[GT182]

This is the Trans Am Pontiac should have made..... http://www.conceptcarz.com/z19339/Po...m-Concept.aspx They would have been a great seller.

This is the only survivor of 3 built.

[Jack Peters]

'57 Pontiac had barrel speedo also. I know because 3 of us in the family had one and I took my drivers test in one.

[gto4door]

This thread has reached 20 pages and over 5,000 views.

Here is another intersting 4-door......1963 Buick Wildcat 4-speed 4-door.

[gto4door]

In the mid-1970s Hurst Corporation had installation centers around the country that would install Hurst Hatches (T-Tops) for car dealers. I have been trying to verify this, but supposedly these installation centers also did some "restyling" for the dealers that included installation of the dual gate shifter as well and badge a few Hurst Olds for dealers.

Here are some pics of a very nicely optioned 455 '76 Cutlass Supreme that I came accross at one of the Scottsdale Phoenix area auctions a few years ago. Supposedly, one of the Hurst installation centers dressed this car up for a Dallas, Texas Oldsmobile dealer back in the day.



Note the H/O badges on the sail panel. The were not just stuck on the vinyl top, the padding under the vinyl top had been pressed or indented to accept the outline of the H/O badge.

[marxjunk]

for some reason, Buick made quite a few 4 door cars with bucket seats..i dont recall anyone else doing that in the Big GM line..When i was a kid i parted 2 identicle 65 wilcat 4 doors..buckets with a 4 speed..they where some kind of fleet cars...i wanted the stick stuff never occured to me they where probably the only 2 ever made, bought them both from the same old guy...some kind of electric company cars..back when 4 speeds where considered fuel efficient..

[gto4door]

Here is another unusual 442 that I believe may have been "restyled" by a Hurst installation center when new. Car has Hurst Hatches, Dual Gate, custom rear Opera Window, H/O and W-30 badging.

[Chief Wanabee]

Well, if you're going to bring up the Chevy Can Am and the Capri almost in the same breath, we need to consider the Capri Perana, sold through South African Ford dealers back in the day. It was a first gen Euro Capri, with a 302 Windsor and a four speed toploader. Having driven a V6 Capri of the same era, a V8 powered one must have been a little scary...

http://www.africanmusclecars.com/CapriPerana.html

http://www.perana.org/capriv8.asp

[GT182]

The Hurst Olds I saw with Hurst T-tops came that way out of the factory... at least they did from the GM plant in St. Therese, PQ in the late 70s thru the 80s. I hauled a bunch of them.

IIRC Firebirds too with the Hurst T-tops. Hurst was the first to do the T-tops for them.

[MikeNoun]

Originally Posted by Diego

I don't think the Opels were called Buick-Opel until they were Isuzus and not Opels, if that makes any sense.

Well, they used the names Buick and Opel in the same ad.

"German precision imported by General Motors."
"Sold and serviced by 2200 Buick dealers."

[MikeNoun]

And yes, this is a great thread!

[Chief Wanabee]

"1977 Mustang II convertible. The car was originally built as a Ghia roof, The car was shipped to Emess coach builders in Largo FL and is one of 44 converted to convertibles and then sold at Ford dealers and titled as convertibles. This one was sold in Milwaukee WI. I am the 2nd owner and it has 30k original miles with a 2.8 V/6 with a C3 select shift auto trans. One of one with Bright Yellow paint code 6E and black vinyl interior. One of 3 known to still exist."

http://stallionsgate.org/rides2.html

[Diego]

Mike, Buick sold Opels like Pontiac sold Vauxhalls. But the Buick Opel was an Isuzu:



http://www.hemmings.com/hsx/stories/...feature25.html

[MikeNoun]

Ok, I wasn't questioned the origin of the car, I simply referred to them as Buick Opels, which is how they were sold and marketed, correct?

[Diego]

Buick Opels are only the ones built by Isuzu. The German cars were merely Opels that happened to be distributed by Buick:

[gto4door]

When the GM German Opel Reckord arrived in the states the marketing pitch was "Sold and Serviced all over America by Buick Dealers.




Then in the late sixties, when the GM German made Opels were starting to catch on in popularity, it seemed as if they were advertised/marketed as "Buick's Opel" (note the apostrophe "s"). These GM German made Opel models (Kadett, Rallye GT, and Manta) sold in the US did not have any Buick name or emblems on them, but were often referred to as Buick Opels because of the way they were advertised.





The Japanese GM Isuzu Opel that Diego is referring to actually had the Buick name plastered on the side stripe, I think that is what Diego means when he states "Buick Opel" versus "Buick's Opel".

Funny how all of this has come full circle and turned around. Today's 2012 Buick Regal is really an Opel Insignia badged as a Buick.

[gto4door]

Speaking of Opels, here is a pic of a '71 Opel Fiera SS sold in Mexico. This car is based off of the Opel Commodore.

[Diego]

Yes, you are correct in what I'm saying.

[MikeNoun]

Ok, so if I say, "Buick Opel" when referring to the 1972 Opel 1900, is that a "Buick Opel" or "Buick's Opel".

[Diego]

I think it's proper to refer to the German cars as "Opel" and the Isuzus as "Buick Opel." The only thing the former has with Buick is the distribution channel, while the latter was actually marketed with a Buick identity.

[gto4door]

Now that we are clear on the Opel........let's head to Brazil. Here are some pics of the Chevrolet Opala made by GM Brasil. The Opala is based off of the Opel Commodore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU6WRfGqo1k



Chevrolet Opala SS





A Chevrolet Opals SS El Camino