Perhaps one of the more exciting models to wear the Opel badge in recent years was the GT, a sister model to the Saturn Sky and the Pontiac Solstice, which like its siblings, was produced from 2006 through 2009.
As part of its 10th anniversary celebrations, German racing and clothing outfit Mädchen & Motoren took a 2008 Opel GT and turned it into a muscled-up weekend track racer.
The racing tuner started by stripping “all unnecessary” items from the car and then widening both sides by 80mm (3.15 inches) and fitting the roadster with a fiberglass hardtop and light fenders to drop the two-seater model’s curb weight to 1,150kg or 2,535 pounds.
Next up was the powertrain with Mädchen & Motoren replacing the 2.0-liter turbocharged four with a Corvette-sourced 6.2-liter V8 modified to produce 523hp (530PS), linked to a TR-6060 gearbox from a Corvette ZR1 driving the rear wheels.
Other upgrades include the high-performance brakes from a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, a KW sports suspension, ATS 18-inch wheels wrapped in 295/30 tires, a Racelogic traction control, a welded FIA-safety cell and Recaro racing seats.
By John Halas
PHOTO GALLERY
