis, Missouri, enjoyed a small, thrifty sports car that handled well and delivered great gas mileage… and after all, gas was pushing sixty-five cents per gallon back then!
Opels were marketed and serviced in the U.S. by Buick dealers. The Malloys, newlyweds at the time, purchased their red Opel GT (a 1970 model shown in the photo above) on Christmas Eve of 1969 from Allen Buick in Brighton, Massachusetts. Laura fell head over heels for the GT just as she had for Charley, so they traded in her 1968 Chevy for the sporty little Opel GT. Through the years, Charley, who celebrates his 64th birthday tomorrow, has managed to hold on to the Opel GT AND Laura. What a lucky guy!
Oh, by the way... readers please join me in wishing Charley Malloy a happy 64th birthday, Tuesday, May 6th!
Are you hungry for even more information on the stylish Opel GT? You can learn more (and see pictures of the exciting new 2008 Opel GT roadster) by visiting the Opel Motorsports Club at Opel Motorsports Club.
Do you know the difference between antique, collectible and Classic Cars? The FIN MAN can explain this and much more about the interesting cars of the late twentieth century. Bruce Kunz is available for your group’s meeting or special event and is currently booking engagements through December, 2008. During his appearance, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at fifties, sixties and seventies American automobiles. His program includes a PowerPoint presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana, particularly from the fifties and sixties. Guests also have the opportunity to play “FINS for FUNTM,” the video car trivia game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname “The FIN MAN.” The game involves identifying the year, make and model of fifties and sixties cars by viewing just a small section of the rear quarter. Contestants compete for auto related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors such as Fast Lane Classic Cars, Chuck-A-Burger, Gateway Classic Cars, Meguiars auto care products and Advance Auto Parts. For more information on guest appearances, click on this link: the-fin-man.
Bruce Kunz is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians, the Gateway Chapter of the Buick Club of America and the Monte Carlo Owners Association of America. He welcomes your kudos, comments, complaints and suggestions. To e-mail him, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
Copyright 1987-2008, Bruce Kunz, The FIN MAN, PH Enterprises.
