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Opel GT

Erhard Schnell · 1968

A styling exercise made real—light, visible, unassisted, and built from a family car’s parts bin.

Worth your time?3.5/5Yes.Drive the whole thing.What works, what does not, who it is for ↓
10:50in productionCh. 1 · Styling First/ 10:50 · ceiling 15 min
6 chapters · 10:50Ceiling 15:00

The brief is written and checked. The video joins this page when it is cut.6 chapters · 1 min read · 10:50 planned

Read the brief

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car. Its first generation (1968–1973) began as a 1965 styling exercise shown in Paris and Frankfurt. It used Kadett B mechanicals and Brissonneau & Lotz bodywork. Erhard Schnell styled it as a fastback.

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Chapters & takeaways6
  1. 1:04
    Styling First

    It started as a show car—not an engineering prototype.

  2. 1:53
    Kadett Bones

    Its chassis and drivetrain came straight from the Opel Kadett B.

  3. 3:28
    Corvette Echo

    Its silhouette invited comparison to the 1968 Corvette before either was on sale.

  4. 4:54
    RWD, Not Rocket Science

    It delivered rear-wheel drive and two seats—but modest power and no driver aids.

  5. 6:06
    Brissonneau Body

    The body was French-built, not German-assembled.

  6. 7:24
    1.9 L Was the Real GT

    Most buyers upgraded to the 1.9 L engine—proof the base 1.1 L was too timid.

3 more chaptersFewer chapters
Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • proportions
  • seating position
  • driving interface
What does not
  • high-speed stability
  • rear visibility
  • driver assistance
  • luggage capacity
Drive it if
  • drivers who value compact dimensions
  • drivers who value clear sightlines
  • drivers who value tactile feedback
Skip it if
  • those who need luggage space
  • those who need rear visibility
  • those who rely on assisted controls
Who should drive it, and who should skipHide who it is for
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

The Opel GT is a front-engine, rear-drive two-seat sports car. Its first generation (1968–1973) began as a 1965 styling exercise shown in Paris and Frankfurt. It used Kadett B mechanicals and Brissonneau & Lotz bodywork. Erhard Schnell styled it as a fastback.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

It uses Kadett B mechanicals: front-engine, rear-drive layout with a two-seat fastback body built by Brissonneau & Lotz. The driver sits low, behind a small-diameter wheel, with pedals and gear lever placed for reach, not race. The 1.1 L or 1.9 L OHV inline-four engines drive through a four-speed manual. No power steering. No servo-assisted brakes.

What it gets right

It gets the proportions right: long bonnet, short rear deck, steeply raked windscreen, pop-up headlights. It gets the seating position right: low, central, eyes level with the bonnet line. It gets the driving interface right: direct, unassisted, immediate.

What it does not

It does not offer high-speed stability at motorway pace. It does not isolate the driver from road noise or suspension movement. It does not provide rear visibility. It does not use a modern chassis architecture or independent rear suspension.

What it changed

It proved a mass-market German manufacturer could build a credible, affordable two-seater sports car without bespoke engineering—using existing parts, outsourced bodywork, and styling as the primary differentiator.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for drivers who value compact dimensions, clear sightlines, and tactile feedback over power or comfort. It is not for those who need luggage space, rear visibility, or assisted controls.

Is it worth your time

Yes—if you want a compact, driver-focused RWD sports car from the late 1960s that prioritises visibility, lightness and visual drama over outright performance or refinement.

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Next brief →Back to Sports cars
9:02