It wasn't easy but it happened. Opel Classic — the classics department of the German brand now part of the PSA group — managed to find one of the few Opel Corsa GT of the first generation in good condition. At where? In Portugal.
The German manufacturer came to our country — one of the markets where the model was most successful — and the search paid off.
Forgotten in a garage in the city of Porto for decades, Opel Classic found a copy of the Opel Corsa GT (Corsa A).
An early retirement for the small German sports car, far from the clutches and "thirst for speed" of young people, who in the 80s and 90s made small sports cars like the Corsa GT their gateway to the "world of performance".
The story of this (now rare) Opel Corsa GT
The copy found in the city “Invicta” had originally been registered in Spain and was almost forgotten in a garage in downtown Porto. It was from there that the elements of the Opel Classic left for Frankfurt, with the little Corsa GT rolling down the road… by its own “foot”.
With a carburetor engine, 1.3 liters of displacement, 70 hp and a five-speed manual gearbox, the Corsa GT was the successor of the Corsa SR. The added power, the discreet spoilers, the alloy wheels and the sports seats made this model irresistible in the eyes of those looking for a small sport utility vehicle.
The Corsa GT was, in fact, the 'sport' of choice for many young people, until the arrival of the more powerful GSi version in 1988.
Travel to Frankfurt smoothly
According to Opel Classic, the small Opel Corsa GT “felt very comfortable in traffic, without exerting effort and surprising even for its smoothness”, during the journey that linked the city of Porto to the city of Frankfurt, in a total of 2700 km.
Gasoline consumption met what was advertised at the time, rarely exceeding six liters per 100 kilometers. The Corsa GT's weight, of just 750 kg, was at the time a precious ally, allowing for a weight/power ratio of just 10.7 kg/hp.
Numbers that in the light of modern times you may know a little, but which at the time were the delight of many young Europeans.
Upon arrival at Opel headquarters, the spirit of the Opel Classic team was high. 2700 km were left behind, which did not frighten his 32 years. According to Opel Classic, this entire trip was accomplished without any need for repairs.
Opel Corsa GT. From retired in Porto to star in Frankfurt
Before starting the restoration work with a view to ensuring its presence at the next Frankfurt Motor Show — where Razão Automóvel will be present — the Corsa GT passed through TÜV for the mandatory inspection and attribution of German registration.
Once in the Opel Classic workshop, it was scrutinized. Careful eyes discover some imperfections, such as marks on the roof, logos that are not original, scratched glass and overly scratched upholstery.
See the restoration image gallery:
That's when Opel Classic technicians made the decision to disassemble the entire car to ensure full recovery, bringing the Corsa GT back to the light of day, unblemished.
With the new paint job, the bodywork received the correct GT logos — the stickers it was found with were not the correct ones. Then came the original wheels and new glass and windows, without the marks of time.
The Corsa GT purchased in Portugal is now ready for its second life, which will kick off in style at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show on September 12, where it will join the new Opel Corsa (generation F).
Do you think it's right next to the new one?
