Opel GT

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The impossibly pretty Opel GT started as a design concept, initiated to bring a little glitz and glamour to the Opel stand for the 1965 Paris and Frankfurt shows. It certainly managed that, with such a positive reaction to the “mini Corvette” that GM decided to put it into production.

Based on the Kadett platform, it was initially available with either a 1.1-litre or 1.9-litre engine – a strange choice, with the majority being sold with the larger engine. The voluptuous body with lovely manual (thank goodness) pop-up lights was made in France by Brissonneau and Lotz (better known for making trains than cars), but the project was a success with more than 103,000 finding buyers before production came to a halt in 1973.

Fans of the hit 1960s American comedy TV series “Get Smart” will doubtless recall Agent 86 driving one, presumably appreciating its 114mph top speed and 0-60 time of 10.8 seconds while on his way to some calamitous mission with Agent 99 in an attempt to foil the dastardly agents of KAOS.

This incredibly pretty LHD 1971 GT was purchased by the vendor to add to his collection in 2012. Prior to his ownership it had spent some time in Northern Ireland where it had been first registered in the UK. It is unclear when the car was imported, the vender understanding that it originally came in from America. At some time it has been upgraded with a fuel-injected engine and five-speed gearbox, a common modifciation which usually uses the mechanically similar Manta as a donor.

Bills on file show that a number of minor items have been attended to since purchase, the vendor employing the services of Old School Engineering to give the car a top-quality glass-out respray in vivid red to get it just right. And what a dazzler it is!

This well presented GT has covered just 4,000 miles since 2008, is MOTd until June 2015 and is not getting the use intended as the vendor has no time in which to enjoy it and too many other distractions. Bid with sufficient vigour and his loss could be your gain.

REVISED ESTIMATE: Due to 'domestic pressures' (too many cars says the boss) this car is now being offered at no reserve.