I know they aren't the favorite of some of you folks but I rarely see anything about these cars posted. How many of you guys/gals own one (and have stuffed BBBs in them :TU: )? I'm a serious A/Gas fan and always thought the Opels made killer drag cars along with the Willys, Anglias, and Henry J's.
I saw one for sale around here in New Haven County. I can't remember where it was. But the car was in pretty good condition. It was hunter green and very clean. :laugh:
Opels For some reason, Opels are'nt always accepted as part of the Buick Family, even though they were sold through the US Buick dealers for many years, some folks accept them, so don't, I do! My first car was an '76 Opel Isuzu, not my first choice as my first car, but it was yellow with black stripes! And was cheap for a brand new car! I think out the door price in April '77 was $3106! Could go 220 miles from Potsdam, NY(Clarkson University), to Owego, NY, home for $5 in gas! in '77-'79! every 3 weeks or so! My first choice was a '72 GS 350 also yellow, with black vinyl top, but it had aftermarket A/C in the trunk, and was around $4500, in '76, my dad, didn't like the A/C deal cause back then he was anti-A/C, cause he'd never had a car with it, and so I didn't get to buy it, but if I had, probably would still have it, where as the Opel/Isuzu is part of somebodies new car, cause it rusted away, but that was way after i sold it.. and bought a '77 Century, and then traded that in for a '79 Skyhawk, V6-4speed, and that story is on another post, a couple of months ago! RV
They do make pretty good drag cars. Below is a pic of a tubbed one at a local car show earlier this year. It's a 9sec. car.....but has SBC power. What are ya gonna do??
My favorite Opel is Owned by my friend Alyn Armstrong.Many of you in the Northeast may have seen it at Englishtown,Epping ,Lebanon Valley or Maple Grove.It is naturally aspirated,runs on race gas,has a destroked 4 cylinder Pontiac Super Duty block,a Chevy head and runs 9.0's.This is by far the most fascinating drag car I have ever seen given its makeup.A tribute to the man's genius.It makes over 400 hp and turns about10,900 rpm.I hate to say it but I would rather watch this than a big block anyday.The same guy built up my big block Buick by the way. It is hard to stay unemotional when watching this Opel-it seems to have the same effect on anyone who sees it run. Rod
I had a 75 Manta with 4 speed and fuel injection for a while. It ran nice, but the sun had ruined the paint, interior and most of the rubber moldings. It could have used a 5 speed for quieter cruising too. Can you post links to any Opel boards?
I SECOND THAT everwere johnny goes he puts on a show, that car looks and sounds like no orther and is the baddest opel i have ever seen hands down.
Hey Scott, is that from the Whitney Point car show this past June? I thought I saw that car there. Dan :3gears:
The only new car I ever bought was a 72 Opel Manta Rallye.....and I still have it. Getting rough around the edges though. 240,000 miles. Took the motor apart at 18,000 to replace the 7.5 pistons with 10.5s (worth like 30 hp right there) and went from there....Weber carbs, cam, header, ported heads. Used to take out 240 Zs in it's day and eat BMW 2002s as snacks. John, did you sell that Manta you had (the one in the pic in the enclosed)? Bruce
I currently have an Opel GT. This one is stock. I had the privledge to drive my uncles Opel GT that we ran in SS/AX and formerly K/G. We made it more Buick by running a Buick V6. The car ran a best of 8.90 at 152 mph. This was the first SS/AX car in the 8's.
