Germany’s quiet GM-assisted gem
Talk about German luxury cars and most people will mention BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and Porsche. However, many smaller and not as internationally known marques have been quietly making winners for decades. Opel, owned by GM for almost 100 years before being merged into Fiat Chrysler (now Stellantis Group) in 2017, is one such brand.
Opal made the GT from 1968 to 1973, and it quickly became a cult classic. Lightweight, compact, and capable, the Opel GT is a fine addition to any collection, and this particular Sun Yellow 1972 Opel GT is a lovely example of how Germany’s smaller carmakers still made winners. You can check out the full listing by clicking here!
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This ray of Sun Yellow will put pep in your step
Bright and cheery Sun Yellow washes over this Opel GT, radiating joy and positivity. Simple and subtle chrome bumpers hug the front and back in a warm embrace, subdued but stylish. Chrome side mirrors, door handles, taillight surrounds, and gas cap add a bit of shine and texture.
One of the peculiarities of the Opel GT is the little passenger-side bump in the hood, there to provide clearance for the carburetor and air cleaner assembly. Another remarkable part of the car’s design is the manual headlights, which swivel out from the sides instead of the more familiar pop-up design.
The whole car is rather compact, running 162 inches (~412 cm) long, as well as being fairly narrow and squat at 62 inches (~158 cm) wide and 48 inches (~122 cm) tall. Even the wheels are tiny, at a mere 13 inches (~33 cm) in diameter.
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No trunk, but plenty of storage
For such a wee beastie, there is considerable room directly behind the two seats for luggage. The Opel GT is what is known as a ‘fastback’, with a sloping rear panel that doesn’t actually open in this case. That means the cargo can only be accessed through the cabin, making shopping trips a bit of a hassle. There is a small panel that hides a spare and some tire-changing equipment; however, there really isn’t room for anything else, so it doesn’t really qualify as a trunk.
The seats are comfortable and adjustable, folding down to make the storage space easier to use. All-black leather seats, carpet, and dash are a nice contrast with a tri-spoke steering wheel wrapped in light wood. The instrumentation and gear shifter are period-appropriate, and the main change from original factory spec seems to be the radio and speakers, which manage to blend fairly unobtrusively with the rest of the interior.
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A well-balanced engine that gets the job done
Under the long hood is a 1.9L four-cylinder engine that manages to output about 83 hp. The naturally aspirated CIH (cam-in-head) engine is set well back towards the center of the vehicle, aiding stability and weight distribution as well as providing enough power for such a light chassis.
A four-speed manual transmission pushes power to the real wheels, and power-assisted front disc and rear drum brakes give better safety and control than a four-wheel drum setup. There is no power steering, but in a car this light and nimble, it should barely be an inconvenience.
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Final thoughts: Good things come in small packages
What’s not to love about this niche and nifty German gem? We realize ‘Opel’ is not spelled the same as ‘Opal’, but they are both pretty, bright, and a delight to behold. With a cheery Sun Yellow color, well-preserved interior, and overall still presenting in great condition, this 1972 Opel GT can’t help but bring a smile to our faces, and hopefully yours as well!
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