Today, the Corsa is an Opel with a French heart, a car that is even available with a fully electric flick. At the time of the first generation Corsa, other cards were on the table. Thanks to Techzle reader Daniël Spoelder, this In the Wild is a very nice Corsa 1.3 S GT on the stage!
The first generation, introduced in 1983, was available in various shapes and sizes. Opel supplied its Polo competitor as a three- and five-door hatchback and even had two- and four-door sedan versions on the menu. The Corsa (A) has been modernized several times over the years and during those refurbishments more than just the appearance was addressed. Opel steadily expanded the engine range, which initially consisted of a 45 hp 1.0, a 55 hp 1.2 and a 60 or 70 hp 1.3. At the end of the 1980s, even 1.5 diesels were added, but it is probably the sportier GSi flavors that were remembered longer. The Corsaat, captured by Daniel Spoelder, for which we thank Daniel in this way, dates from a time when the GSi version did not yet exist.
This apparently fairly fresh looking piece of history is a 1986 Corsa 1.3 S GT, the most sporty dressed version of the Corsa 1.3. Although the 70 hp 1.3 was available in the Corsa from the start, this GT version only appeared in 1985. Also in this GT version, the 1,297 cc four-cylinder generates 70 hp and 101 Nm of torque, enough to help the 750 kilo three-door – at a speed of 100 km / h in 13 seconds. Its top speed: 165 km / h. In the late eighties, the 1.3 S GT passed the baton to the only marginally more powerful 72 hp and 108 Nm strong Corsa 1.4 GT. The Corsa GSi finally reached the top of the pecking order with its 101 hp 1.6.
The 70 hp version of the 1.3, the 1.3 S, was not only available as a GT. Opel also supplied it as LS, Swing, GL and GLS. However, the GT was the version with the toughest appearance. The GT version was only available on the three-door version and was distinguished, among other things, with fog lamps and a red trim in the bumpers and on the side of its more moderately dressed brothers. Although the red trim and one fog lamp on this copy, which is still used because of its original but slightly dirty wheels, are missing, the characteristic black foil on the tailgate together with the plastic spoiler that continues around the rear window is intact. According to the brochure, the GT received a stabilizer bar on both the front and rear, and got an interior that was decorated with special sports seats, a sports steering wheel and instruments with extra meters. For example, the Corsa 1.3 S GT has an oil pressure gauge and a voltmeter (photo 3, archive image). The standard equipment was also fine. How about a dimmable rear view mirror, an interior mirror that can be adjusted from the left and a rear window wiper with interval function? Even a buzzer indicating that the lights were still on after opening the door was there. The Corsa 1.3 S GT was also sold briefly in this form. In 1987 the car was equipped with other bumpers and the Corsa GT got a smaller, modified grille (photo 4).
A disarming appearance, such a Corsa A. As a cool dressed GT of course also very nice! What is your favorite Corsa?