GM/BUICK ENGINEERING TEST MULE

Description for Opel Other 1967

THIS CAR WAS USED BY BUICK/GM ENGINEERING AS A TEST MULE FOR THE U. S. MARKET ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH A 1. 1 LITER ENGINE AND A 4-SPEED ON 11/21/66 CONVERTED BY BUICK TO A 1. 9 LITER AND A 2-SPEED AUTOMATIC THE SERIAL NUMBER OF THE 1. 9 LITER ENGINE IS 19S-V0000059 DEALER INSTALLED A/C WAS ADDED NECESSITATING THE RELOCATION OF THE BATTERY BUNKIE KNUDSEN WAS VP OF GM AND HEAD OF OVERSEAS OPERATIONS 1965-1968 SOLD TO BUNKIE KNUDSEN’S BROTHER-IN-LAW JOHN K STEVENSON ON 12/8/67 THE CAR REMAINED IN THE FAMILY UNTIL 11/16/88 EXTERIOR HAS BEEN REPAINTED IN THE ORIGINAL GRANADA RED THE INTERIOR AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT ARE MOSTLY ORIGINAL WITH KNOWN EXCEPTIONS BEING THE FRONT CARPET AND SERVICE PARTS UNDER THE HOODKNOWN FACTORY MODIFICATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS 4 - SPEED REMOVED 2 – SPEED ALUMINUM CASE POWER GLIDE AUTOMATIC INSTALLED 1. 1 LITER ENGINE REMOVED 1. 9 LITER ENGINE INSTALLED SERIAL NUMBER 19S-V0000059 RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT CUT AND MODIFIED TO ACCEPT LARGER 1. 9 LITER LARGER RADIATOR INSTALLED ENGINE MOUNTS MODIFIED TRANSMISSION MOUNTS MODIFIED DEALER INSTALLED AIR CONDITIONING ADDED NECESSITATING BATTERY RELOCATION BATTERY RELOCATED FROM PASSENGER FIREWALL TO DRIVER’S FENDER ONE-OFF BATTERY SUPPORTS FABRICATED TO ENABLE RELOCATION FRONT POWER DISC BRAKES WERE ADDED TO COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL WEIGHT SUPPORT BRACKETS WERE FABRICATED TO SUPPORT THE MASTER CYLINDER CUSTOM-MADE CONSOLE COVER WAS FABRICATED TO ACCEPT THE AUTOMATIC THESE MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE BECAUSE GM THOUGHT THE U. S. MARKET WOULD DEMAND A LARGER ENGINE THAN THE OPEL FACTORY WAS CURRENTLY OFFERING IN THE U. S. AS WAS THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. GM ALSO ASSUMED THE U. S. MARKET WOULD DEMAND AIR CONDITIONING. TURNS OUT THAT GM WAS CORRECT AND IN 1968 THE OPEL FACTORY ADDED THE 1. 5 AND 1. 9 LITER ENGINE TO THE LINE-UP AS WELL AS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THE MODIFICATIONS SHOWS THAT GM WAS MORE INTERESTED IN FUNCTION RATHER THAT FIT AND FINISH. THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE CORE SUPPORT ARE CRUDE AND PAINT OVERSPRAY ON WIRES AND OTHER PARTS IS EVIDENT. THE OTHER HAND FABRICATED PARTS ALSO EXHIBIT THE SAME LACK OF DETAIL AND WERE STRICTLY FUNCTIONAL. This car is for sale locally and this listing is subject to cancellation if locally sold. Car will not be released for shipping until all funds are cleared.