Opel Commodore 1972 2.8 GS - New Project

[bstardchild]

OK - It's not a Carlton........... But it's an Opel and it predates Carltons by a few years

I've been after one for as long as I can remember, when I used to go to Billing for the VBOA Rally you used to see loads of them and they were seriously good looking motors and ripe for a whole host of modifications.....

Now I've only seen one recently and that belongs to a fellow ABS member...... and I'd pretty much given up hope of ever finding one at a price I could afford and in a restorable condition.......

Anyway out of the blue a member found one in Bristol

For sale. Opel Commodore "B" 2 door coupe 1972, K reg, tax exempt. This car has been off the road since 1984 (tax disc shows 1984). The car appears to be complete (it even has the flying saucer shaped hubcaps) and I would say is restoreable. The colour is gold. There is some rust around the body and some surface rust on some of the panels, so would need repairs and a respray, but it is really not too bad. The engine is not running ( I think the distributor cap is broken).
The car has recently been towed out of its garage, so it does roll. I know little more about the car, I just met the owner and he wanted to pass it on to someone who would do something with it , as he has not managed to do anything to in in the last 20 years.  I think it could be bought for £100.
The car is in Chipping Sodbury near Bristol. Please call the owner (Alan) on 01454 XXXXXX.

Well expressed an interest in the car but it was a bloody long way to go to look at it and I asked if anyone closer could have a butchers and maybe take some pics for me - needless to say one fine chap did exactly that........

- It appears this one has been waiting for me (the tax disc is a big clue)



- Taken off the road cos it needed new rings/pistons and driven into a garage this is the first time in a while that it's seen daylight although this picture shows it's probably seen a fair bit in the past









Ticks most of the boxes (unfortunately it's a GS not a GS/E but on the other side of the coin it's a 4 spd stick shift rather than a slush box)

All the pics here (it's not for the faint hearted)

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/3169413

But at this stage there were other logistics to consider

- getting to my house from Bristol
- what the hell was I gonna do with it?
- Did I really need another project?

I needed to have a think about it

Well I did and a ABS member on here too who I won't name (unless he wants me too or he posts up on here) offered to collect and deliver too if I covered his petrol *coughs Diesel

I did the deal and the car is now mine

So some random pics of cars in far better condition to show you what they should look like








The project plan

I need to make a proper plan of what the heck I am gonna do with it....... The Monza project went horribly off track somewhere down the line and although I am very pleased with the end result it's not in line with the original plan (far from it!!!)
This one is a long way of being even started so plenty of time to mull over the options and decide what the end look should be......

But for the record at the moment it's pretty much decided that it will be along the following lines

- Convert to 24V (std tuning mods and in powdercoated black same as the Monza except colour coded spark plug cover plate and lettering highlighted same way)

or

- Late model Senator 3.0 12V and slap a set of tripple webbers on it for a giggle

Either way

- R25 gearbox for a 5th speed and no expensive bills for flywheels - It's not gonna be a performance car if i can help it

- Get it sensibly low - weeeeeeeeeeeds low

- De-chrome it

- Black badges

- Black wheels (I have a choice of these  :wink: )

- Colour Yellow or Orange

- Fit GS/E 6 Dial Dash (gotta find one of these and I bet thats gonna be fun!!!

- Get the interior re-trimmed - I've got to see a man about that........

And by way of inspiration if it even got close to the way these look I wouldn’t be unhappy

V8 Commodore




Now how would that look in Yellow and it really needs black wheels

24V Commodore



 

It sooooooo needs black wheels

Another




I'd settle for graphite wheels as a compromise  :wink:

No relevance here except for the paint scheme  :wink:





See I'm really liking this orange and black idea

So there you go bugger all to do with Carltons.................. But thanks ColonelK for allowing it to be posted here

[ian]

all the same family,
tell ya something that car does look easy,easyer than the one down the road from me any how.
ian

[Tetleysmooth]

Don't forget BC, my mate in Colchester has a 49k 12 valve lump sitting in his garage. Selling for £50 I believe.
I don't know what year the donor car was though.
He's on this site under the name ' robs omega'.
They're a lovely looking car BC and I'm looking forward to your progress reports.
Don't go too 'Starsky & Hutch' on it though.
The maroon one in the pics looks about right.
Mind you, a set of period wolfrace slot mags wouldn't go amiss.

[carltonman]

She looks pretty solid bar the lower rear end.
Keep us informed of the progress.
Real nice car by the way!

[bstardchild]

Don't forget BC, my mate in Colchester has a 49k 12 valve lump sitting in his garage. Selling for £50 I believe.
I don't know what year the donor car was though.
He's on this site under the name ' robs omega'.

I would only be interested if it was a late model engine - solid fuel rail and gold rocker cover are the clues

They're a lovely looking car BC and I'm looking forward to your progress reports.
Don't go too 'Starsky & Hutch' on it though.

Ignore the stripes on the other orange cars - if I go orange or yellow it will be sans stripes

The maroon one in the pics looks about right.

Thats an ABS members car

Mind you, a set of period wolfrace slot mags wouldn't go amiss.

Yeah but I'd have to paint em black to be in the theme and that would be wrong - only wheel that l like in silver too 

[carlton_mad]

a set of apliance alloys in chrome and black would be ace!!!!!!!!!!liking this project a lot btw wicked motors very much a timeless classic imho

[Murph]

Go for it mate - looks like another future stunner!

[Pedro]

As I started reading the pst, I was thinking "I bet he goes for an orange and black theme".

And bugger me with a fishfork, Baldrick - I was right!

Nice work, Ian - bet it's a right monster when finished.

[bstardchild]

As I started reading the pst, I was thinking "I bet he goes for an orange and black theme".

And bugger me with a fishfork, Baldrick - I was right!

Nice work, Ian - bet it's a right monster when finished.

I am nothing if not predicatable!!!!!

[colonelk]

That blue one with white wheels is roight up my street 

Looking good chap. Hope it doesnt give you too many nasty surprises 

Ive always wanted an FD victor..... but dont really have the skills to look after one / fix one bodywork wise

P.s. heres one in yellow!

[ian]

old opels rule dont they.
after owning capris old bmws rover nothing looks as good as a late 70`s early 80`s coupe.
even better with 6 cyclinders