The Opel GT was often called a Corvette that shrank in the wash, but it did fill a gap in the small-sports-car-with-a-roof world back in the 70s.
It wasn’t fast, but the Opel GT was affordable and relatively sporty.
This monstrous version is definitely fast.
Jerry Sutherland
Ramsay McCreary is the proud owner of what may be the fastest street ’72 Opel GT in the world.
The story began when Ramsay found the car in late project stage. The former owner had taken the car close to the finish line, but he was an older guy and he’d run out of ambition on the little Opel. Ramsay was there to buy a dragstrip tree, and he spotted the Opel at the shop.
The owner was downsizing, and Ramsay knew he could take the Opel GT to the next level because he’s built several high-power vehicles. This car was nearly there, so his professional judgment told him to pop on the deal.
The Opel had a 454 big block with a slightly outdated fuel injection system, so that’s when Ramsay upgraded the tech in the car and added a few other tweaks to make this car run like it should.
Ramsay was bound by the conditions he placed on the car because it is destined for the ‘Drag and Drive’ race circuit. These events take place all over the United States and Canada—basically you run a circuit of drag strips, but you have to drive your race car from event to event.
That means you need a car that runs like a devil at the track and runs like an angel on the highway. This is a wild, almost impossible combination of more power, reliability and decent road manners.
Ramsay said the previous owner used higher-end parts on most of this car, so he’s happy with the starting point of his Opel GT.
He didn’t want to put an expensive paint job on the car because Ramsay knew the road and track life would leave chips all over the car, so he went with a wrap. It looks good and it hides sins on the Opel GT’s body.
Ramsay said the car is far more civilized than it looks and it revs at 2700 rpm when he’s doing 60 miles per hour. That’s a decent number for a car that Ramsay said, “Probably has over 750 horsepower at the rear wheels”. He estimates it’s a 9-second car—Ramsay hasn’t put it through the paces at the track yet because he’s currently on a road shakedown tour with the Opel.
There’s only one real problem with his Opel GT—it’s not built for taller drivers. Ramsay said it’s a test every time he folds himself into the little car.
He’s going to be doing a lot of folding himself into this car because events like ‘Miles of Mayhem’ cover hundreds of miles in a short period of time.
The trailer behind the car is a 500-dollar want-ad special—Ramsay will upgrade the trailer with a more suitable unit, but right now it’s all about shakedown miles.
That’s how it goes behind the wheel of what is probably the fastest street ’72 Opel GT in the world.
Jerry Sutherland
By: Jerry Sutherland
Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.
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