Today we have a Chevy Corvette and a “baby Corvette,” which is not actually a Corvette, of course, but an Opel GT. Aside from just now, I’ve never been one to refer to the Opel as any flavor of Corvette, and not just because it literally isn’t. I get it, the GT is also a fishy if snot shark-y looking sports car with two seats and pop-up headlights, but I don’t think anyone would mistake it for a Chevy product. And the GT isn’t really that much smaller, with a wheelbase just three inches shorter than a C3 Corvette’s, leaving most of the body size difference to the Corvette’s much larger overhangs, especially in the rear (look). The Opel does put up a much smaller number on the scale, however; around 2000 pounds for the GT versus 3,600 for the ‘Vette.
But first, let’s turn our attention to Friday’s contestants, the 1990s MN12 platform-mates Ford Thunderbird SC and Mercury Cougar. I thought the Thunderbird would take the win despite its automatic transmission by virtue of it looking oh so good and having a legit odometer reading (you’ll recall the Cougar’s 14,000 miles were highly dubious), but twas the Cougar that took the win – “right number of pedals” and all that. Also helping: it looked well and truly stock, whereas the lowered T-Bird had been fussed with.
I remain torn based on what little I can see in the words and pictures, but I can tell you for certain that if I were schlepping out to see these MN12s in person to make a buying decision, I’d be looking for every reason to rationalize getting the T-bird.
I thought I was mildly clever with today’s picks, though I suspect few buyers in the normie world would flip a coin between an Opel GT and a Corvette of any variety. As for us Autopians, it’s likely a different story. I can certainly see myself enjoying either of these machines, though in very different ways, and with very different vibes at stoplights (and levels of attention from law enforcement). Let’s take a closer look:
1973 Opel GT – $9,000
Engine/drivetrain: Not stated, but it should be a 1.9-liter inline-4. Transmission listed as “automatic,” which should be a 3-speed
Location: Lindsay, OK
Odometer reading: Not stated, but the seller replied to a message to say the car has 100,000 miles on it, with the original engine.
Operational status: “Good running condition.”
One might expect the Facebook Marketplace ad for a clearly-loved example of an obscure, collectible enthusiast car to be chock full of information, but guess again. This example appears to be painted in Jade Mist, a color that was indeed offered for the final year of Opel GT production, but I suspect the green-apple hue we see here is a repaint (UPDATE: the seller says the paint and interior are original, as far as she knows). Of much less ambiguous provenance are the wheels. Opel did offer Ronal alloys for the GT, but the kidney-bean rollers seen above aren’t them, and I doubt the offsets and the Hot Wheels stance they provide are correct.
The interior looks to be in nice shape, but I’d prefer to have the original steering wheel over the fat-rimmed Momo. Failing that, can I at least get the center cap for it? Maybe it’s in the glove compartment. Also, what does that very-tacked-on switch do?
Hmm, I know the car is allegedly all original, but those don’t look like 100,00 mile seats and rather a clean reupholstery job. I wonder, was the surround for the auto’s gear selector supposed to be installed first, and then the console goes over it? Sure looks that way, based on how it’s floating. Note also what appears to be a knife plunged into the center console (but it’s not a knife, of course).
No, it’s the lever for the mechanical, muscle-operated pop-up headlights, which delightfully flip rather than pop. Sound up if you’re able, these things thunk open and shut as solidly as well-engineered doors.
Where’s the engine photo? Believe me, I wish I had one. Other than being original to the car and having gone 1000,000 miles, there’s nothing to go on regarding the condition of the Opel-made cam-in-head inline four. But it’s in “good running condition,” so it runs good, presumably? Definitely a test-drive situation. As for this rear view: I’m a sucker for a kammback and bus lights, but oof, looks like this GT backed into something (or was backed into). Still, the body could be much, much worse.
1975 Chevrolet Corvette – $8,500
Engine/drivetrain: 327 cubic-inch V8, Turbo 400 automatic transmission
Location: Boyd, TX
Odometer reading: 60,000
Operational status: “Very quick.”
I would be remiss if I didn’t give you the full Facebook Marketplace description on this one:
‘75 Vette fresh rebuilt 327 with original forged steel crankshaft. Numbers matching camel hump heads. Edelbrock Torquer 2 intake. Manuel choke 600 Holley, Comp Cams 270 Magnum camshaft. Rebuilt Turbo 400 tranny. Limited slip Posi tear end 355 gears. New tires, straight body, interior needs some TLC. Very quick small block vette. Beautiful Sunset Orange paint job. Won’t last long.
1975 is cited as an all-time low for Corvette performance, but clearly any low-po issues this particular ’75 had have been well solved. I assume it’s had headers and other bits of pipe installed since the photo below was taken …
There’s no telling how skillfully the engine was rebuilt, but a nicely painted block shows some care was taken. Not enough care to mask off the gasket area for the headers, but still, some care. One hopes the rest of this ‘Vette is as clean …
Ahhh, nope. This interior is looking rather nautical with all that (ply?)wood, and not in a cool Spyker kind of way. I expect the seats are downright shabby beneath those covers, and the unskinned doors suggest this Corvette is not for shorts-wearers. Nor does it appear that resting an arm on the door would be very comfortable.
Pop-up delete, whyyyy? It’s giving Corvette Summer, and that’s not a compliment. Much love for the Rally wheels though, I can’t get enough of those deep trim rings and tall sombrero centers. Not to mention orange paint. Man, I love orange.
Headlights notwithstanding, the body looks to be all here and in great shape. Not sure how much of that might be Bondo, but I wouldn’t worry about that until I’d gotten a proper interior in the thing. And even then, I’m not sure I care. Looks good, is good.
And now, the call is left to you:
The ‘Vette looks like a bodge job. I’ll take the Opel.
I own a C3 Corvette, purchased at a time in its life when a bunch of work was needed, so I’m not deterred by a car “needing things”. All that said, with this pair it’s the Opel and it isn’t even particularly close.
I was torn but that Corvette is not a project I would want to inherit. Opel GT
Ooof, hard choices today. Both are crapshoots, both overpriced, but I guess I have slightly more mechanical faith in the ‘vette, so it gets my vote. And an interior strip and rebuild.
That was a rollercoaster of a read. I was all set to smash Opel right away, but the roughness had me concerned. Then I figured the C3 is my favorite body style, surely that has to be today’s choice…
…nope, and don’t call me surely. Oof, I didn’t think it could be worse, yet here we are. Guess I’m doing the Opel thing after all.
You can call me Surly.
Hey. Surly only looks out for one guy– Surly.
Opel GT for me. Have always liked it. Good friend had one and I’ve logged some fun time behind the wheel. As to the all original claim, I’d say not. I’ve seen many of these, but never seen this color. Not definitive I know. But, if the body is sound, there are so many mods that can improve the car, beginning with a manual swap and probably the engine, too.
I have always enjoyed the Opel GT, but that C3 is too rough to consider when the price can get you a nice one. Opel it is.
I think I caught something looking at the interior shots of the Vette. I don’t want an automatic in either of these, but I’ll take the Opel. It’s more interesting than a NuMbErS mAtChInG (seriously, fudge off with this stupid obsession) C3.
Yeah numbers matching is lipstick on a pig in this case. You’re way past the value the matching drivetrain adds once you get this PCH sorted inside and out. These are what, $25k cars?
If it were “numbers matching“ it would be a 350, not a 327, ‘68 was the last year for a 327
That makes “Numbers matching camel hump heads” even dumber then! What numbers are they even matching if it’s not even the original engine? So, so silly.
That Vette looks rough.
Well. I have lots of time under and around wrenching on my mother’s ’71 GT. Nothing about it frightens me in the slightest, not even the automatic – hers is too. We took the engine completely apart and then, because it had balky behavior under acceleration, we took the carb completely apart too. And we fixed the acceleration issue.
Body looks good, wheels aren’t factory but neither are they wrong. Dings in the rear lip are a bit of a hassle – there’s no trunk on the GT. To get to the dings’ backside with a hammer, you have to yoga yourself into the parcel shelf and spare tire compartment. I put a passenger in there once but don’t worry – he was 14 and bendy.
Sure. GT today. First mod I’d make: LED headlights because the shock of flipping destroys incandescent filaments fairly quickly.
I always liked the look of the Opel, but nearly every one I have seen seems to be made out of pre-rusted metal.
What is wrong with people that abuse cars like that Corvette?
Maybe he found it rotting in a junkyard and just exercized bad judgement with replacement body work. or maybe there’s truly something wrong with him.
“Where’s the engine photo? Believe me, I wish I had one. Other than being original to the car and having gone 1000,000 miles, there’s nothing to go on regarding the condition of the Opel-made cam-in-head inline four.”
Wow! That Opel has a million miles?
I really like the Opel but bummed that it’s a 3-speed automatic. It’d be more fun with a manual.
I vote Opel today, but I’d swap in a 5 or 6 speed manual.
I’m a sucker for mag wheels, so the Opel wins this one.
As soon as I saw the automatic in the Opel, I was ready to pick the Vette.
Then I saw it’s interior.
Overpriced Opel it is…
Yeah, I thought “The ‘Vette’s auto will be a better match to the engine than the Opel’s.”, but whoof! That’s a lot of ask to even drive home in that interior!
Corvette “Wont Last Long” – Listed 11 Weeks ago. I’ll take the Opel.
I thought this was going to be a tough choice.
The Opel is a great looking car and I love the color. I also like the C3 Corvette in general, I like orange, and I like that the pop-up headlights have been eliminated (I believe one day humans will fully eradicate the scourge of pop-up headlights).
Like everyone else, though, I saw the Corvette’s interior. Performance enhancements or not, I’m not paying $8500 for a C3 with a plywood interior. I might give seller 50 pieces of paper with Ben Franklin’s portrait on them if he is interested, but I would have to think about that (oh, and that would literally be 50 xeroxed photos of Ben Franklin… not $100 bills).
I’ll take the Opel, even with the automatic and aspirational price tag.
The Opel is Groovy. Full stop.
Was set to go “Vette ’till I saw that dash and console. Hard no. Maybe I can drop a 4 or 5 speed into the Opel.
Corvette for me. I like big buttresses, and I must be truthful about that.
I like Opels, I like green. Just not this one. The Corvette seems like it would be easier to sort, cosmetically.
Almost went to the Corvette because of the Opel’s transmission and being what looks to be the same green as my 260Z, but then I saw the interior of the Vette and the sunken headlight mod, so Opel.
Because of its small frontal area, that Opel GT has a lower CdA than most new sports cars that you can currently buy. They make great EV conversions.
Solves the automatic transmission issue certainly. Beam axle so you have to use a motor and reduction gear up front instead of a rear drive unit.
Would that make it an Opel GE?
Nah. Just an Opel EV.
That was my plan for the auto: sure looks like a pretty EV conversion.
If you buy the Corvette please don’t choke Manuel, it’s not a nice thing to do.
Maybe he’s into that, I’m not here to shame. That said it’s not my thing, so I’ll need at least 1500 off.
This is painful. I have always wanted an Opel GT, but I feel like this one is a touch overpriced give it’s got some damage and an automatic. Price seems right on the Vette given the recent build for the engine and transmission, but the interior is scary (which I feel could be easily sourced and done right), but the blasphemy of deleting the pop-up headlights?!
You know what would be really tempting here… buy both and swap the Corvette’s engine/transmission into the Opel. The car would likely kill you if you somehow figured a way to make the engine fit, but it would be a lot of fun.
I always thought that an Opel GT would be a good spot for a supercharged GM 3800. They were sold through Buick dealerships, though, so maybe a Grand National turbo version?
I think a 3800 Turbo would be even more of a death trap than a 350 small block in an Opel. And since you’re a Ford Lover that kind of makes sense.
Also, that would be a really, really awesome swap.
I’m not sure how to take that! I am a Fan of the Ford Family of Fine cars, but that doesn’t mean I want GM owners dead! I’m actually looking at C4 Corvette projects at the moment! EVERY American car guy should have one, even for a little while. It IS America’s Sports Car.
Lol – I’ve enjoyed my share of Ford and GM cars, including a C4 which I loved. Mad respect for not taking the rivalry like picking sides in a war.
I save that for KU-MU! But, that rivalry DID come from an actual war. Rock Chalk!
In 2022, I owned a 1992 C4 with an automatic for three months before I sold it.
Of course, my mind immediately bolted to the Opel, and despite the owner’s lack of information, that is, at least, a clean, solid car. I’m hoping that the lack of knowledge is more because the car’s an estate sale, and not something more sinister.
That said, I meant to give the Corvette a fair chance as I scrolled through. The Modification Shopping List and the…workmanship?…leads me to say it failed my fair chance. A strip/street car with a thrashed interior creatively rebuilt from wood? If I wanted that I’d look for a Morgan.