1973 Opel GT help/advice

[Mosinguy]

Anyone have experience with these? Might be my first car. I want to know EVERYTHING.

 

[femurphy77]

That's the little corvette lookin' thing isn't it?

 

[mrjarrell]

Never had one, but used to ride around in a friends. Not a bad little car, but the interior was nothing special and prone to rapid deterioration. Hope the one you're looking at has been refurbed, 'cause that's an oldie. Your gas mileage will be crap, too. But, you're likely to have a bit of fun in it.

 

[Mosinguy]

Never had one, but used to ride around in a friends. Not a bad little car, but the interior was nothing special and prone to rapid deterioration. Hope the one you're looking at has been refurbed, 'cause that's an oldie. Your gas mileage will be crap, too. But, you're likely to have a bit of fun in it.

I'm looking at about 25 mpg in it

 

[Mosinguy]

Anyone?

 

[femurphy77]

MG, these things were rare in '73. Your best bet is to find an opel forum on the net and hope they have a subset for the GTs!

 

[Mr.JAG]

Unreliable & Dangerous. Horrible first car.

It would be alright as a weekend fun toy though, after you have had a few years behind the wheel.

 

[sloughfoot]

Never buy a car that was built before you were born. Especially not one of those. I was 22 when they were new, and I wouldn't have bought one when they were new. POC then and I can't imagine how it might have improved over the years....

Ask your father to pick out a car for you. Listen to his advice. Ignore me and everybody else.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I wouldn't buy something like that as a first car, maybe as a collector/restorer. Find yourself a boring mid 2000's two or four door sedan or some such. You need to be able to count on it getting you where you want to go. /dad

 

[x10]

They had terrible electric systems and rusted. Mechanics will be few and far between get something with obd2

 

[AllenM]

I don't know a lot about the Opel in particular just about owning older cars.

The Opel is a pretty cool little car. Due to the age of the car you will probably learn alot mechanical wise. That is not a bad thing.
I would be cautious and have it checked out by a mechanic if you don't know the cars history.
Otherwise you could end up sinking a lot of money into it quick.

If I were you I would spend some time checking for parts availability, remember the car is 40 years old, if you can't find many parts the ones you do find will be poor quality or expensive.
Look for fenders, trim, engine, clutch stuff etc.
Hindsight being 20 20 I would not probably use it as a first car, but it can be a great educational tool none the less



I tend to buy a lot of things I would have been better off not buying

 

[Mosinguy]

Meh. The guy wants $1,200, but he needs it sold or he's scrapping it. If I can buy it for $400 I'll fiddle with it and if I can't get it to work I'm sure I could make my money back. I'll probably get a 90s Toyota of some sort if that happens. Maybe a Geo.

 

[AllenM]

No to the GEO

 

[SEIndSAM]

I got my DL and first car in 1977. I remember looking at a 73 Opel GT then and thinking it was a POS. I passed on it, but a buddy bought it. He had it for a year, it was broken down and waiting for parts half the time he owned it and it finally suffered an electrical fire in the school parking lot.

I say, Run, Run Away Fast!!!

 

[Mosinguy]

No to the GEO

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Now you're cooking with evil gas! Although, don't know if I'd go as far back as 90s, have to be really picky; and a Geo is more of a Hyundai. Korean cars have caught up the last few years; back then, don't even touch it, but, your money. This dad thing is still disturbing me. I'm not ready to stop being the kid.

 

[churchmouse]

I rode in one but I am a large fella and I did not enjoy it. Long time ago. I did help a friend do a total frame and 4 link in one in the late 70's. Fuel injected small block, drag car from hell.

 

[gregkl]

They were cool looking cars. I remember as a youngster, my Dad, being a friend with some top brass from Buick got me in a back room and I saw it before it was unveiled to the public. ( I grew up in Flint, MI).

One would have to have some money and a good mechanical inclination to own one. I know a few of them are around, but they would be hard to find in good condition.

Ever think of a Miata? Super handling, easy to work on, cheap parts, good MPGs.

 

[AllenM]

If you want something a little different look at the E30 BMW 's nice little cars plenty of parts available

 

[Mr.JAG]

Good first cars:

1. Ford Taurus with 3.0 Vulcan Engine
2. Crown Victoria
3. *Most* GM cars with the 3.8
4. *Most* GM cars with the 4.3 votech
5. *Most* eco cars from Honda/Toyota (Civic, Corolla, Accord, Camry)

All of the above are affordable, reliable, and super prevalent (that means parts are everywhere and cheap).

I would personally stay away from ALL Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Chrysler vehicles (Wrangler being the exception there).