1973 Opel GT Displayed at DFW Car & Toy Museum Showcases Rare Euro-American Sports Car

The DFW Car & Toy Museum is currently displaying a stunning 1973 Opel GT in vivid orange as part of The Ron Sturgeon Collection, offering visitors the opportunity to view this rare Euro-American hybrid that has captivated automotive enthusiasts for decades. This particular model represents the final year of first-generation production and showcases the unique blend of European styling and American-inspired performance that made the Opel GT famous.

Originally introduced as a concept car at the 1965 Paris and Frankfurt Motor Shows, the Opel GT entered production in 1968 and quickly earned the nickname "Baby Corvette" for its striking resemblance to Chevrolet's legendary sports car. The collaboration with French coachbuilder Brissonneau & Lotz resulted in a vehicle that combined sharp design with practical Opel Kadett B mechanicals and a rear-wheel-drive layout that delivered an engaging driving experience.

The 1973 model on display features the optional 1.9-liter camshaft-in-head engine that was particularly popular among buyers, producing 102 horsepower that provided surprising performance for its compact size. The car's engineering includes a front mid-engine placement and transverse leaf-spring front suspension, a feature also used in the Corvette, which contributes to its balanced weight distribution and spirited handling characteristics.

Among the Opel GT's most distinctive features are its manually-operated pop-up headlights that rotate in unison and the hidden trunk space that can only be accessed from inside the cabin. These quirky design elements, combined with its sleek styling, make the vehicle both eccentric and elegant. Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, describes the Opel GT as packing "an incredible amount of character into a compact, driver-focused package" that represents both oddball charm and iconic status.

With production limited to the period between 1968 and 1973 and no direct successor until 2007, the original Opel GT has maintained its status as a cult favorite among collectors and enthusiasts. The vehicle's combination of European design sensibility, American-inspired performance elements, and unique engineering solutions makes it a significant piece of automotive history. Visitors can view this automotive time capsule at the museum's North Fort Worth location, which features 150,000 square feet of exhibition space. More information about current exhibits and visiting hours is available at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.