Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Andy B on 16 October 2010, 12:47:27

Title: Opel GT
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2010, 12:47:27
I wonder why 'we' never got a vauxhall GT when mainland europe had & have the Opel GT  :-?

(http://files.conceptcarz.com/img/Opel/opel-GT-Exterior-Image-056-800.jpg)


more Opel GT pictures (http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/default.aspx?carID=16550&i=4#menu)
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: damon80 on 16 October 2010, 12:50:46
It's a shame - cracking looking car  :(

Very popular across the pond - sold as the Pontiac Soltice if memory serves me right
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2010, 13:12:08
Quote
It's a shame - cracking looking car  :(

Very popular across the pond - sold as the Pontiac Soltice if memory serves me right

I wouldn't mind one of the new ones .... if I had the money.   :( :y :y
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: andyc on 16 October 2010, 20:44:22
Main reason is Gm/Opel followed in the footsteps of the orginal GT which was only available in LHD and sold in main land europe and north america.

Vauxhall did orginaly have the new GT but under the prototype name of the VX Lightning which was about a few years back.

Vauxhall got cold feet and put the project on the back burner until it was picked up by the Opel guys and mad into GT

Price wise they aren't to bad to pick one up from europe but there is no boot space to speak of and no hard top was ever made just a rag top which is manual fit.

I already have a '70 GT in the workshop so one day i will get the later one

Andy

Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2010, 20:50:16
Quote
Main reason is Gm/Opel followed in the footsteps of the orginal GT which was only available in LHD and sold in main land europe and north america.

Vauxhall did orginaly have the new GT but under the prototype name of the VX Lightning which was about a few years back.

Vauxhall got cold feet and put the project on the back burner until it was picked up by the Opel guys and mad into GT

Price wise they aren't to bad to pick one up from europe but there is no boot space to speak of and no hard top was ever made just a rag top which is manual fit.

I already have a '70 GT in the workshop so one day i will get the later one

Andy


Thanks Andy. The very first (original) Opel GT I saw was
in a scrap yard at Botley (near-ish Southampton/Pompey) and that must be 25 yrs ago. I'd no idea what it was & I had a few years to wait before I could ask Google!  ;D ;D
I've yet to see a new GT  :-?
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: jonnycool on 16 October 2010, 20:50:45
I like it, very cool  8-)
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: aaronjb on 16 October 2010, 20:54:12
Quote
I like it, very cool  8-)

It looks nice (the Solstice, I'm talking about) but by all accounts was meant to be a bit of a let down in the 'actually being a sports car' department ..

The classic looks beautiful, however - reminds me of the Toyota 2000 GT.. though I suspect the latter is a copy of the former (givn the Open GT came out a couple of years earlier):
(http://www.oldtimergala.de/content/produktfotos/1125346646Toyota%202000%20.jpg)
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: andyc on 16 October 2010, 20:59:33
The US version got softer suspension and only a N/A 2.4 16v Engine. Europe got stiffer setup and a 2.0 16 turbo with something like 250bhp

A friend of mine was at the launch in Palm Springs a couple of years back and they launched with the european car, he a quick driver and said the car handle really well.

Just a same that GM closed the US plant that bulit them

Andy
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: jonnycool on 16 October 2010, 21:02:47
The Toyota's a great looker too  :y
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: Andy B on 16 October 2010, 21:12:52
Quote
......

Just a same that GM closed the US plant that bulit them

Andy

So you can't stil buy a new Opel GT?  :-?  :(
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: 2woody on 16 October 2010, 21:55:15
nope - can't understand why it never came to the UK

actually, have just looked it up in some old Department of Transport material - and yes, the Opel GT was available in the UK - just not in RHD.
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: damon80 on 16 October 2010, 22:50:50
There was a chap in Total Vauxhall about 12 months back who'd imported a new Opel GT from Germany himself.

I thought they (the Opel and the Pontiac) were all built in Russelheim?  :-/
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: albitz on 17 October 2010, 00:20:39
In the days of the original Opel GT, VX and Opel models werent interchangeable as they are now. ;)
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: damon80 on 17 October 2010, 00:23:12
Sorry Albs, it's the new one I was referring to
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: albitz on 17 October 2010, 00:45:39
Its ok Damon, I was referring to Andys original question (or part of it). :y
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: damon80 on 17 October 2010, 10:50:26
Ahh, that makes sense then!  ;D
Title: Re: Opel GT
Post by: andyc on 17 October 2010, 21:41:12
they were all built at the Delaware Plant on the KAPPA floor pan

GM closed and sold the plant when they were haveing money problems the other year

Andy