Vehicle Description
1969 Opel GT
"The first signs of Opel's ambitions were seen at the 1965
Frankfurt motor show, when the company unveiled an experimental
coupe. As soon as the GT went on sale, it was a hit. Opel had
planned to build 60 cars per day, but production quickly doubled,
which was easier said than done. Parisian company Chausson produced
the body shells, while Brissonneau & Lotz, also based in Paris, was
commissioned to take care of body trimming and painting. When the
GT proved to be such a hit, Opel had to lend a hand by also
finishing cars in its factory in Bochum, Germany." Thx
Hagerty.com
For consignment, a 1969 Opel GT with a title verified 86,307 actual
miles, a one owner car, restored at 77,000 miles with additional
items added to the exterior and interior since then, and mechanical
upgrades as well. Nearly 35,000 Opel GT's were produced in 1969 but
you could probably count the one owner survivors on one hand! This
one has garnered more than 25 best of class awards.
Exterior
They say good things come in small packages and the first glance of
the GT is proof enough that sometimes design oversized wins out.
Many compare it to the Vette, but this is a unique exterior with a
fantastic front end that features bold integrated hood scoops not
on the hood, but in the nose. The hood itself is no design slouch
and has an offset hump and a pair of louvered vents behind the
hidden headlights, all contributing to a slightly aggressive and
very European profile dressed in Rallye Red. The diminutive tail is
the definition of sport, with an integrated flared wing, round tail
lights and matching marker lights rimmed in metal, and bold dual
exhaust with a center exit under a contoured valance. Then, there's
the central gas filler which admittedly, is very Vette like indeed.
13-inch wheels carry 165/80R13 tires and the Opel logo appears on
the center caps. The only exterior imperfection is a touched up
scrape by a wheel opening and from 10 feet, you won't see it.
Interior
Pleated black vinyl inserts are framed with smooth panels and
silver trim on the doors, looking clean and intact. Tall bucket
seats with leather seat covers have a tuck and roll insert and the
bottoms sit low to the floor allowing for butt first entry, and
both seats are in great shape. A vinyl wrap makes the three spoke
steering wheel grippy and leads to a simple dash sporting a new
dash cap over basic round gauges with the center stack unit canting
towards the driver and including a clock. Also in the center stack
is an AM/FM/CD radio with AUX and USB ports over a series of
standard toggle switches and vent levers. A voltmeter has been
added and resides on the center console where we also find the very
cool shifter wrapped in a circular accordion style boot. The black
carpet in the footwells and rear cargo area along with the
headliner are all in great shape.
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a show worthy 1.9 liter cam in head 4 cylinder
engine producing 102 horsepower and fueled via new dual Weber
1-barrel carbs. Our consignor tells us it has a new camshaft,
lifters, power valve, crank, bearings, head and oil pan gaskets as
well as a rear main seal. It's fantastically clean and mated to a
4-speed manual that routes power to the rear axle and 3.44 gears.
Newer disc brakes occupy the front while drums are in back.
Undercarriage
Clean and simple underneath where surface rust is mostly reserved
for the exhaust, a single system that runs through a stock style
muffler then into a resonator which sends out two exhaust pipes and
stainless steel tips. We see a rust hole in the right lower side of
the resonator. We note some oil underneath, particularly on the
rear differential which appears to be coming from the pinion seal,
and some drops on the transmission. Suspension consists of a
transverse leaf spring up front and radius arm and coil springs out
back.
Drive-Ability
We're thrilled to have a little romp in the GT, a short ride in a
small car with a big presence. We note some noise in the engine, a
rattle that does not seem to be valvetrain or bottom end. After
that, we feather the car around the loop where it performs well,
tracking straight and handling like the true sportscar it is. We
find that all functions operate as they should on this well sorted
Opel. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were
working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these
functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
Opel GT's have seen a resurgence in recent years and if you've been
in the market, you know how difficult it is finding rust free and
well sorted examples, let alone a one owner car which has been the
recipient of mechanical, cosmetic, and suspension maintenance like
this one. The Z in the Opel logo is a remnant of when the brand
badge contained the words Blitz Rad, or Lightning Wheels. Let that
Z lightning bolt be a reminder to strike fast if interested in this
car. In the world of Opel GT's, this award winning car is top
tier.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
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