OPEL GT

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The prehistory

The development of the OPEL GT began in the winter 1963 with the manufacturing of Design studies from modeling clay. The car should serve with priority as image carriers of the GM company. To the IAA 1965 a prototype under the designation "“OPEL GT experimental"” was then pointed. The possible introduction of a "“Gran Turismo"” - sports car under the mark OPEL was taken up at that time with just as much astonishment as enthusiasm. A sports car did not fit actually the otherwise extremely conventional mark image of the Autobauers. Over the actual realization OPEL kept itself however for a long time covered.

Characteristic the "“Coke Bottle Shape in such a way specified"” already was for the early models, with which to the narrow center section of the car one alluded. Shortly thereafter followed the second however position characteristic, the folding headlights, which could unscrew themselves along the longitudinal axis from the vehicle. These were called soon thereafter "“sleep eyes"” - in this design of OPELs patents.

On the occasion of the opening of the test and development center in Dudenhofen before the eyes of the autopress an OPEL GT was then released to the test run. Afterwards the technology of the vehicle was specified. One fell back to proven mass production technology: Understructure and chassis come from the OPEL cadet, the 1,9-Liter-Motor originate from the OPEL record. The of the hood is owed the later use of a Serienmotors, which fit only scarcely under the hood. In addition due to the small place in that 1.22 m high vehicle were tapered the cylinder head cover within the front range.

The management of OPELs stood however before the problem that for the new vehicle no capacities were free. A small series of 30.000 pieces per year, which corresponded for instance to a tenth of cadet production, could not be slid so easily into one of the existing works. One decided therefore that the body should be manufactured by the company Chausson in Gennevillers, France, during lacquer finish, technology and interior equipment by Brissoneau & Lotz in Creil, France, was settled. Finally the workpieces should be supplied to Bochum, where they should receive engine, chassis and transmission. For some excitement provided then the focused price of only 10,000 DM, which would correspond today to a value of approx. 29,500 "€ (= approx. 8.5 of gross monthly salaries), which was launched by conscious indiscretion first. The new OPEL GT was noticed at the latest now also in the USA.

The manufacturing

The OPEL GT was built at first in the variants OPEL GT 1100 and OPEL GT 1900. The 1100cm - engine of the GT 1100 develops scarcely 60 HP (44 KW), during which GT reaches 1900 90 HP (66 KW) mobilized and a maximum speed of 185 km/h. With the GT 1100 there was only 155 km/h. The relatively unpopular GT 1100 was then already adjusted 1970. Instead followed the OPEL GT/J, which got along without leather seats and chrome parts and could so clearly more inexpensive be offered.

More than half of the total production was shipped into the USA. There the GM daughter Buick took over the marketing of the OPEL GT. The label name OPEL remained thereby however. After OPEL had remained luckless with the sales of the sedans very successful in Europe in the USA before, the GT was accepted there very soon as genuine sports cars and had a fast growing fan municipality. There the OPEL GT was considered as small Corvette, which was by the way sketched by the same Design team. In the year 1973 the production of the OPEL GT was stopped. The reasons for this are various: on the one hand Brissoneau & Lotz of Renault had been bought and quit now the supply contracts, on the other hand came into force in the USA new safety regulations, which prescribed among other things special bumpers, which could be brought only heavily with the vehicle Design in agreement. It is again and again subject to discussions among GT-lovers whether GM did not resume production despite large success, because the OPEL GT likewise of the Corvette of market shares in the USA, originating from the house GM, made contentious. On the one hand it is certain that the GT was very popular in the GM homeland market; whether it however actually came to Kannibalisierungseffekten, can be doubted, since the Corvette was clearly higher performance and more expensive.

Again and again a angedachtes Cabrio and/or a Targa model of the OPEL GT never went into series. Likewise it did not come to the production of a direct successor, the "“OPEL GT 2"” and/or "“OPEL GT 2+2"”

OPEL GT today

Due to the official old timer regulation in Germany the OPEL GT counts since 2003 as historical vehicle and may be driven - with an appraisal over the contemporarily original condition - with a H-characteristic. Still various models actually exist, although the majority of the vehicles is operated today in the USA. Since the OPEL GT many parts with other OPEL models divides, are changes much like. Objects change are mainly the engine, which is exchanged against a 2,2-l or a 2,4-l-Modell, and which 4-Gang-Getriebe, which must often yield a In Germany there are many GT-clubs.

Technical data

Advertising slogan

The Werbekampagne to the OPEL GT brought the Slogan "“only to flies is more beautifully"” out.