Opel?

[nfpgasmask]

Has anyone ever heard of OPEL? I just ran across this pic of a pretty nice looking truck. Not sure if it is a concept or not. I think it might be a Polish make.

I like it....

OPEL? (http://www.autogaleria.pl/tapety/img/opel/opel_antara_gtc_2005_01_m.jpg)

Bart

[shoota77]

They're big in Europe. Saturn is starting to use Opel over here in the states. The Sky is an Opel GT. Vauxhall fits in there as well somewhere. From what I've seen Opel is pretty solid.

[ThirtyftFL]

I belive Opel is a european division of GM, not sold here. The Cadillac Catera was an imported Opel vehicle.

[Zorak]

Opel is a German car manufacturer and the main brand in Europe for GM, who has owned the company since 1931.

German Opel automobiles were sold in US at Buick dealers starting in the late 1950's up until 1975. The 1975 models had fuel injection, which was considered such a big deal back then that it actually had a "fuel injection" emblem on the trunk lid. I used to have a 1975 Opel Manta, which was a good car mechanically, but the bodies seemed to be susceptible to rust and the interiors started falling apart after a few years.

GM tried to keep the Opel program going after 1975 by replacing the German built car with a Japanese one carrying the Opel nameplate. It was an Isuzu I-mark and they called it "Opel by Isuzu", but it was not very successful and Opel finally disappeared from the US market after 1979.

[nfpgasmask]

Wow, very interesting, especially the Isuzu tie-in. Thanks for the info!

Bart

[E-ZooZoo One]

The Isuzu tie-in continues:

The Rodeo was sold as the Opel Frontera in Europe...
And guess who just happens to have some authentic Opel badges that are waiting to go on his Rodeo, just to mess with people's minds :naughty:

Ahhh... but it's not a de-badge sort of thing -- Remember, I'm the guy that installed a LARGER Isuzu emblem on the front of his VX :razzgray: :smilewink

[djkymar]

yeah i heard about opel its really popular car in europe like opel kadet opel astra escort and more other ones. I used to drive cadillac catera which is body and most loking is from opel omega, but then i sold it and bout VX =)

[nfpgasmask]

Funny, that's how found the photo. I was browsing eBay for some center cap emlbems for my new American Racing rims (the American Racing logo has to go) and I came across the OPEL emblem. I was like "wtf is OPEL" so I did a Google image search and found the photo I posted above. It would be funny to use OPEL badges on my new rims!

Bart


The Isuzu tie-in continues:

The Rodeo was sold as the Opel Frontera in Europe...
And guess who just happens to have some authentic Opel badges that are waiting to go on his Rodeo, just to mess with people's minds :naughty:

Ahhh... but it's not a de-badge sort of thing -- Remember, I'm the guy that installed a LARGER Isuzu emblem on the front of his VX :razzgray: :smilewink

[E-ZooZoo One]

...It would be funny to use OPEL badges on my new rims!
You care to share that link?
I think my 'Opel' would look pretty good with Opel caps :winkgray: :yesgray: :laughgray


Cheers!
Smiley

[JHarris1385]

I have been a fan of Opel cars for quite sometime considering I am an AC Milan soccer fan and they are/were sponsered by Opel.....Plus I just think the symbol is a good design..........

[nfpgasmask]

Have at it (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=center+cap+emblem+opel)

The symbol is nice. I like the clean lightening bolt look.

However, I would actually like something that is either straight black, or something with the Isuzu logo or symbol in it instead. Does anyone know a place that sells the stick on emblems? I need ones that are no bigger than 2.5"s.

Its funny, cause the American Racing center cap badges are just glued on to the center cap. So, I thought, sweet, I can just rip this off and I am good to go. WRONG! Underneath the stick on badge is another AR logo molded into the centercap. So what did I do? I Dremeled it out and then sanded it all down. Now I have 100% debadged center caps. But I was thinking of putting an Isuzu symbol in there, trouble is I can't find anything that will work.

Does anyone know where to get titanium stuff made? It would be pimpy to have smaller "VX" logos cut out of titanium for my center cap decals.

Bart

PS. Yes, photos are coming soon. Rubber goes on Saturday morning.

[rowhard]

You can add Vauxhall in England and Holden in Australia to that shared platform list. Thats where I first saw a 'Cadillac Catera', but it was called a Vauxhall Senator or something like that. I thought it was a big car till I saw it here. Maybe it shrank coming across the Atlantic.

[E-ZooZoo One]

Have at it (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=center+cap+emblem+opel)
Thanks!

I might even have to get one of these too...

http://i2.ebayimg.com/03/i/08/ec/f5/c3_1_b.JPG

:laughgray :laughgray :laughgray :laughgray :laughgray

[ScottinMA]

Wow, I've had many friends that have owned Opels. I went to their website and discovered that there is no US link. I think they owned Cadets. Great vehicle. Very cool car.

[thedutchguy]

That opel pic you posted is underbody the same as the Chevrolet Captiva:

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/images/info/news_events/captiva_teaser1.jpg

[transio]

More of a tie in (not really, but :D)... Opel acutally has a car called the VX- the Opel Speedster VX 220. :D And it's based on the Lotus Elise, which is the m100 Elan replacement, which has an Isuzu engine in it. :)

They also have the Opel Astra VX-R. You can get door sill badges from it an put them on your Vehicross. :D

http://www.channel4.com/4car/media/V/vauxhall/astra/03-large/05-vxr-badge.jpg

[nfpgasmask]

Yeah, well, this is the problem with Chevy. That thing is fugly. They need to pull out the stops and step it up. They haven't made a decent looking vehicle in years imo.

Bart


That opel pic you posted is underbody the same as the Chevrolet Captiva:

http://www.chevrolet.co.uk/images/info/news_events/captiva_teaser1.jpg

[thedutchguy]

Yeah, well, this is the problem with Chevy. That thing is fugly. They need to pull out the stops and step it up. They haven't made a decent looking vehicle in years imo.

But they're tryin' now:

http://paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules/ew_filemanager/06images/sportscar/wtcc/Ultra-1-600.jpg

and buildin':

http://www.motorionline.com/public/Album/Chevrolet/wtcc_estoril.jpg

[Bulldoggie]

I'm surprised that noone mentioned the Opel GT from the early seventies!
It looked like a mini Corvette, complete with hideaway headlamps you actvated by pulling what looked like a small handbreak next to the gear lever.

I still see a few sitting around waiting to be restored?

[nfpgasmask]

Yeah, I saw a few on eBayMotors.com, they look pretty sweet actually!

Bart


I'm surprised that noone mentioned the Opel GT from the early seventies!
It looked like a mini Corvette, complete with hideaway headlamps you actvated by pulling what looked like a small handbreak next to the gear lever.

I still see a few sitting around waiting to be restored?

[E-ZooZoo One]

I'm surprised that noone mentioned the Opel GT from the early seventies!
I almost did...

Years ago, when my step-sister first started driving (and I was still about two years away from the honor myself) - my father asked her if ther were any cars that she was interested in buying...

She enthusiastically replied "I'd like to get either a Saab Sonett III or an Opel GT" -- to which my father fired-back, without missing a beat "OK, but what do you plan to DRIVE?"

She didn't get it... So my father explained that neither of her choices were exactly known for thier reilability, and that if she didn't have any other ideas, maybe she'd better sign-up for Auto Shop - or start dating a mechanic!


I think he made his point - sort of...
A few weeks later, she ended-up getting an early`80s 1-Door Hatchback Dodge Omni...
(Well, actually it was a 4-door - but hers only opened on the front passenger-side :laughgray :laughgray :laughgray )

[colmhd]

They are pretty big in Ireland, sponsoring sports, like the local GAA events and soccer.
Used to be big in rallies too with the Opel Corsa. :)

[Solitude]

fyi... buick had an marketed an opel in 1976 ie.. buick opel... was an isuzu... 2 door hatchback.. nice car till family member wrapped it around a telephone pool

http://www.opel-classic.dk/BUICK%20OPEL%20INFO.htm

[PHO2GR4]

My first car was a 1973 Opel GT. It looked like a baby 'Vette.

Now that I think of it, it was painted white with a black hood a black all around the bottom of the body! It looked like a mutant cousin of my Ironman VX, I guess.

GREAT little sportster, though. I had it when I was a senior in high school.The chicks dug it...

:cool: