1970 Opel GT
But the small size of the Opel GT and its modest performance (by American standards) resulted in the attractive sports coupe being tagged in the U.S. as a vehicle better suited for females—something the Mazda Miata had to overcome in the early 1990s. In addition, GM foisted the captive import on Buick dealers, whose customers must have been mystified.
1970 Opel GT is small, swoopy shape was first seen in the concept car of the same name, which appeared at the Frankfurt auto show in 1965. As often happens in the translation from show car to showroom, the GT lost some of its zoom. But, the final version undeniably hit the mark that Opel was shooting for – a sporty coupe to lure younger drivers.
Beneath the 1970 Opel GT curvy sheet metal, the GT rode on a modified version of the Opel Kadett platform, with a wheelbase of 95.7”. The base motor was Opel’s 1.1 litre four, but the engine of choice was the 1.9 litre overhead cam four. A four speed manual was the standard transmission, with a three speed automatic available optionally.
The 1970 Opel GT interior also shared a similarity with the Corvette – the lack of an external trunk lid. Cargo had to enter and exit behind the two seats – an inconvenience that one wouldn’t think worthy of copying. Full instrumentation lent the GT dash a sporty feel, and the cabin’s passenger space was relatively roomy by two-seater standards.
Though the chassis parts weren’t sophisticated, the car was low, light and nimble, which only made the sleek styled coupe seem faster. The 1970 Opel GT lifespan stretched through model year 1973 in the states. The cars were famously susceptible to the tin worm, which makes an Opel GT sighting in rust belt states like ours rare indeed.
1970 Opel GT Photo Galleries
