Brazilian Opalas look almost like Holden Monaros

Post by **Big Bopper Bart** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 11:38 pm

Hey you Aussies ever seen these before?they kinda look like a 68-70 Monaro

www.opalaclube.com

Post by **DetritusMaximus** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 6:18 pm

GM used Opel stuff all over the world. The Monaro chassis seems to be a version of the Opel Commodore. The Opala is the Opel Rekord. The Commodore and Rekord were pretty much the same car. The Rekord being 4 cyl./4-lug suspension and the Commodore had a 6cyl./5-lug suspension.

The Rekord was sold in Brazil as the Opala and in South Africa also.

'68 Rekord:

Post by **DetritusMaximus** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 6:29 pm

A link to the '72 Opala:

http://www.comerciodocarro.com.br/fotos/opala_2606.jpg

and to the Chevrolet SS from South Africa:

http://www.aussiexport.com/graphics/car ... hevSS5.jpg

Post by **Big Bopper Bart** » Sat Jul 03, 2004 2:14 am

Quote: Originally posted by DetritusMaximus on 03 July 2004

A link to the '72 Opala:

http://www.comerciodocarro.com.br/fotos/opala_2606.jpg

and to the Chevrolet SS from South Africa:

http://www.aussiexport.com/graphics/car ... hevSS5.jpg

Not changing the subject but I'll be damned if that aint a 71-74 AMC Javelin or Javelin AMX sitting next to that Opal SS, their rare enough in thier native territory the 'USA'but to see one in a pics from South Africa jeezus

and the S.A Opals had a better looking front end than their Brazilian counterparts,the Brazil versions looked like they ripped off the front end look of a 68-72 Chevy Nova. So these Reckfords and Opalas have nothinng in common with the OZ 68-70 Monaro? and so the S.A version of the Monaro wasn't called the Monaro?just SS?

Post by **DetritusMaximus** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 12:03 am

You got a sharp eye! It was probably the back part of the roof, the quarter window shape, and the door handle that tipped you off, wasn't it?

The Brazilian car is later I think. I know they used that body until '79.

I wouldn't say they have nothing in common. They are probably alot like them. But slightly altered and with more of a local flavor. Think about how the 72 and later XA/XB/XC Falcons are a modified version of US Ford engineering. Like the Falcon, the Monaro may share alot of design and engineering even if the specific parts do not interchange.

Working on Mitch's Falcon showed me a lot about how close the Falcon is to the US Falcons/Mustangs/Fairlanes. You'd swear certain parts are identical, but they aren't.

If you do some checking on the Holden Torana you'll find that they even came with Opel motors. The same 1.9 that is in my GT's and Manta's. I'm not exactly sure which Opel platform was the base for the early Torana's, but the styling is definitely there.

I've been doing more searching and looking...

The best that I can say is that Holden would take the style of a mid range Opel and scale it up to fit the next size up Opel chassis. The monaros always look bigger than the Rekord/Commodore, but it is hard for me to tell since I have not seen either car 'in the flesh'. The very least that can be said is that the original engineering came from Opel. After that though, you can clearly see the GM family resemblance, but does not include the GM US cars.

Post by **Bubba Fat** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 8:35 am

Here's another pic who shows how close the Opel Rekord is to the Monaro.

Post by **Big Bopper Bart** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 10:33 am

Quote: Originally posted by DetritusMaximus on 04 July 2004

You got a sharp eye! It was probably the back part of the roof, the quarter window shape, and the door handle that tipped you off, wasn't it?

The Brazilian car is later I think. I know they used that body until '79.

I wouldn't say they have nothing in common. They are probably alot like them. But slightly altered and with more of a local flavor. Think about how the 72 and later XA/XB/XC Falcons are a modified version of US Ford engineering. Like the Falcon, the Monaro may share alot of design and engineering even if the specific parts do not interchange.

Working on Mitch's Falcon showed me a lot about how close the Falcon is to the US Falcons/Mustangs/Fairlanes. You'd swear certain parts are identical, but they aren't.

If you do some checking on the Holden Torana you'll find that they even came with Opel motors. The same 1.9 that is in my GT's and Manta's. I'm not exactly sure which Opel platform was the base for the early Torana's, but the styling is definitely there.

I've been doing more searching and looking...

The best that I can say is that Holden would take the style of a mid range Opel and scale it up to fit the next size up Opel chassis. The monaros always look bigger than the Rekord/Commodore, but it is hard for me to tell since I have not seen either car 'in the flesh'. The very least that can be said is that the original engineering came from Opel. After that though, you can clearly see the GM family resemblance, but does not include the GM US cars.

Sharp eye for that Javelin?well i owned a 73 and stripped it down to nothing due to it being rotted out

i miss her so also i'm a hard core AMCer as i own a Gremlin now and we AMCers becuase thier so rare and were always scouring the web for pics ect. we can only see part of the rain gutters and tell if its a Rambler or not LOL.About the Reckfords,what makes them look alot like the Monaros is the side glass area the mere shape of it looks alot like the 'Munros'tho the Monaros look a lil more beefier.Oh i also noticed that the Brazilian Chevette'yes by god they got that abomination as well'is really the Holden Gemini which both really are just Opels.the early ones were like the USA versions and they got a sedan version as well weeeeird seeing a chevette with a trunk LOL.

Post by **DetritusMaximus** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 3:12 pm

I know what you mean about being so familiar with a car that you only need to see part of it. I'm the same way with Opels and Mustangs.

It's kind of funny how the size of a car doesn't really enter into people's minds when they try to identify it. When I worked on the Falcon, I had to take it a shop or two, plus a stop at the gas station. I was asked about the old Mustang. Nevermind the Falcon is slightly lower, much wider, with very diferent proportions. In overall looks, it's much more akin to the Torino/Montego which is definitely bigger.

Ah, yes, the Gemini/Chevette.....to confuse matters even more, we had the Chevette, the Pontiac T1000 (no relation to the Terminator), both of which were available in two and four doors, the Buick/Opel Isuzu 76 to 78 (fastback, but not a hatch and a four door that was pretty much the Chevette with a trunk) which was later just sold as the Isuzu I-Mark. Then the chassis was reclothed for the Isuzu Impulse (rear wheel drive, turbo and non-turbo). If I'm correct, all of the Impulse turbo stuff bolts right into any of those other cars. I'd love to have the fastback Buick/Opel Isuzu with a turbo! About the closest I'd get to the German Kadett GTE, but probably faster. But you could also make one heck of a sleeper Chevette!

Post by **Big Bopper Bart** » Sun Jul 04, 2004 8:58 pm

Quote: Originally posted by DetritusMaximus on 05 July 2004

I know what you mean about being so familiar with a car that you only need to see part of it. I'm the same way with Opels and Mustangs.

It's kind of funny how the size of a car doesn't really enter into people's minds when they try to identify it. When I worked on the Falcon, I had to take it a shop or two, plus a stop at the gas station. I was asked about the old Mustang. Nevermind the Falcon is slightly lower, much wider, with very diferent proportions. In overall looks, it's much more akin to the Torino/Montego which is definitely bigger.

Ah, yes, the Gemini/Chevette.....to confuse matters even more, we had the Chevette, the Pontiac T1000 (no relation to the Terminator), both of which were available in two and four doors, the Buick/Opel Isuzu 76 to 78 (fastback, but not a hatch and a four door that was pretty much the Chevette with a trunk) which was later just sold as the Isuzu I-Mark. Then the chassis was reclothed for the Isuzu Impulse (rear wheel drive, turbo and non-turbo). If I'm correct, all of the Impulse turbo stuff bolts right into any of those other cars. I'd love to have the fastback Buick/Opel Isuzu with a turbo! About the closest I'd get to the German Kadett GTE, but probably faster. But you could also make one heck of a sleeper Chevette!

See i was going to mention that that the early Isuzu I marks looked like the Holden Geminis but was afraid i was wrong,and your right about the coupes,they didn't look bad.So how come Isuzu got them and rebadged as I marks?

Post by **nelg69** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 1:26 pm

Hi guys

just sold my two xa & xb coups and have a monza nose cone roof wing and boot wing for sale. I had to sell the lot or the missus would kill me.