Opel GT 1900

Opel GT 1900

The Opel GT 1900 is one of the most delightful sports cars of its era, a compact German coupe whose striking styling earned it immediate comparisons to the Chevrolet Corvette despite being powered by a far more modest engine. Designed by Erhard Schnell and first shown as a concept at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show, the production GT that appeared in 1968 remained remarkably faithful to the original design study, retaining the dramatic proportions and hidden headlamps that made it one of the most visually arresting affordable cars of the late 1960s.

The 1,897 cc overhead-valve inline four-cylinder engine, sourced from the Opel Kadett range, produced 102 horsepower, a figure that placed the GT squarely in the sporty-rather-than-fast category. However, the car's relatively light weight and excellent aerodynamics meant that real-world performance was more than respectable, with a top speed approaching 185 km/h and 0-100 km/h achieved in approximately 11 seconds. A four-speed manual gearbox was standard, and the driving experience rewarded smoothness and mechanical sympathy rather than brute force.

The GT's most celebrated feature was its manually operated hidden headlamp system. Rather than the electric mechanisms used by the Corvette and other expensive sports cars, the Opel GT used a clever manual rotary mechanism operated by a lever on the center console. This ingenious cost-saving solution contributed to the GT's affordable price while maintaining the sleek profile when the headlamps were retracted. The design proved reliable and became one of the GT's most endearing characteristics.

The body was not manufactured by Opel but rather by the French coachbuilder Brissonneau & Lotz, who pressed and partially assembled the body shells before shipping them to Opel's Bochum factory for final assembly. This arrangement was necessitated by the GT's low production volumes, which could not justify the tooling investment for integration into Opel's main production lines. The steel unibody construction was conventional but well-executed, with satisfactory structural rigidity for a car of its size.

The interior was functional and driver-focused, with two bucket seats, a comprehensive instrument cluster including a tachometer, and minimal rear storage space behind the seats. The cockpit was tight but not uncomfortable for average-sized adults, and the driving position placed the pilot close to the road surface, enhancing the sensation of speed. The GT was strictly a two-seater, with no pretense of rear passenger accommodation.

Opel produced approximately 103,463 GTs from 1968 to 1973, the vast majority in the 1900 specification. The GT sold well in North America through Buick dealerships, introducing many Americans to European sports car motoring at an accessible price point. Today, the Opel GT enjoys a devoted following of enthusiasts who appreciate its combination of striking design, engaging driving character, and straightforward mechanical simplicity. Excellent examples are increasingly valued, though the GT remains among the most affordable entry points into classic sports car ownership.