gt2200
30-11-2008, 11:43 PM
I see we definately have at least one GT fan on the forum, so especially for Charlie, here's some info about 'Humbug' and at the end a couple of pics.
This baby was registered in 1969 and spent most of her early life in San Remo in Italy. During the 1981 San Remo Rally when DOT where rallying the Ascona 400's they worked out of an Opel Dealership in San Remo and the then Director of DOT Tony Fall saw the GT, fell in love and bought her, primarily for his wife to run whilst they were based in Germany.
When Tony then came back to the UK to run DOT out of Tong Park (Yorkshire) they were commission to rebuild a Grp 4 GT and off the back of this he along with Steve Thomson (official Irmscher UK importer) and Tom May (Head of Irmscher UK) formed a company called Opel Classics.
The purpose of the company was to help people with specialist cars, Manta / Ascona 400's, Kadett C GT/E's and GT etc and they decided to build two 'as new' Opel GT's. One of the cars was based on an American shell and the other was Tony's own car and of the two cars his was completed to a higher specification, this included:
Converted to run on Fuel injection....originally 1.9 from a Manta A GT/E
5 speed Getrag 240 conversion
Irmscher Big Brakes
Suspension by Harvey Bailey (British Touring Car team)
Complete body restoration with full respray including under chassis
All components powder coated.
Retrim in leather, including dash.
BBS Alloys
I guess you get the picture, the list just goes on and on.
She was finally finished in 1991 and had a price tag of £20,000.....i nearly fainted when i saw her. She then disappeared and i then saw her again at the NEC Kruse Auction in 1999 and sold for over £10000. After that she disappeared again for me only to be contacted in 2003 by the then owner.......i simply had to have her.
Since i've owned i've changed the alloys from BBS RZ's 7*15 to BBS RM 8 and 8.5 by 15" and have also uprated the engine.
The engine is now just under 2.5litres, running on Emerald ECU, she has a Stainless exhaust system and puts out 190bhp and 180lb/ft. She actually isn't performing at her best due to the cam (OP244) and the inlet manifold set up, chopped down 3litre plenum.
So there you have.....sorry if i've bored some of you, but i guess we can all talk for ever about our pride and joy and as you can guess i'm rather proud of her history.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/24andDads.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/RedGTonInjection.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/RedGT-LeatherInterior.jpg
This baby was registered in 1969 and spent most of her early life in San Remo in Italy. During the 1981 San Remo Rally when DOT where rallying the Ascona 400's they worked out of an Opel Dealership in San Remo and the then Director of DOT Tony Fall saw the GT, fell in love and bought her, primarily for his wife to run whilst they were based in Germany.
When Tony then came back to the UK to run DOT out of Tong Park (Yorkshire) they were commission to rebuild a Grp 4 GT and off the back of this he along with Steve Thomson (official Irmscher UK importer) and Tom May (Head of Irmscher UK) formed a company called Opel Classics.
The purpose of the company was to help people with specialist cars, Manta / Ascona 400's, Kadett C GT/E's and GT etc and they decided to build two 'as new' Opel GT's. One of the cars was based on an American shell and the other was Tony's own car and of the two cars his was completed to a higher specification, this included:
Converted to run on Fuel injection....originally 1.9 from a Manta A GT/E
5 speed Getrag 240 conversion
Irmscher Big Brakes
Suspension by Harvey Bailey (British Touring Car team)
Complete body restoration with full respray including under chassis
All components powder coated.
Retrim in leather, including dash.
BBS Alloys
I guess you get the picture, the list just goes on and on.
She was finally finished in 1991 and had a price tag of £20,000.....i nearly fainted when i saw her. She then disappeared and i then saw her again at the NEC Kruse Auction in 1999 and sold for over £10000. After that she disappeared again for me only to be contacted in 2003 by the then owner.......i simply had to have her.
Since i've owned i've changed the alloys from BBS RZ's 7*15 to BBS RM 8 and 8.5 by 15" and have also uprated the engine.
The engine is now just under 2.5litres, running on Emerald ECU, she has a Stainless exhaust system and puts out 190bhp and 180lb/ft. She actually isn't performing at her best due to the cam (OP244) and the inlet manifold set up, chopped down 3litre plenum.
So there you have.....sorry if i've bored some of you, but i guess we can all talk for ever about our pride and joy and as you can guess i'm rather proud of her history.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/24andDads.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/RedGTonInjection.jpg
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/GT2200/Opel%20GT%202400/RedGT-LeatherInterior.jpg