This one of a kind vehicle was built from a 1969 Opel GT, a 1985 CJ7 Jeep frame and a 1978 CJ5 Jeep drive train. The engine is a new crate engine, a 258 cubic inch straight 6 cylinder with 200 miles clocked since building the vehicle. Transmission and transfer case is original 78 CJ5 (3 speed).

List of new parts: 258 cubic inch straight 6 cylinder, oil pump, electric fan speed control, all new gaskets, distributor, cap, rotor, plugs, wires starter, clutch and pressure plate, U-joints, steering box, poer steering lines, carburator rebuild kit, 3in suspension lift kit(springs, shackles, shocks, U-bolts), brake shoes and pads, calipers(front), wheel cylinders and drums(rear), stainless steel braided caliper brake hoses, stainless steel brake lines with protective spring steel, master cylinder, vaccum booster, 35 inch tires, chrome wheels and lugs, windshield and rear window rubber, door and door window rubber, wiper blades, racing style seats, carpet, dash mat, bumpers(welded 3 inch schedule 40 pipe), 2 sets fog lights, red underglo kit, 11 inch high rear spoiler.

Title is "Modified". The car is inspected and street legal.

[via eBay] Thanks for the tip, Ben!

While there was only one European machine in the Gator-O-Rama top 10, the Opular Dependence Team Israel Opel GT grabbed the prestigious Organizer's Choice trophy for the Continent. Not only that, the Saabs avoided throwing even a single connecting rod this time out, which should be cause for rejoicing in the streets of Stockholm
.
Thanks to Myke Toman, Nick Pon, Zerin Dube and Speed:Sport:Life, Anna C of Bikini Racer, the Norwegian Slaabs, Saabs Gone Wild, Prison Break Racing, Team Beermer, LeMons Supreme Court Justice Lieberman, Jackson Williams, and others for their fine photographs.

Last time we had such a poll, I included too many choices and it was just too damn much work. This time it will be much simpler, with just two teams. The whole deal is pretty easy: you guess how many total laps you think each of the two teams will finish and put those numbers in a comment for the world to see. Then, a long time after the race, I'll get around to calculating who was closest overall, and that person will win some official LeMons gear. Maybe you'll get a baseball cap, or a couple shirts, or whatever didn't sell at the race the LeMons staff feel is best for Jalopnik readers. The overall race winner is likely to do about 400 laps, so use that as your yardstick. My personal predictions are 279 laps for the MG, 135 for the Opel, primarily because the Opel sat in a Texas field for many years and didn't get a thorough fuel tank flushing, while the MG has had its wiring completely de-Lucasized. OK, now it's your turn! You've already seen a fair number of Opular Dependence Team Israel photos, so here are some shots of the proud British Leyland entry. Check in later, as I'll do my best to provide live race updates.

Actually, it was an offhand remark by a single OD team member that made us decide to have a special surprise waiting for the Opel team the next day. LeMons Justice Lieberman and I hit the Wal-Mart next to the motel Thursday night, to pick up gear for the weekend's punishments. As we wheeled our shopping cart- packed with such items as a psychedelic piñata and several dozen pacifiers- across the parking lot, we caught sight of a super-fast RC car buzzing around a camper/car-trailer combo. Sure enough, it was a LeMons team: Opular Dependence!


So, the Shiner Bock came out and we were hanging around, drinking beer and talking LeMons cars, when one OD member mentioned a Mazda deal they thought of making: "The guy wanted $475, but I knew we could Jew him down. Wait, what?


Back at the motel, we brooded over this offhand anti-Semitic crack; sure, it was just a beer-swilling session in a Wal-Mart parking lot, but we had to take some action. Then Jonny had the ol' light-bulb-over-the-head moment: "Jew him down? We're gonna Jew 'em up!


So, that's what we did. Next day, during Opular Dependence's BS Inspection, their team member's comment was brought up, followed by the observation that it wasn't such an astute idea in a race with a Jewish judge and a Jewish Chief Perpetrator- whoops!- and out came the blue and white spray paint cans. Goodbye Opular Dependence, hello Team Israel! Star of David on the hood, along with the Hebrew for "Lemon," and the Chief Perp's inspired contribution on the side: No fat shiksas! To their credit, Team Israel took the change with good humor, though we have a feeling one team member will be taking some heat from his comrades.

Not only did Schm provide the tips for these fine- and totally easy- projects, he saved me the work of thinking up the title as well. For this, he gets a Project Car Hell Tipster T-shirt… unless he wears a size other than S, M, or L (which is all I have in stock at the moment). Times must be a-gettin' hard in Piper, Missouri, because both these incredible machines are being offered for sale by the same seller, and each is priced at a how-can-you-possibly-pass-it-by $700. That's right, just seven Benjamins and you could take 'em both home; come to think of it, we're pretty sure you could get a pretty good 2-fer-1 deal and spend two eternities in the Hell Garage!

First up is a trashed solid example of a perennial PCH favorite, the Saab Sonett. You get a fiberglass body, a Ford Taunus V4 engine, and styling that will go perfectly with the IKEA workbench in your garage. We can't tell you much about this '73 (go here if the ad disappears), because the seller is a man or woman of no few words, but it appears that you get an engine, most of the body, and at least three wheels and tires for you $700. Maybe the glass comes with the deal as well! Is there chassis rust? Is the engine frozen solid? Has a feral cat colony deposited 14,000 gallons of high-grade feline piss throughout the interior over the last couple of decades? For 700 bucks, who cares?

We'd all love to have a Sonett, but it's hard to overlook the fact that they're hella a little bit underpowered. Perhaps your manual-pop-up-headlight-equipped European sports car should have turbocharging, and is there any better way to reach that goal than by tearing the turbocharged Ford 2.3 engine and World Class T5 combo from an SVO Mustang and transplanting it into a 1973 Opel GT? Why, you'd have to pay a couple hundred bucks a huge sum for that engine/trans setup alone, and here's a 1973 Opel GT project (go here if the ad disappears) with the SVO running gear for a mere 700 bucks! The engine is scattered all over the garage disassembled, but you'll probably get a significant fraction of the stuff you'll need to make it roar again. The Opel appears to have most of its glass, might not be totally oxidized, and should provide you with a grab bag of agony challenges as you work on Ford-izing the drivetrain. And remember, get both cars and you'll be never be bored again!

I've got well over 100 sets of Down On The Street Bonus Edition photos, sent in by readers all over the world, and the ones from San Francisco outnumber those from any other city. Today we're going to reduce the backlog a bit, with a San Francisco edition of DOTS-O-Rama Sunday. In honor of the V6-powered Opular Dependence Opel GT, we'll start off with this '71 Opel GT, photographed by V6-powered LeMons TR7-driving Superasiaone. Come back later for more DOTS-O-Rama action!

The only problem with these two fine European racin' machines (aside from the primitive suspensions, questionable build quality, and flaky wiring) is really the lack of engine power; the Opel GT's US-spec 1900 managed 83 horsepower, giving it bragging rights over the 78.5-horse MGB. But now we hear (courtesy of LeMons insider TheEastBayKid) that the Opular Dependence Opel has a GM 4.3 engine and 5-speed installed. According to the team, the car was someone else's unfinished project and came that way… and that the costs come out well under 500 bucks. We'll see about that when it comes time for LeMons Supreme Court Justices Lieberman and Martin to inspect their documentation, but what we're really wondering about is whether there's time for the Team Frogmasters guys to grab a junkyard Toyota A engine and stuff it in their MGB-GT. Here's what the Opular Dependence spokesman has to say:

As far as a bio on the car, i keep hearing in my head START WITH A RUNNING CAR. This was a guys project he never finished all the parts were there but NOTHING was finished. It is a 1972 Opel GT with a 80s gm 4.3 v6 and a 5 speed tranny. The motor and tranny were installed when we bought it, but that was it. I have spent the last 5 weeks putting it all together. Now here we are 2 days from test day and its done. We paid $350.00 for the project and were actually able to sell about $325.00 of the factory parts that we removed (door panels interior parts the original motor and lenses and lights thanks to Ebay). So the electric fan and other things we needed we could buy and still be under budget. It should be a blast to drive if she holds together long enough.

Wait, there's more! The guys from Team Unintended Acceleration saw the Opular Dependence Opel at the track recently and sent in some photos and videos for us:

LeMons Supreme Court Justice Lieberman couldn't wait for the team website URLs, so he got the scoop over his erstwhile employer, but I wanted to get more info about the Index Of Effluency Kings before dropping this bombshell: an Opel GT and an MGB-GT have been signed up for the race! Sadly, both teams are operating under the radar- no doubt because they're cheating like crazy- and I can't get any details on how they plan to totally dominate this race. LeMons Texas, as you may recall, tends to be heavy on the Mustangs and Camaros, though the usual hurricane-flooded BMW suspects are out in full force as well. Here's the complete-as-LeMons-HQ-can-make-it team list, as well as an Opel-vs-MG poll for you Effluence Handicappers; I've got a fair amount of time behind the wheel of both MGBs and Opel GTs, so I can say they're both hopelessly underpowered, ill-handling, unreliable heaps excellent race cars!

2nd Gear Racing: 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix
Apex Vinyl TX Racing: 1978 Toyota Pickup
Bangers and Mash: 1986 Honda Prelude
Beermer: 1976 BMW 2002
Bio-Hazard Racing: 1995 Ford Ranger XLT
Boehm Racing: 1987 Saab 900S
Brawndo, The Thirst Mutilator: 1986 Nissan 200SX
Bubba Drift: 1992 Nissan 240SX
Charlie's Ugly Angels: 1976 Ford Mustang II
Cupcake Racing: 1988 Ford Thunderchicken
Def Leppard Still Sucks: 1986 Ford Mustang
Delinquent Road Hazards: 1993 Acura Integra
Detroit Bailout: 1987 Toyota Supra
Doggie Style Racing: 1985 Toyota MR2
Dukes of Hiroshima: 1993 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Dyin' Tryin'
El Toro Loco
eLemonators: 1992 Toyota Celica
Evel Kweasels: 1982 Toyota Corolla
Flying Asses: 1994 Mazda Miata
Flying Hoondee: 1987 Merkur XR4Ti
Formula M: 1984 Ford Mustang
Four Jerks and a Squirt: 1990 Pontiac Camfirerobird
Frogmasters: 1972 MGB-GT
FUBAR Racing: 1998 Ford Escort
Geargrinders: 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Gold Member: 1987 Toyota MR2
Green Hornet Bimmer Racing: 1995 BMW 318i
Griswold Racing: 1979 Ford Pinto wagon
Guano by Desmodus Rufus: 1984 Mazda RX-7 GSL-SE
Guild of Calamitous Intent: 1987 Mazda RX-7
Half-Assed Safety Fast: 1991 Infiniti Q45
Junk Punch Racing: 1990 Ford Mustang
Lemoncello Racing: 1986 Honda Quaalude
LeMons Racing Experiment (LRE): 1973 Datsun 240Z
Longhorn Raceworks: 1992 Toyota Celica
Los Cucaroches: 1986 Ford Mustang
Los Diablos Racing Team: 1974 Chevrolet Camaro
Lost in the Dark: 1989 Mazda MX6
Low Budget Racing: 1979 Datsun 280ZX
Margarita: 1996 Dodge Neon
Medically Challenged: 1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT
Mustank Racing LLC, POS: 1985 Ford Mustang
Never Give Up: 1971 BMW 1600-2
Norwegian Slaabs - Part Två: 1982 Saab 900
One Point Twenty One Jiggawatts!: 1980 Mazda RX7
Opular Dependence: 1972 Opel GT
Out of Town Racing: 1986 BMW 325es
Polizei und Banditen: 1986 BMW 325e
Prison Break Racing: 1986 BMW 325
Project Yellow Racing: 1986 Honda CRX
Punisher Racing: 1995 Chevy Caprice wagon
Purple Pin Pall Lefty: 1996 Dodge Neon
Purple Pin Ball Righty: 1997 Plymouth Neon
Pwnage Racing: 1988 Mazda RX-7
Race Hard Race Uglier: 1987 BMW 325i
Race Hard Race Ugly: BMW 325i
Rear Impact: 1991 Mazda Miata
Rebel Z: 1982 Datsun 280ZX
Red Pig Racing: 1994 Mazda Miata
Rotorheads: 1983 Mazda RX-7
Rum Runners: 1980 Chevy Malibu Classic
Saabs Gone Wild: 1987 Saab 900 Turbo
Scuderia Scooter Trash: 1987 Alfa Romeo Milano
Scuderia Suino Rosso: 1991 Mazda Miata
Shake and Bake 4-Cylinder Mustang Mafia: 1991 Ford Mustang:
Sheila and the Sheiks: 1985 Ford Mustang
Smilin' Bob Racing Team: 1995 Honda Accord
State Pooper: 1989 Ford Mustang
Stiff Competition : 1984 Mazda RX-7
Stop, Drop, and RickRoll: 1985 BMW 325e
Team Blue Goose: 1985 Honda CRX
Team Fat Cat Racing: 1991 Jaguar XJ6
Team Kachow: 1990 Eagle Talon
Team Lemonade: 1991 Toyota Celica
Team Mazdarati Corse GTA: 1992 Mazda Protégé:
Team Screwdriver: 1979 Pontiac Bonnelinabird:
Team Sour Puss: 1991 Acura Integra
Team Supraleggera: 1983 Toyota Supra
Team Zip Tie: 1992 Ford Taurus SHO
Tetanus Neon: 1995 Dodge Neon
The Cajun Coonasses: 1995 Saturn SL2
The Ghostbusters: 1987 Toyota Corolla FX16 GT-S
The Smoking Eunuchs: 1990 Ford Mustang
TnT Racing: 1989 Volkswagen Golf
Toxic Asset Racing Program: 1986 Toyota MR2
TSOL: 1992 Saab 9000
Unintended Acceleration: 1990 Audi 90 Quattro
Viva Las Vegas: 1990 Honda CRX
Warthog Racing: 1985 BMW 325e
White Lightning Racing: 1982 Toyota Celica GT
Witchdoctor Motorsports/bikiniracer.com: 1987 Chevrolet Camaro
Z-Wrecks: 1982 Datsun 280ZX
Zebra Razing: 1985 Toyota Truck

[eBay Motors], thanks to many readers for the tip.

On the occasion of our company's 40th anniversary in 2008: The Irmscher GT i40. V8 Power to be enjoyed

Irmscher constructs the GT for GourmeTs

It's the ingredients that make the difference! And here is the menu:
A 6,0l V8-engine with 480PS in an Opel GT-body for excellent driving performance.
Perfectly prepared and served à la maison.
For 40 now Irmscher has been providing proof of its competence in matters of vehicle construction and individualisation.
On the occasion of the company's 35th anniversary the most powerful and strongest of the Opel Vectras had caused a stir by reaching a speed of more than 300km/h. However, that which is emerging from the factory floors in Remshalden for the company's 40th anniversary is a vehicle for the true connoisseur: the Irmscher Opel GT i40. The figures in the model's number stand for the data of the company: Günther Irmscher senior started up in1968 in Winnenden with the first vehicle modifications. In the person of Günther Irmscher junior, the second generation is at the fore of the company in 2008 and is proof that 40 years of company history should be celebrated properly at this anniversary.
The Remshalden company is starting its anniversary with a world premiere in Geneva. Here, the GT will be making its first appearance and is sure to cause a stir at the company's stand in Hall 2.
V8-engine and a driving performance that puts it in the company of thoroughbred sports cars male the experts sit up and take notice and connoisseurs tingle with anticipation. As it is known that appearances also matter, the GT is optically enhanced by means of a discreet modification to the car body, and, on the interior with an exclusive leather fitting.
For desert, Irmscher serves the news that the vehicle is to be produced in a small series. The appropriate attention is being paid to this already. The menu therefore also exists in takeaway form.
The GT i40 currently stands in a long tradition of elect vehicles.V8-engines have always had an important role to play at Irmscher. In this line of history stand the Senator V8 and not least the successful races in the Omega V8 with the F1-driver Johnny Cecotto at the wheel, who was able to win the championship twice.
The models with the "i"".
Special models with the "i" in their name have always had their place in the company history. The GT i40 here lines up with a whole row of other vehicles, from the i120, i130, i200...via the i500 to the i35 which appeared for the company's 35th anniversary. At that time, a compressor helped enhance the performance of a V6-Motor. The result was the fastest Opel limousine in series production in the world. 5 years later it is a V8 that will cause a sensation in a Roadster.
All that remains to be said in conclusion is:

Dinner is served!

Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

Parts cars are great! It's like having your own private junkyard, right there in your driveway. Sure, the neighbors might grumble about your typical ugly parts car, but how could they possibly object to you lining up three beautiful Opel GT parts cars on your front yard? That's what you'd have if you bought these four Opel GTs! What you get for your $2500 is one running '70 GT plus two somewhat complete '70s and a '73. Oh yeah, just because the seller feels sorry for you appreciates a fellow Opel fancier, you'll get a bonus engine and transmission. Man, with all that stuff you could put together at least two runners... right? And they're like little Corvettes, mang! Imagine the fun of your instant Opel GT junkyard! You'll need some fierce dogs to guard it, of course- it wouldn't do to have marauding bands of Opel thieves stripping those priceless parts.

There's no need to be stuck with a bunch of Germanized GMs just because you dig the parts-car idea, however- not when you can pony up a deal-of-the-century $2450 for a pair of 1964 Fiat 600Ds! The seller is clearly running out of patience with flakazoid Craigslist buyers, judging by the listing's 6-point anti-flake introduction (hey, I've been there; every time I try to sell a car on Craigslist I swear it's the last time), so if you show up with a stack-o-cash a couple hundred bucks lower than his price you'll probably still get the cars. There are two engines (one seized) and sufficient bits and pieces between the two cars that you'd be able to postpone the start of your hopeless search for unobtainable Fiat parts by, oh, at least six months.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

We all know the Manta was the German counterpart to the Camaro, complete with all the F-body's associated sociocultural , er, attributes, but what about the German Corvette counterpart? We're talking about the original Opel GT, of course, and what better car for the upwardly-mobile bemulleted V8 Manta driver to add to his stable than a GT with a V8 swap? Here's a site put together by a guy who's been tracking V8 Opel GT prices for a while, and he's got some photos that will bring a tear to Günter's eye! – Murilee Martin

V-8 Powered Opel GT : Market survey [stevenmason.com]

Related:
Engine Swap of the Day: V8 Manta! [internal]

With Opel relaunching the GT as a roadster based on the Saturn Sky (which would make it not quite a GT car, am I right?), we thought it might be fun to look back at the original "mini Corvette" Opel GT. Then we reconsidered. What would be fun would be to see what some Opel GT buyers have done with their cars over the years — body kits, shooting brakes, tow trucks. Yeah, then again, maybe we should stick with preparing for a new Saab Sonnet. [Thanks to Brian for the tip.] – Mike Spinelli

[Opel GT Umbauten]

Related:
The Red Badge Engineering of Courage: The Opel GT [internal]

It could have been any of us hacks, behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car on a picturesque but potentially treacherous road, possibly poking at the limits of adhesion so we might return a colorful review that conveys the experience poignantly. But it was French automotive journalist Michel Barelli who was killed this past weekend when the 2007 Opel GT he was driving went out of control on a mountain road and plummeted down an embankment, the AP reports. Barelli, a writer for the French daily newspaper Nice-Matin, was reportedly on a press drive for the car, the European version of the Saturn Sky, when the accident occurred, approximately 40 miles east of San Diego. Condolences from all Jalopniks, everywhere. – Mike Spinelli

French auto writer killed in San Diego County car crash [Contra Costa Times]

Related:
Astras in America: Opel Club Meets GM's German Saturns, or Vice Versa [internal]

More cowbell! GM's Opel outfit released details and visuals on the Saturn Sky variant that will revive the Opel GT badge. Like the Sky Red Line, the GT will get GM's turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection four, producing 264 hp — good for a zero-to-60 time of 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. It's been given the once-over by GM Europe's Design Studios in R sselsheim, which added a few Opelesque cues to highlight its association with the European brand's GTC sports line. – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

Opel GT: Opel Goes Roadster

Classic proportions: sleek silhouette, long hood, short overhangs

Archetypal roadster architecture with front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive

High-tech turbo direct injection and twin A-arms

Roadster fun and performance at affordable price: 264 hp for 30,675 euros

The modern definition of an athletic two-seater finds its form in the new Opel GT. As a classic roadster, it has a powerful front-mounted engine, rear-wheel drive, a cockpit with sporty instruments and a tailor-made fabric roof. With a wide stance, sleek silhouette, long, front-hinged hood and short overhangs, the proportions are typical of this class. The Opel GT also brings new charm to this genre with its own unmistakable personality thanks to its exciting shape, which contrasts sharp edges with curved surfaces to create a dynamic look, and its configuration, which enables a refined driving experience, even on long journeys. The GT's pricing is also attractive. For 30,675 euros (recommended retail price in Germany incl. VAT), customers get no less than 264 hp from the high-tech turbo engine with gasoline direct injection. Acceleration from zero to 100 km/h takes less than six seconds. The new two-seater carries its legendary name because it continues the tradition of the first Opel GT (1968 - 1973) and, like the original, competes in one of the most exciting vehicle classes.

The new Opel GT also showcases the brand's passion for dynamic cars, and the conviction that "Opel was never as young as today". This is underlined by niche models with a high fun factor, such as the Astra GTC with panorama windshield, the Tigra TwinTop and Astra TwinTop cabrio-coup s, as well as the high-performance OPC family. They enrich the model portfolio and emotionalize the brand.

The development of the Opel GT is a prime example of transcontinental collaboration within GM. It stems from the decision to expand the concern's portfolio with a compact, rear-wheel drive, sporty vehicle architecture that can be implemented globally. The first step towards realizing this idea was the Solstice concept car in 2002, followed a year later by the Vauxhall VX Lightning concept, which was conceived at the GM Advanced Design Studio in Coventry, England. Strongly inspired by the VX, the Opel GT has been adapted to the current Opel design language at the GM Design Studio in Detroit and the GM Europe Design Studios in R sselsheim under the direction of Bryan Nesbitt. The Opel roadster will be built at the Wilmington/Delaware plant in the USA, where its highly successful American GM sister models, the Pontiac Solstice and the Saturn Sky, are also produced.

The new GT's story is reminiscent of that of its classic predecessor. In 1968, the original Opel GT set an automotive manufacturing precedent in Europe when it became the first car to go into production after being debuted to the public as a concept study. The legendary American sports car, the Corvette, made the same start in 1953 in the USA. The new Opel GT shares some engineering characteristics with the current Corvette, such as part of the architecture.

Crisp, dynamic look with strong face

Sharp lines coupled with taut surfaces give the new Opel GT a crisp, dynamic look. Its strong face is dominated by the fender's accentuated sweep, the bold chrome crossbar with integrated Opel logo, the elongated hood with brand-typical center crease, chrome-bordered vents and bold 3-D headlamps in clear glass look drawn deep into the side panels. The GT's especially sporty characteristics include the long air vents in the hood, the grooving in the front fenders with their dynamic, Opel-typical horizontal contours like on the Antara , the double-pipe exhaust system and the twin air scoops behind the head restraints, which are reminiscent of designs from roadster and motor sport history. 18-inch aluminum wheels in new five-spoke design fill out the wheelarches, and emphasize the roadster character, as does the fabric roof, which completely disappears beneath a cover for open-top driving fun.

Chrome-ringed instruments in the cockpit clearly display all important information, while black piano lacquer and chrome finishes accentuate the high-tech nuance of the surface structures. These all combine with optional leather seats with visible stitching to highlight the sporty ambience. The short gear stick adds significantly to the driving fun: directly connected straight to the roadster's five-speed transmission, its short gear travel enables quick gear shifts from the roadster-typical seating position.

High-tech turbo engine with direct injection and variable camshaft phasing

The new Opel GT does not just look quick, it is quick! Its longitudinally front-installed 264 hp engine with turbocharging and gasoline direct injection accelerates the roadster to 100 km/h from a standing start in just 5.7 seconds, and up to a top speed of around 230 km/h. "When it comes to high-performance roadsters, there is no better balance between price, driving enjoyment and fun," says Alain Visser, Executive Director Sales and Marketing, Opel. There's no question about it: no other Opel has ever produced 132 hp output per liter. The new Opel GT's engine not only complements the car's dynamic look perfectly, it also far outperforms today's other roadsters and most two-seat sports cars.

High-tech features such as gasoline direct injection, twin-scroll turbocharger with intercooler, double camshaft phasing and twin counter-rotating balance shafts provide the basis for the 1998 cm3, four-cylinder engine's impressive performance data. Maximum output of 194 kW/264 hp at 5300 rpm and high torque plateau of 353 Nm between 2500 and 5000 rpm ensure plenty of power in all situations. The GT requires an average of 9.2 liters of super unleaded gasoline per 100 kilometers. Jointly developed by GM Powertrain engineers on both sides of the Atlantic, the all-aluminum ECOTEC unit is based on the 2.2-liter direct injection unit available in the Vectra model range since 2004, and on the 2.0-liter turbo induction unit, which debuted in the Vectra GTS in spring 2003.

Chassis with classic sporty configuration

For the Opel GT, engineers designed a classic, sporty configuration based on a rigid chassis, wide track (front/rear: 1543/1561 mm) and long wheelbase of 2415 mm: all four wheels are suspended from twin A-arms made from forged aluminum, the center of gravity is low, and the weight distribution of 51:49 percent (front/rear) is well balanced.
A manual five-speed transmission with sporty, short gear travel and limited slip differential provide propulsion power. A torque beam between the transmission and rear axle suppresses reactions to acceleration/deceleration effects.

While disk brakes on all wheels, ABS, Traction Control (TC) and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) monitor safety, the driver can control the level of ESP and use of TC himself. Both systems are fully active after ignition, with the setup providing driving fun but also keeping the vehicle stable within the physical limitations. At the touch of the ESP button in the instrument panel, the Traction Control (TC) is switched off, but ESP remains active and intervenes as soon as the yaw angle exceeds certain thresholds. Two short presses change the ESP's calibration to a sportier mode and keep the Traction Control (TC) deactivated. Pushing and holding the ESP again for around ten seconds until the "ESP Off" symbol illuminates, completely deactivates ESP and TC. A short press of the button in any mode returns the two systems to their normal states, which also occurs automatically with each new engine start. A display and control light in the instrument panel keeps the driver informed about the current status of both systems.

Stiff vehicle structure with center tunnel and side members

The typical roadster vehicle architecture was designed from the beginning to meet the special demands of an open-top, two-seat sports car without compromise. The vehicle structure, which consists of hydroformed side members and a supporting center tunnel made from drawn sheet steel, provides a solid basis for the car's precise handling and passive safety. The hydroforming forging technique, in which components are manufactured from steel with the help of high water pressure, is already employed in automobile construction for chassis components in the Opel Vectra and Astra.

Only the legendary American Corvette sports car is also based on hydroformed side members. But the Opel GT also breaks new ground in another regard: the GT model family belongs to the first car line produced in significant numbers to have numerous exterior parts made using a procedure that is relatively time-consuming, but provides designers with greater creative freedom. The hood is one example: thanks to unconventional hydraulic technology known as super forming the long hood section with its front hinges was optimally integrated into the roadster's silhouette without a gap between the hood and fender.

Extensive standard equipment

Extensive standard equipment in the Opel GT includes:

18-inch alloy wheels with 245/45 R 18 tires
Anti-lock Braking System ABS
Electronic Stability Program ESP (can be adjusted and switched off)
Traction Control TC (can be switched off)
Two-stage airbags for driver and passenger
Occupant detection for passenger seat (with cockpit display)
Three-point safety belts with pretensioners and belt-force limiters
CD-Radio (six loudspeakers, steering wheel remote controls, MP3 player connection)
Power exterior mirrors
Power windows
Power height-adjustable driver's seat
Cruise control
Air conditioning
Leather steering wheel and gearshift knob
Manual soft top with heated rear glass window
Fog lamps
Remote control central locking, including remote trunk-lid release

The first Opel GTs will be on the road in March 2007 and dealerships have been accepting orders since summer 2006.

New Opel GT: Technical Data Overview

Engine / transmission

Emissions standard compliance

Euro 4

Fuel

super unleaded

Number of cylinders

4

Bore
mm
86.0

Stroke
mm
86.0

Displacement
cm3
1998

Max. output
kW (hp)
194 (264)

at rpm
5300

Max. torque
Nm
353

at rpm
2500 - 5000

Transmission

5-speed, manual

Driving performance
Fuel consumption in l/100 km

Maximum speed
in km/h
Acceleration from
0 - 100 km/h in seconds

Urban

Extra-urban

Combined
CO2 emissions
in g/km

229
5.7
13.0
6.9
9.2
218

Car dimensions in mm

Length
4100

Width
1813

Height (at curb weight)
1274

Wheelbase
2415

Track, front
1543

Track, rear
1561

Turning clearance in m

Curb-to-curb
10.45

Luggage compartment capacity (liter)

Roof closed
157

Roof open
66

Weight and axle load in kg

Curb weight excl. driver (according to 70/156/EU)
1331

Gross vehicle weight
1625

Maximum axle load, front
850

Maximum axle load, rear
775

All data refer to the European base model with standard equipment. The consumption data according to 1999/100/EU takes into consideration the vehicle's curb weight as stipulated by this regulation. The published performance figures are possible with the vehicle's curb weight excluding driver plus a 200 kilogram load allowance.

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Profiles in Badge Engineering Courage: The Opel GT [internal]

Though the Saturn Sky shares an architecture with the Pontiac Solstice, at least the first has unique body-shape characteristics to distinguish it from the second. The Opel GT, on the other hand, is a straight-up Saturn Sky from basement to (cloth-topped) attic, which makes sense, since Saturn's getting a cornucopia of Opels to fill out its US line in the next few years. Maybe GM should consider a brand merger between the two divisions. (Saturopel? Opelurn? Lanspoutrel?) Considering its less-than-unique comportment, evoking the name of the quirky "Mini 'Vette" of the early '70s to give the SkyGT retro appeal feels awkward; a patronizing stab at distinctiveness by association. C-

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Saturn Sky Mining: Opel GT Revealed Ahead of Geneva Launch [internal]