The DFW Car & Toy Museum has expanded its exhibition with the addition of a 1973 Opel GT in vibrant orange, representing the final production year of this distinctive sports car. As part of The Ron Sturgeon Collection, this vehicle exemplifies the rare Euro-American hybrid that combined European styling with American-inspired performance elements during an era of increasing automotive homogenization.
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 between German automaker Opel and French coachbuilder Brissonneau & Lotz resulted in a vehicle that paired sharp, futuristic design with practical Opel Kadett B mechanicals and a rear-wheel-drive layout that delivered an engaging driving experience.
This particular 1973 model features the optional 1.9-liter camshaft-in-head engine that produced 102 horsepower, making it a favorite among performance-oriented buyers of the era. The car's front mid-engine placement and transverse leaf-spring front suspension, technology also seen in contemporary Corvettes, contributed to its balanced weight distribution and spirited handling characteristics that set it apart from other compact sports cars.
The Opel GT's unique design elements have become legendary among automotive enthusiasts. The manually-operated pop-up headlights rotate in unison, while the hidden trunk space can only be accessed from inside the cabin, demonstrating the car's blend of eccentricity and elegance. Ron Sturgeon, owner of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, describes the vehicle as "one of those rare cars that packs an incredible amount of character into a compact, driver-focused package" that is "part oddball, part icon."
With production limited to the years between 1968 and 1973 and no direct successor until 2007, the original Opel GT has maintained its status as a cult classic among collectors and automotive historians. The car's significance lies in its successful fusion of European design sensibility with American-inspired performance elements, creating a unique automotive statement during an era of increasingly homogenized vehicle design. This acquisition represents an important preservation of automotive history for Texas residents and visitors interested in understanding the evolution of sports car design and international automotive collaboration. Visitors can view this automotive time capsule at the museum located at 2550 McMillan Parkway, with additional information available at https://dfwcarandtoymuseum.com.
