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Pigeon-Rat - Opel gambler build
- Thread starter ashman
- Start date
1966 Opel rekord mounted to 1990 Nissan pathfinder.
I've decided I want to run in the gambler 500.
https://gambler500.com/
The basics are that your supposed to use the cheapest, most oddball vehicle you can to run the rally and have as much fun as possible doing it.
To that end, I plan on mating this body:
1966 opel rekord wagon
To this frame:
1990 Nissan pathfinder.
So far for both vehicles I'm into it about $550. The pathfinder runs and drives. The rekord is basically just a shell.
The wheelbase of the 2 vehicles is within 1/4" of each other, but the track width of the pathfinder is 3" wider.
The gambler 500 is in Oregon at the end of June, so this is going to have to be a quick and dirty build.
Also going to need as much help as I can get. @the_blaze @72gmck5 @kgblazerfive @blazinzuk @Fullerton
https://gambler500.com/
The basics are that your supposed to use the cheapest, most oddball vehicle you can to run the rally and have as much fun as possible doing it.
To that end, I plan on mating this body:
1966 opel rekord wagon
To this frame:
1990 Nissan pathfinder.
So far for both vehicles I'm into it about $550. The pathfinder runs and drives. The rekord is basically just a shell.
The wheelbase of the 2 vehicles is within 1/4" of each other, but the track width of the pathfinder is 3" wider.
The gambler 500 is in Oregon at the end of June, so this is going to have to be a quick and dirty build.
Also going to need as much help as I can get. @the_blaze @72gmck5 @kgblazerfive @blazinzuk @Fullerton
Last edited:
The back story to the car is that it was bought by someone in the army while stationed in Germany back in 1966. When he moved home, he had it shipped here.
Original Utah title:
They drove it until 1981 when their son took it to auto shop class and promptly lost the master cylinder, starter, and carburetor. From there it sat in their yard until last week.
Also came with a mechanic's book published in the UK because Opel was not imported into the US until 1970.
Original Utah title:
They drove it until 1981 when their son took it to auto shop class and promptly lost the master cylinder, starter, and carburetor. From there it sat in their yard until last week.
Also came with a mechanic's book published in the UK because Opel was not imported into the US until 1970.
Gonna be an awesome build!
Subscribed 
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Weird car. Would be cool with an LS swap. But it looks like it's shot. Probably more money then what's it's worth, etc. So it's perfect for a race car build. A awd build would be cool.
2-door station wagon seems counter-intuitive.
Blasphemy! That's the Nomad lover in me though. Style comes at a price of utility for sure.
From the side that Opel kinda looks like an early Nova wagon, but the face is one only it's mother could love.
I'd agree it would make a killer LS swap but given the state of decay, a gambler ride is a solid idea. Should be cool.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
Bahaha! I held my comment back knowing zoo would say some if he saw that comment!
I agree, two door wagons are weird in concept and general bitchin' in real life.
It reminds me of to much of a volvo to want to do something with it. Might as well do the Volvo turbo brick thing if nothing else.
This is one of the first two door wagons I didn't like that much. I was shopping for a two door Studebaker when my wife said, nope it's got to be a 4 door one.
Sorry, for the derailment.
Back to cheap off-road cars.
Yeah, it'd be fun to do a big hp motor, but it's a unibody car with most of the structure rotted away. Maybe when I'm done with the gambler someday I'll try to revive it againWeird car. Would be cool with an LS swap. But it looks like it's shot. Probably more money then what's it's worth, etc. So it's perfect for a race car build. A awd build would be cool.
2 door blazers aren't easy to get into either. 8)
I had the same thought. Supposedly the guy did some research into fixing the floorpans and found that an early chevyII floorpan was a close fit. I haven't looked into it myself, but opel is a GM brand, so there is probably at least some commonality. According to the wikipedia site, some Opels were sold in North America as Buicks, so that might be worth looking into if I go the route of trying to fix it up some.
You better hurry if you want to hit the Gambler 250 in Utah this coming weekend also.
beags86
Eastbound and Down
They still do that today. The Buick tourx, is just a Opel insignia....
Subscribed , my grandma had a Opel Gt my grandpa put DZ-302 and a T10 4-speed in it . It was pretty much undriveable at that point lol.
Yeah, probably not going to make that this year.
the gambler literally drives right past my house
Hmmm, maybe I can make a pitstop!
I managed to get the back half of the pathfinder de-loomed today after work.
Starting to get a decent sized throw away pile and a bit of a "keep it" pile.
I'm labeling and keeping all of the wiring for now until I decide what I want to reuse.
Starting to get a decent sized throw away pile and a bit of a "keep it" pile.
I'm labeling and keeping all of the wiring for now until I decide what I want to reuse.
Had a busy day today so didn't get as much done as I'd hoped, but got some of the front end torn down.
Noticed a little weirdness with the accessories in this truck.
The a/c compressor and the power steering pump are mounted on opposite sides, then the lines routed back to the other side. Seems like a dumb layout.
Noticed a little weirdness with the accessories in this truck.
The a/c compressor and the power steering pump are mounted on opposite sides, then the lines routed back to the other side. Seems like a dumb layout.
