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Description
This Commodore has had 15 registered owners since new, but you would never believe it looking at the car today. The car is completely freshly restored and fully roadworthy. It was brought to its current condition during the period from October 2025 to February 2026.
When the owner acquired the car in the fall of 2025, it was in fairly good condition. Reportedly, the car underwent body restoration and repainting in 1995. However, the current owner felt the car had picked up too many minor blemishes over the 30 years that had passed. So with the bar set high, the car was taken apart and repainted. At the same time, a number of NOS parts were sourced for the car, including, for example, the rear bumper, taillights, headlight inserts, etc.
The owner has put an incredible number of hours into restoring the car. The paint job alone took 2 weeks of full-time work for 2 people. The paint job turned out very well. Bilweb Auctions showed the car at the popular classic car market in Töcksfors on November 7 this year. The market is organized by Töcksfors Car Club twice a year and draws large crowds of visitors from both Sweden and Norway due to its strategic location in Värmland near the Norwegian border. The car was therefore examined very closely by interested visitors, and Norwegians who had traveled there were particularly taken with the car. The Opel Commodore in GS/E trim was a dream car in Norway when new, and only a privileged few could afford to buy one.
A trained eye can tell from the A-pillars that the hardtop's bright trim remained in place during the repaint. The vinyl top had been replaced with a new one in 2004 and is still in equally fine condition, so they simply did not dare remove the bright trim during the repaint for fear of damaging it, since no new replacement could be found. So it is essentially only there and on the trunk floor that you can tell the car has been repainted. The odometer shows just over 80,000 km.
During the restoration, the broken speedometer was replaced with a better used unit, so we cannot be certain of the total kilometers since the car was new.
The owner has now completed his dream restoration and has driven a maximum of 200 km since the car was finished. He has thereby fulfilled his goal of once in his lifetime owning a truly fine Kardinal Röd Commodore GS/E Coupe. Bilweb Auctions has therefore been entrusted by the owner to sell the car at auction.
The car comes with restored GS original wheels (steel wheels) with new tires, as well as the original steering wheel. A spare wheel, jack, and warning triangle are also included. The original owner's manual and spare keys are missing.
When the owner acquired the car in the fall of 2025, it was in fairly good condition. Reportedly, the car underwent body restoration and repainting in 1995. However, the current owner felt the car had picked up too many minor blemishes over the 30 years that had passed. So with the bar set high, the car was taken apart and repainted. At the same time, a number of NOS parts were sourced for the car, including, for example, the rear bumper, taillights, headlight inserts, etc.
The owner has put an incredible number of hours into restoring the car. The paint job alone took 2 weeks of full-time work for 2 people. The paint job turned out very well. Bilweb Auctions showed the car at the popular classic car market in Töcksfors on November 7 this year. The market is organized by Töcksfors Car Club twice a year and draws large crowds of visitors from both Sweden and Norway due to its strategic location in Värmland near the Norwegian border. The car was therefore examined very closely by interested visitors, and Norwegians who had traveled there were particularly taken with the car. The Opel Commodore in GS/E trim was a dream car in Norway when new, and only a privileged few could afford to buy one.
A trained eye can tell from the A-pillars that the hardtop's bright trim remained in place during the repaint. The vinyl top had been replaced with a new one in 2004 and is still in equally fine condition, so they simply did not dare remove the bright trim during the repaint for fear of damaging it, since no new replacement could be found. So it is essentially only there and on the trunk floor that you can tell the car has been repainted. The odometer shows just over 80,000 km.
During the restoration, the broken speedometer was replaced with a better used unit, so we cannot be certain of the total kilometers since the car was new.
The owner has now completed his dream restoration and has driven a maximum of 200 km since the car was finished. He has thereby fulfilled his goal of once in his lifetime owning a truly fine Kardinal Röd Commodore GS/E Coupe. Bilweb Auctions has therefore been entrusted by the owner to sell the car at auction.
The car comes with restored GS original wheels (steel wheels) with new tires, as well as the original steering wheel. A spare wheel, jack, and warning triangle are also included. The original owner's manual and spare keys are missing.
Free history (13)
Technical data
Year
1973/1973
Registration date
1973-01-16
Mileage
80987 km
Registration Number
EEL490
Chassis Number
135595406
Kw / hp
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Transmission
Automatic
Interior finish
Fabric
Colour
Cardinal Red (code 508)
Condition
-
Mechanical condition
equipped with Opel's classic six-cylinder 3.0-liter CIH inline engine (30E) with electronic fuel injection producing 180 horsepower, paired with a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The engine has been recently serviced and fitted with a new water pump and alternator. The entire brake system has been overhauled, equipped with ventilated brake discs up front and brake drums at the rear. (Rear disc brakes were not introduced until the 1975 model year on the GS/E)
-
Interior condition
Attractive interior. The front seat cushions have been restored with new springs and padding. The rest, such as the upholstery, door panels, carpet, etc., is original with less wear than average for the model. The headliner should be white, but was painted black during the restoration. The sunroof runs quietly and smoothly after a restoration of the opening mechanism with new cables. The steering wheel has been replaced with a sportier model that fits in well. The original steering wheel is included. The only significant damage is on top of the dashboard padding on the driver's side. There are also a few small cracks. See photo. All gauges and electrical functions work, except the fuel gauge, which has a mind of its own. We suspect a new fuel sender is needed. A tidy trunk compartment that can be further improved by applying a top coat of paint to the metal floor.
-
Exterior condition
Painted according to the highest standards with excellent results. The car was completely disassembled, and the engine, windows, and more were removed during painting so that no paint seams would occur. We have examined the car carefully and believe the owner has done a very fine job. See the description for more info about the paintwork. A new windshield has also been installed, as well as new rubber seals for the front and rear windows. The rear bumper and taillights are NOS. Equipped with newer 17" aluminum wheels. Restored original GS steel wheels with new tires are included separately, matching the spare wheel.
-
General condition
Beautifully restored Commodore Coupe GS/E. Inspected at Bilprovningen on May 25, 2026 and fully roadworthy. Registration inspected with a 3.0-liter engine and 17" aluminum wheels.
MOT (tech. insp.)
Fordonsstatus: I trafik sedan 2026-04-16
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1973-01-16 (regbes) (Ombes:20260525)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1973-01-16
Senast godkända besiktning: 2026-05-25
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 15
Ursprungsbesiktning: 1973-01-16 (regbes) (Ombes:20260525)
Datum i trafik första gången: 1973-01-16
Senast godkända besiktning: 2026-05-25
Besiktningsbefriad: Ja
Skattebefriad: Ja
Körförbud: Nej
Antal ägare: 15
Owner's comment
I have always liked the Opel Coupé, and the Commodore Coupé in particular. So in 2025 I got hold of this car, which was in good condition but needed some work to meet my standards. I took the car apart and painted it both inside and out. I am an automotive painter by profession. Two of us worked for two weeks, solely on prep work and painting, before I was satisfied with the result. I managed to find some NOS parts for the car, including the rear bumper and the taillights.
At some point over the years, the original automatic transmission had been replaced with a manual gearbox, and the car had been re-registered accordingly. I reinstalled the correct gearbox and had it registered again with the automatic transmission. At the same time, I took the opportunity to register it with the 3-liter engine (sourced from a Monza) and the 17-inch wheels, so everything is now included in the registration certificate. I got so hooked on the restoration that I went ahead and restored the parts car as well. (It was white and later ended up in Denmark.)
Facts about the model
What did the contemporary motoring press highlight?
When the Commodore B generation was launched, it was based on the all-new and considerably more modern Rekord D body, which was clearly evident in the road tests. German and European car magazines noted that the electronically fuel-injected 2.8-liter engine (Bosch D-Jetronic) delivered very strong performance. Top speed was often measured at just over 200 km/h, and 0–100 km/h took around 8.6–9.3 seconds depending on the test and gearbox.
Unlike the Commodore A, the B model was praised for a more secure and better-balanced chassis. In 1973, the British magazine Car compared the Commodore B with the Ford Granada GXL and Vauxhall Ventora, and named the Opel the clear winner in terms of road manners and driving enjoyment. Reviewers appreciated the spacious cabin, the large and easy-to-read gauges, and the relaxed cruising at high speeds. The magazine Motor concluded that nearly their entire editorial staff would choose the Commodore if they were looking for a sporty sedan in that price range.
This is what Car Throttle.com wrote about the car in 2017:
Opel - Opel Commodore GS/E - The German Muscle-ish Car.
Opels didn’t quite have the reputation of building cars that were really quick, or exciting by any means. Anyway, the Opel executive committee had one simple solution. They simply said “We want to drive on the left lane again”, and born was the Commodore GS/E.
The carburettors were thrown out in favour of a Bosch D-Jetronic. Performance gains
The D-Jetronic was installed onto the 2.5 litre engine and without any modifications done to the engine, the power was instantly upped by 20 bhp, making it more powerful than the larger 2.8 litre engine. The fuel injected engine, named 2500 E, now pushed 150 bhp at 5800 rpm and 196 Nm at 4500 rpm with an unchanged compression ratio of 9.5:1.
The official advert for the car from 1970:
150 bhp at your right foot ... power to kick you ahead. Acceleration that pushes you into the seats. Six cylinders that receive their fuel served electonically. An engine that doesn't let a single octane go waste. GS/E: a lurking grumble in the two exhaust tubes.
150 bhp don’t sound alot today, but to put it into perspective, you need to see what other sports cars had under the bonnet. The Porsche 911 was 10 bhp weaker - and twice as expensive. 0-100 km/h was achieved in 9.5 seconds, a similar value as a contemporary Porsche 911. The top speed of 192 km/h was just shy of the magical 200 mark.
Well, calling it a true muscle car would perhaps upset a number of people, hence the title. The engine after all was lacking two cylinders to consider it a muscle car after all. But it’s one of the closest to a true American muscle car Opel ever sold - dirt cheap chassis and body from the high-volume production, a more powerful engine, some go-faster stripes and the performance to back it up. And, most importantly, the ability to outrun sports cars for a fraction of the price. Opel actually did sell a couple of cars with the General Motors smallblock V8 (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat), but these were luxury barges and way too expensive to be considered muscle cars.
So that’s pretty much it. A performance car that gives sports car a run for its money. Dear Opel, please do that again.
When the Commodore B generation was launched, it was based on the all-new and considerably more modern Rekord D body, which was clearly evident in the road tests. German and European car magazines noted that the electronically fuel-injected 2.8-liter engine (Bosch D-Jetronic) delivered very strong performance. Top speed was often measured at just over 200 km/h, and 0–100 km/h took around 8.6–9.3 seconds depending on the test and gearbox.
Unlike the Commodore A, the B model was praised for a more secure and better-balanced chassis. In 1973, the British magazine Car compared the Commodore B with the Ford Granada GXL and Vauxhall Ventora, and named the Opel the clear winner in terms of road manners and driving enjoyment. Reviewers appreciated the spacious cabin, the large and easy-to-read gauges, and the relaxed cruising at high speeds. The magazine Motor concluded that nearly their entire editorial staff would choose the Commodore if they were looking for a sporty sedan in that price range.
This is what Car Throttle.com wrote about the car in 2017:
Opel - Opel Commodore GS/E - The German Muscle-ish Car.
Opels didn’t quite have the reputation of building cars that were really quick, or exciting by any means. Anyway, the Opel executive committee had one simple solution. They simply said “We want to drive on the left lane again”, and born was the Commodore GS/E.
The carburettors were thrown out in favour of a Bosch D-Jetronic. Performance gains
The D-Jetronic was installed onto the 2.5 litre engine and without any modifications done to the engine, the power was instantly upped by 20 bhp, making it more powerful than the larger 2.8 litre engine. The fuel injected engine, named 2500 E, now pushed 150 bhp at 5800 rpm and 196 Nm at 4500 rpm with an unchanged compression ratio of 9.5:1.
The official advert for the car from 1970:
150 bhp at your right foot ... power to kick you ahead. Acceleration that pushes you into the seats. Six cylinders that receive their fuel served electonically. An engine that doesn't let a single octane go waste. GS/E: a lurking grumble in the two exhaust tubes.
150 bhp don’t sound alot today, but to put it into perspective, you need to see what other sports cars had under the bonnet. The Porsche 911 was 10 bhp weaker - and twice as expensive. 0-100 km/h was achieved in 9.5 seconds, a similar value as a contemporary Porsche 911. The top speed of 192 km/h was just shy of the magical 200 mark.
Well, calling it a true muscle car would perhaps upset a number of people, hence the title. The engine after all was lacking two cylinders to consider it a muscle car after all. But it’s one of the closest to a true American muscle car Opel ever sold - dirt cheap chassis and body from the high-volume production, a more powerful engine, some go-faster stripes and the performance to back it up. And, most importantly, the ability to outrun sports cars for a fraction of the price. Opel actually did sell a couple of cars with the General Motors smallblock V8 (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat), but these were luxury barges and way too expensive to be considered muscle cars.
So that’s pretty much it. A performance car that gives sports car a run for its money. Dear Opel, please do that again.
Location and viewing Information
Location: Töcksfors
For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:
Mathias Casserlund
mathias.casserlund@bilwebauctions.se
For viewing the vehicle, contact the inspector/case manager:
Mathias Casserlund
mathias.casserlund@bilwebauctions.se
Pick up
Collection must take place before: 2026-12-02.
NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.
NOTE! Payment (deposit to our account) must be made within 5 days and before collection.
Auction information
General information about the condition of the vehicles .
- At this auction, many vehicles have been included in car collections and have been stored (mothballed) for a long time. For this reason, they are described from a collector's perspective and may need technical reviews and maintenance service - oil, battery replacement, new tires, brake review, etc. - before they can be used. .
- During the auction days information about a vehicle may be updated up to the day before the auction ends. When you bid at the end of the auction period - and also if you have made an earlier bid - we therefore ask you to read the descriptions carefully, in case something has been changed due to new information.
Important to know before placing your bids!
- Once you have called in an item and the reservation price is reached we want you to deposit the entire purchase amount into our client funds account before retrieval can take place.
- When you need to retrieve a called in object we want you to examine it carefully. If you consider that the item does not match our description you do not need to complete the purchase. In this case the deposited purchase sum and the entry fee are refunded.
- If you do not examine the item on the spot the call charge will be debited, but you do not have to complete the deal.
- If you make the entire purchase exclusively at a distance you have 14 days to cancel, but must return the item at your own expense.
- Your shipping costs and other costs are not reimbursed when the right of withdrawal is exercised. Swedish court applies.
- For items that have not been collected within 14 days storage costs may be charged.