[Lynn]

Keeps getting better. For a barn car sitting since 1974, it is remarkably well preserved.
Have been over this car every inch. Other than very light surface rust in a couple areas, and the aforementioned battery tray (already have a new one made of stainless) there is zero rust.

Even the gas tank is rust free. Spent several days washing out the varnish with acetone. Had to put a bunch of washers in it and swish around with the acetone, but it looks brand new inside. Sending unit still works. One piece of vinyl on the driver's seat is brittle, but the rest of the seats and door panels are almost as new.

Has original spriral shocks. Have not pulled the fronts, but the rears have not leaked and still work like new. Just going to clean and re-install. Sending wheel cyl and master to White Post for sleeving. Will rebuild front calipers myself. ATE calipers are easy. I have them on my old Bimmer and the Ferrari project.

Unlike Chevrolet, Opel saved and archived all the production info. Any GM dealer can make a request, so I got a buddy who owns a Buick GMC dealership to request the info, and we have already received a response that it is in the works.

Meanwhile, a kindly gentleman from Germany who is on the Opel GT forum found a doc from the Opel plant archive. See attached. This confirms that one of my engines is original to the car. Car was built April 9, 1969. That engine is stamped "11SR US 0054425"

So, I am going to disassemble and go through the original engine and get this thing on the road.
The spare engine? Plan to build a fuel injected turbo motor just for fun. So tiny, it is like working on a motorcycle engine. I figure 120 horsepower will be fun in a 1880 pound car. Shouldn't take 3 hours to do the engine swap.

The spare is a Goodyear radial, made in Germany and dated March, 1969.
Pic of Opel plant archive doc attached. The color was called Monzablau in Germany (Monza Blue) and Strato Blue in the U.S.