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A bizarre contraption
Hervé Smagghe recently found this bizarre convertible. We understand the basis is a circa 1933 Opel convertible with an abundance of later additons and modifications. The sharknose hood (make?), the post-war windscreen, strange headlights and so on. We love to hear from you how many different donor cars you can identify in this most 'creative' contraption.
Originally published: Tuesday January 7th, 2014
Published:
Thursday September 16th, 2021
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Comments
D. Jetten
15 September 2021, 13:59
The remains of this SUper Six Gläser have been for sale for quite some time. In original condition, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful pre-war OPels and a feast for the eyes. These sad remnants unfortunately require a complete 'rebuild'.
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René
11 February 2017, 10:06
Hello everybody,
Does anybody know the owner of this vehicle? How can I reach Him? I would like to contact him. I also own remnants of such a vehicle. Greeting René
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Does anybody know the owner of this vehicle? How can I reach Him? I would like to contact him. I also own remnants of such a vehicle. Greeting René
Unknown
11 September 2016, 16:22
hello I would like to buy your opel car how much?? thanks bill in Vancouver canada
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Unknown
09 January 2014, 22:21
Today about 20 Opel Super 6 Gläser yet still remain. There is always a demand for them. Allthough restoration of this one will ask a tremendous amount of work, perhaps it would be wise to wait for a better one (might last several years).
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Unknown
09 January 2014, 19:35
david barker has spoken ,,, capital!! love it !
i still think it is pretty neat :)
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i still think it is pretty neat :)
john elema
09 January 2014, 18:33
A great example of sombody's ingenuity to make, with modest means, a dream come true.
Steam-clean it off pigeon shit and admire.
Every dime spent on it will reduce its value.
John Elema
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Steam-clean it off pigeon shit and admire.
Every dime spent on it will reduce its value.
John Elema
Unknown
09 January 2014, 17:35
Well, we all get older, false teeth, light hair, thick glasses, but I still love my grandpa even if he has been much prettier without these accesoires...
I think its nothing about value and money, if you are a dealer and have to earn your living its fine to think that way, but as a car nut this car is a must have. Forget all these 300SL, 911 and whatsoever, you would be the one and only at the meeting, and not the 20th silverpainted boring 300 SL. I still would love to have it in my garage but i assume Hervé does not want to give it away, he is lucky!...
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I think its nothing about value and money, if you are a dealer and have to earn your living its fine to think that way, but as a car nut this car is a must have. Forget all these 300SL, 911 and whatsoever, you would be the one and only at the meeting, and not the 20th silverpainted boring 300 SL. I still would love to have it in my garage but i assume Hervé does not want to give it away, he is lucky!...
David Barker
09 January 2014, 11:32
What a ludicrous thing! Scrap it, there's plenty of much better restoration cases waiting for a loving owner. Who ever put that abortion together must have been on drugs, it's just awful. If anyone is foolish enough to take it on they are going to loose a helluva lot of money for nothing.
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Unknown
09 January 2014, 10:03
The Opel is an interpretation of a style often seen pre-war and it would be a pity to lose it. There are too few extravagantly 'thirties' cars around.
To restore this would be a fine thing to do, much more so than the creation yet another of those recent two-seater 'replica sports' special built on some entirely inappropriate chassis.
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To restore this would be a fine thing to do, much more so than the creation yet another of those recent two-seater 'replica sports' special built on some entirely inappropriate chassis.
Unknown
09 January 2014, 06:34
Can you please add more pictures ? (frame/engine/interior). Very strange car. Thanks !
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Unknown
08 January 2014, 22:54
We all love car archeology, don't we?
My guess is Opel Super 6 Glaeser, year let's say 1938, bonnet from Opel Kapitaen around 1950, also the center of the spare wheel lid. Sunken spare wheel is a typical Glaeser feature. Worth saving because being a Glaeser car, but this is not a short winter project.
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My guess is Opel Super 6 Glaeser, year let's say 1938, bonnet from Opel Kapitaen around 1950, also the center of the spare wheel lid. Sunken spare wheel is a typical Glaeser feature. Worth saving because being a Glaeser car, but this is not a short winter project.
Unknown
08 January 2014, 21:23
i think with a bit of work the right paint job and get rid of the bumpers and the funny lights it could be made to look very good
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Unknown
08 January 2014, 19:17
We all love car archeology, dont we? My guess is Opel Super 6 cabriolet, let's say year 1937, Glaeser. Windscreen frame welded on. Spare wheel lid probably from Opel Kapitan, at least the center of it. Bonnet probably from Opel Kapitan around 1950.
Well worth saving only because of being a Glaeser car, but it won't be a short winter project.
Sunken spare wheel was a typical Glaseser feature. http://www.autobelle.it/annuncio_old.php?ad=vendo_opel_super_6_cabrio_glaeser_dresden_germania_156070.php
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Well worth saving only because of being a Glaeser car, but it won't be a short winter project.
Sunken spare wheel was a typical Glaseser feature. http://www.autobelle.it/annuncio_old.php?ad=vendo_opel_super_6_cabrio_glaeser_dresden_germania_156070.php
Unknown
08 January 2014, 13:22
But is it worth saving this opel bitsa?
It probably will never earn much honor or recognision. What do you folks think?
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It probably will never earn much honor or recognision. What do you folks think?
Unknown
08 January 2014, 10:54
will be like, but I think if you remove the front and rear bumpers, added the arrows and gets a nice restoration is a nice car, I like it and if it is on sale I buy it again .. is on sale?
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Unknown
08 January 2014, 10:21
The body itself looks a lot like a Steyr 220. Indicators are from a Volga M21 series 3, suggesting a car from the Eastern bloc. Bumper, similarly, could be from a Volga M24.
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Unknown
08 January 2014, 09:37
looks a damn sight better than some of those bentley specials , unfortunately for the owner it is not a bentley so the auction spill about history not quite so attractive.
Shame those door hinges are not hidden like say a fisher bodied motor.
am i seeing a VW bus windshield and those indicator lenses ,, i cant seem to place,,, i quite like it i must admit even down to the wedge paint job,,, now just slam it and u have the perfect rat rod
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Shame those door hinges are not hidden like say a fisher bodied motor.
am i seeing a VW bus windshield and those indicator lenses ,, i cant seem to place,,, i quite like it i must admit even down to the wedge paint job,,, now just slam it and u have the perfect rat rod
Unknown
08 January 2014, 05:44
A good clue could be the info on where the car was found. Often such "renovations" use a lot of locally available parts when spares are no longer available. So where was it found?
Cheers Harit
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Cheers Harit
Unknown
08 January 2014, 04:13
This Opel "Bitsa" was probably started post war from a collection of junkyard cars, possibly an Opel dealership damaged during the war !
What was the designer trying to recreate, from what maybe a 1933 Opel Cabrio "Regent" (with dickey seat)
The tail lights look similar in style to the ones from a 1940 Opel Kapitan Cabriolet by Hebmuller (which are more vertical though)
The headlights could be from a 1934 Opel 1.3 lit or '38 super six saloon (with added guards)
The Radiator Grill and Bonnet trim seem to be made up from extraneous lengths of trim in the Graham Sharknose style, possibly using Kapitan parts.
If put together as the designer intended, I am sure it would still look like a "Bitsa", but if more history could be found, then who knows ?
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What was the designer trying to recreate, from what maybe a 1933 Opel Cabrio "Regent" (with dickey seat)
The tail lights look similar in style to the ones from a 1940 Opel Kapitan Cabriolet by Hebmuller (which are more vertical though)
The headlights could be from a 1934 Opel 1.3 lit or '38 super six saloon (with added guards)
The Radiator Grill and Bonnet trim seem to be made up from extraneous lengths of trim in the Graham Sharknose style, possibly using Kapitan parts.
If put together as the designer intended, I am sure it would still look like a "Bitsa", but if more history could be found, then who knows ?
Unknown
08 January 2014, 02:32
This has a superficial look of a 1938 Graham - but not the same sheet metal and not as well developed stylistically. Still, this probably helps to date the modifications.
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Unknown
07 January 2014, 23:29
Basis is most probably an Opel 6 with body by Gläser, 1937-38. Sidepanels of bonnet are original. The 'sunken' sparewheel at the back I have never seen in this way, possibly custom made by Gläser.
Waar al de donordelen vandaan komen weet ik niet. Wel weet ik dat hier een Opel Super 6 met een carrosserie van Gläser is verbouwd. Bouwjaar 1937 of 1938. De koplamphuizen zijn wel origineel, de glazen niet. Motorkap, neus, bumpers, spiegels voorruit, knipperlichten en achterlichten zijn inderdaad vreemd. De zijpanelen van de motorkap overigens wel weer origineel. En de zeppelin op de motorkap ook. Interessant vind ik ook het reservewieldeksel dat in de auto ligt. Ik had nog nooit een afbeelding gezien waaruit zou blijken dat die ook echt (optioneel) door Gläser geleverd zijn.
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Waar al de donordelen vandaan komen weet ik niet. Wel weet ik dat hier een Opel Super 6 met een carrosserie van Gläser is verbouwd. Bouwjaar 1937 of 1938. De koplamphuizen zijn wel origineel, de glazen niet. Motorkap, neus, bumpers, spiegels voorruit, knipperlichten en achterlichten zijn inderdaad vreemd. De zijpanelen van de motorkap overigens wel weer origineel. En de zeppelin op de motorkap ook. Interessant vind ik ook het reservewieldeksel dat in de auto ligt. Ik had nog nooit een afbeelding gezien waaruit zou blijken dat die ook echt (optioneel) door Gläser geleverd zijn.