Is $300 too expensive?

"cletus44 aka Clayton Seams" (cletus44)
09/11/2019 at 16:07 • Filed to: None

The $300 Opel GT! Is $300 too much for this thing? Basically a friend of mine was on this property to buy that hopeless FJ you see next to it. The owner of the FJ also had the Opel and said “take it away or it goes to the crusher”. So long story short, he’s offering that car to me for free, minus his cost of transport which was around $300.

I’m not exactly sure what year it is but I suspect it is a 1972. Supposedly it is decent in terms of rust and actually looks fairly straight. Notably a wooden 2x4 has been laminated into the front grill to form the lower portion. Now that’s some ingenuity!

The engine seems fairly complete though I notice the distributor cap is missing and the valve cover is just sitting akimbo with no bolts. It might be a goner? The transmission is also sitting in the passenger footwell and is not installed.

So what do you guys think? Is it a worthy Reidus and Cletus candidate or is it too far gone? If I buy it, I think my most likely plan would be to abandon the quirky but surely wounded 1.9 CIH engine and swap in a Japanese I4 of some kind. Then I would paint the weathered hulk to match the Cletus-Vette! Mini me!

DISCUSSION (36)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:42

Gut it, drop in a ‘busa motor, add a rollcage and some lights. Boom.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:42

DO IT!

Mostly because these look like mini C3s so it would look fantastic next to the Cletus ‘Vette

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:43

Screw it. 300 isn't that much for such a cool car, even if it is mostly wasted. But it will be a ton of work.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:52

I mean $300 is why the hell not money.

Tapas > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:53

You already know the answer - Go for it!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
09/11/2019 at 15:56

That’s part of the appeal. I’d have a matching set!

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
09/11/2019 at 15:56

Oh but $300 would barely be the price of admission on this bad boy

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:57

Did someone say Gambler?

AuthiCooper1300 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:58

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Opel_GT_Rekordwagen_(1972) .jpg

XJDano > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:59

3 factors always go into purchasing a car.

Time, money, storage.

I don’t think the money is the issue here.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 15:59

How expensive could it possibly get?

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:01

how badly gone is the undercarriage?

i mean...the price is right.... if its not gonna disintegrate

vicali > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:08

Do it Do it Do it!

Kinja'd!!!

LongbowMkII > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:12

Your C3 has a SBC right? So the only proper swap for this is a BBC.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/11/2019 at 16:12

I don’t want to ruin my cars tho, they’re usually ruined enough.

TheRealBicycleBuck > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:20

Standard disclaimer: you’ve come to the wrong place if you’re looking for someone to discourage you.

That being said, I now say BUY IT!!!

Chariotoflove > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:23

Ima go with negatory on this one. This money pit is a little too deep.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Chariotoflove
09/11/2019 at 16:25

It kinda needs EVERYTHING

FISTs13 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:26

Seems like the going rate:

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/pts/d/somerset-opel-part-cars/6972252936.html

Chariotoflove > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:29

You might be better off getting someone to 3D print you a new shell and build it from there.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:30

this is already pretty ruined, though. Take the chassis and toss it on a 4wd f150 frame and send it

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 16:41

WHAT PRICE, WHAT COST GLORY

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
09/11/2019 at 16:42

I mean off the bat you need tires, braking parts, and ignition. That’s a couple hundred right there.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 17:09

For $300, why not? It’ll cost a lot to fix, but good luck finding another for that price.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford
09/11/2019 at 17:13

Kind amy thoughts on the matter

Mercedes Streeter > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 17:15

You can take a daily on a Gambler. I'm taking my smart for round three of the Gambler 500 this weekend in Tennessee. Worst damage thus far is a broken HVAC blower motor and dead ABS.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 17:31

Seriously, if you don’t I will*

*it would most likely sit in my garage for a few years before anything happened

Sovande > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 17:37

It may be worth that much in parts. What’s scrap value? What’s a finished, running one cost?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 17:51

Drop i t on a S-10 Chassis

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 18:15

Might be a good 24 hours of Lemons candidate.

But as a classic car to actually enjoy on weekends, just buy one that is already in good condition... like this one or this one

Snuze: Needs another Swede > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 19:29

I recall reading somewhere that the GM 60 degree V6 engines are a relatively easy swap. The first versions went from 2.8L to 3.4L and made up to 185HP (aside from the special 205 HP McLaren Turbo 3.1L and 215 HP 3400 DOHC). This engine evolved into the 3.5 & 3.9L High Value V6 which made up to 242 HP.

Just sayin'...

Longtime Lurker > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 19:57

I've seen people spend more money on a lawn ornament.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 20:14

YESSS! These cars are not very common...I’d imagine it would make an awesome project, plus...Mini Cletus-”vette”! :P

I’d say at $300, if it’s too far gone, you’re not out much. If it is repairable, that’s a pretty cheap price, even if it’ll need a lot of work! Worth it though, in my eyes...cool little sports cars!

MM54 > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/11/2019 at 21:11

If it’s not at risk of breaking in half from rust... probably go for it.

I bet it’d fit a rotary pretty well...

SmugAardvark > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/12/2019 at 03:40

Screaming for a LeMons build...

pip bip - choose Corrour > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/12/2019 at 05:49

$300 bargain!

do an LS swap