Dark Raider SOLVED! Opel "Black Widow" 1973

[grobmotorix]

Has anyone seen this before?

[Paul Jaray]

Hi, the rolling platform (more than the design) suggest me a Pininfarina design (in fact many pics of his models are taken in his private atelier), but I can't find the model..It's similar to one or two but there is something wrong...

[grobmotorix]

The project was abandoned due to the first oil crises and never went public.

And as I do know there was no italian involvement with it...

[Otto Puzzell]

An Opel, perhaps?

[grobmotorix]

You are too good, yes!

If you can tell me the purpose of the concept and an acceptable year this will be your point.

An extra point will be awarded to the one who knows the proper name of this car...

[Paul Jaray]

It seems the early version of the Vauxhall Cavalier Sportshatch Concept n.1 from 1970...

[grobmotorix]

Not this one...

[@re]

This one really baffles me. It seems to be a cross between all the wedge-shaped Opel concepts of that period - the 1969 Opel CD and the 1975 Geneve and GT 2 - and, indeed, the Cavalier Sportshatch. But none of them have those strange vertical stripes in the rear side window. I can not find any mention of any other Opel concept of that same period - and still I have a very strange feeling I have seen the front end of that car before. Frustrating!

[Paul Jaray]

Yes, and I found a lot of pictures of vauxhall\opel prototypes over that rolling platform....

[grobmotorix]

You´re on the very right track, but I´ve still got to wait to give you a point as I need a ("nick")name or  what kind of purpose this one had...

[Paul Jaray]

Well the nick name it's hard...the purpose I guess was a study for a new 2+2 coupe'..I now It's not much...

[Otto Puzzell]

Was it to be Wankel powered?

[grobmotorix]

It isn´t this exotic and was just planned to be the successor of another Opel...

[Paul Jaray]

The new Opel GT?

[@re]

Or maybe an early Manta prototype? Or a replacement (or alternative proposal) for the Olympia A coupé?

[grobmotorix]

Yes it was planned to be the successor of the GT, but was was the nickname of this proposal?

[Motorace]

Looks to me like a prototype for what went into production as the Chevy "Monza" in the mid 1970's just after the oil crisis hit, so my guess is that the word you're looking for is "Monza"...

(& could that turntable be outdoors at GM's Warren Mi design studio?

Dan

[grobmotorix]

This was photographed in the courtyard of Opel Design during an evaluation.

It came between the "Geneve" prototype and the "GT2" and was stopped in 1973 during the oil crisis.

If I´d show you a front pic the emblem on the hood would tell you everything...

[SeaLion]

Maybe it was a project involving a big engine, perhaps a V12 or a V16. "Opel V12"?

[grobmotorix]

no big engine...

[@re]

There has to be something wrong here. The Geneve was first shown in Geneva in March, 1975. The GT2 made its debut in Frankfurt in September the same year. Still you say that it "came between" these two concepts - and that it was stopped during the oil crisis of 1973? Something's not right... 

[grobmotorix]

Well this was sketched in 1973, planned to be produced from 1976 on. I´ve mixed those two numbers up, sorry

[SeaLion]

Hmmm. There are some similarities in the side window graphics to the Monza, the Manta B and the GT-2:

[Paul Jaray]

If you can tell me the purpose of the concept and an acceptable year this will be your point.

An extra point will be awarded to the one who knows the proper name of this car...

Here you are...This is the Opel "Black Widow" fom 1973. As production of the GT ceased in 1973, designer actively worked on a potential replacement. This elegant 2+2 coupe could have suceeded it. Due to the firs oil crisis, the project was abandoned and never get public.

[grobmotorix]

Hi Paul,

I knew it would be you to solve this...

Perfectly done and I´ve awarded you the double points, too.