EXHIBIT 5(a)








                                 October 3, 2000



General Motors Corporation
767 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York  10153-0075

Gentlemen:


         As Attorney,  Legal Staff of General Motors Corporation,  I am familiar
with the Registration  Statement,  dated October 3, 2000, being filed by GM with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, relating to (1) interests in the General
Motors Personal Savings Plan for Hourly-Rate Employees in the United States (the
"Plan"); and (2) 10,000,000 shares of General Motors Class H common stock, $0.10
par value, to be registered for the Plan.

         It is my opinion that the interests in the Plan and the General  Motors
Class H  common  stock  to be  registered,  when  sold or  issued  hereafter  in
accordance with the provisions of said Plan, in accordance with Delaware law and
upon payment of the  consideration for such shares as contemplated by said Plan,
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         I hereby  consent to the use of this  opinion  as  Exhibit  5(a) of the
abovementioned Registration Statement.


                                            Very truly yours,




                                            /s/MARTIN I. DARVICK
                                              Martin I. Darvick
                                            Attorney, Legal Staff


















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