Opel GT, is the beauty more than skin deep?

I've had these bouncing around in my head a little bit, but I don't really know much about them. I love the way they look. Is there any substance to these cars? Wiki says they were like 100 hp and a 4 speed. Of course my mind went straight to driveline swap. What do they drive like? Can the body handle increased power without a cage? How is sheet metal availability? But this is of course all theoretical and will probably never go anywhere, but it's fun to daydream about potential future projects at work.

The boss has a couple, with the plans of putting a Miata driveline in one. The stock trans is tiny, and the stock engine isn't big either with a pretty low height. The whole car is small and built with the assumption that it would only use the stock engine and trans, which is going to make fitment a challenge.

Nice enough cars as is, but certainly of a different era. The tub is pretty much built around the drivetrain. About as wide inside as an MGB.

Any engine swap requires a rear sump. Way rear and way small.

Engine is 1.9 liter with in-head cam... cam operates lifters-rockers, no push rods. Keith is right its about 90-100hp. I had (back in 1977) the GT's lighter little brother (Manta). Depends on what you want to swap.... if you are looking at LS, or other V8, you may have to build the suspension, chassis to absorb the mass and torque. A modern 4 banger ( Jap twin cam comes to mind ) might make a fun car

In reply to oldeskewltoy:

Yeah I thought a modern four cylinder with 180-200 hp and a 5 speed would make a great little car.

Another thing for potential modders to keep in mind is that the front suspension is a transverse leaf spring. That means that if you have to cut in to the suspension, it gets serious in a hurry.

The lemons team my friends and I just started are building one of these. Ill start the build thread soon. Doesnt look like there is any room for anything other than stock without a lot of work.

Aren't these somehow related to the C3 'Vette?

Once upon a time, when Car and Driver was a serious magazine, its' staffers decided the Opel GT needed to perform at least as good as it looked. They massaged the engine and suspension with nearly all the era-standard upgrades and still walked away disappointed. The basic design was just - bad.

I'd need a clean, seam-welded shell and a container ship full of cash before starting to build a GT that wouldn't be just a pretty face.

The GT was based on the Kadett chassis with the engine pushed rearward by about 14" for better weight distribution. Considering that the Opel CIH 1.9L is all cast iron and close to 400#, swapping in something modern and aluminum will only lighten the front, so moving the engine forward to make it fit more easily shouldn't mess up the balance badly.

The CIH engine is pretty interesting, and designed specifically for low hoods. Pretty much anything ohc is going to be too tall to fit under the hood. The CIH motor can be built to 130-150hp, and 5-speeds are available. While they aren't ACVW cheap prices are in line with p-cars and similar vintage BMW. Opel GT source has almost everything.

Furious_E wrote: Aren't these somehow related to the C3 'Vette?

Not really. Yes, GM owned/owns Opel but there was no relation other than appearance. You could buy an Opel GT in this country through a Buick dealer in fact.

Gimp wrote:

Damn, beat me to it.

My buddy had one, rusted in strange places, like the very tops of the fenders. Deceptively strong and very well made. Gotta be the German heritage. Tight, but strong enough to move metal around and fit a bigger/better drive line in there for sure. Very narrow though, so a rear end that fits and takes the added power will cost a bit and need to be narrowed.

If I could have sold my MGA project, I would have used the money to scooped it up for sure !

I helped build a Lemons GT back a few years ago. The team installed a 2.3L OHC Ford and T5 trans in it. IT did require the fire wall to be cut back and a new one built but the car has completed in 2-3 Lemons races a year since then and has won twice in class B. The car is a good handling car with the engine's weight all behind the center line of the front wheels. The rear end was replaced as well as it's a torque tube style. A 3rd upper link was added instead.

As said it's a small interior and with a roll cage it gets even smaller!

Just noticed the front end scoops ! ! ! I totally want 'em to graft into the nose of my C3 Vette . . .

http://www.conceptcarz.com/images/Chevrolet/74_Chevy_Corvette_DV-07-PCS_01.jpg

Have to narrow them a bit and move them forward, but I really love the look.

I get the impression they are like a MG Midget - really modest design that works well stock but as soon as you starting adding performance in one area it breaks everything else. You either run stock or re-work over the whole car

For some reason I want to say these are brazed together in places, making rust repair interesting.

Paging Dr. Turbo ... You are needed in the engine compartment, STAT

OldOpelGuy pretty much nailed it. Chassis is basically re-bodied Kadette. Transverse leaf spring on the front. Have heard of people removing the spring and using coil-overs. Rear is basically 3-point stick axle with torque tube coil springs and panhard bar. Engine is set back into the firewall so engine swaps ain't easy. Brake M/C and booster is in front of the radiator with a rod to actuate. Another limiting factor for engine swaps. Uni-body and one piece body. The only things that un-bolt are the doors and hood although the back panel can also be unbolted, a lot of little nuts to remove. Engine takes a lot of work to make more power but the power still won't be on par with the amount of work done. More HP by using different engine would mean adding chassis braces and/or sub-frame. OpelGT.com has info on completed engine swaps. All the V8 powered dragster made out of an Opel GT have complete tube frames. At least all the straight ones do.

I've always heard the Manta referred to as big brother to the GT since it is a bit bigger and has more room. Although it is more sought after to hot rod because it has more room and standard coil spring front suspension. And it was the same GM design team that designed the Sting Ray that designed the GT. Commonly referred to as mini-vette or poor mans vette. Thinking about having a custom front plate designed that says "Po-Mans Vette". Honestly, it wasn't something I would have sought out to buy. Do think they are good looking but other limitations hinder it. I have one that I restored and I enjoy it and won't get rid of it. Dad gave it to me and friend of the family was 1st owner, I'm the 2nd registered owner as dad never registered it. Have had evil dreams of making one that matches its looks. Widen fenders to fit independent suspension front & rear, maybe Miata donor. Brakes to match. Use a 20B under the hood maybe with forced induction, should fit with room to spare with RX7/8 transmission. But gotta keep those manual cable operated roll-over head lights.

Another car with great looks but mediocre chassis. Any engine swap will demand (a lot) more rubber and the only way to get that under there is to commit indignities on the body, and then the suspension doesn't work, so.....

Basically, if you could mount the body on a better chassis it would make it an interesting proposal, but otherwise I kind of like them left stock and appreciated for what they are/were.

I used to race against one in my old MG and there was no comparison in terms of handling - the Opel was up against the wall.

So it sounds like the beauty is only skin deep. It is pretty though. It seems like if a guy put the time and money into making one nice the driving would be a let down. I guess a c3, while less exotic feeling, would be better at everything for the same money.