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Attack of the 'big ones' from Opel - Opel Admiral, Diplomat and Kapitän with sports axle (historical test)

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Created on March 1, 1969

Reading time 6min

Written by:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

Archiv Opel / General Motors

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General Motors / Opel

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Archiv

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Archiv Opel / General Motors

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General Motors / Opel

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Archiv

16

Opel Admiral B (1969) - elegant, Erkennungszeichen die breiten Scheinwerfer vorne

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Opel Admiral (1969) - auf dem Titelblatt der Zeitschrift 'hobby'

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - Vergleich mit dem Admiral, Scheinwerfer einmal hoch, einmal quer

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - Armaturenbrett der KAD-Modelle

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - stattliche Limousine mit amerikanischen Einflüssen

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - mit dem beliebten Vinyldach

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - mit herrlicher Farbgebung

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Opel Kapitän B (1969) - auch als Kapitän war der grosse Opel zu haben, Erkennungszeichen der Kühlergrill

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Opel Diplomat (1972) - aufgenommen bei Bad Homburg

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Opel Admiral (1969) - erhältlich mit Vergaser- und Einspritzmotor

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Opel Admiral (1969) - mit spur- und sturzneutraler Doppelgelenkhinterachse, 0 - 100 km/h in 10,5 Sekunden

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Opel Diplomat am Genfer Automobilsalon 1972 - das Interieur der Modelle Admiral und Diplomat weist geringfügige Retouchen auf

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Opel Kapitän (1969) - Kapitän und Admiral weitgehend identisch, auch innen - Lenkrad und Armaturenbrett

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Opel Admiral (1969) - viel Fahrsicherheit für fünf Personen

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - auch mit 5,4-Liter-V8-Motor erhältlich

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Opel Diplomat (1969) - senkrechte statt waagrechte Scheinwerfer, Scheibenwischer sind versteckt angeordnet

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Opel Diplomat (1971) - mit hochbauenden Scheinwerfern

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Opel Diplomat (1971) - mit stattlichen Ausmassen

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Opel Kapitän B (1969) - nur zwei Jahre gebaut

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Opel Admiral (1973) - für 24'000 Franken gibt es in der Schweiz den reichhaltig ausgestatteten Oberklasse-Opel - am Genfer Automobilsalon von 1973

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Vergleich Opel Admiral/Kapitän/Diplomat mit der Konkurrenz von 1969

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Summary

Opel built the KAD series B from 1969 to 1977. KAD stands for Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat, the individual models of the luxury class series. In the B models, Opel had made full technical use of the De Dion rear axle and the fuel injection system for the six-cylinder engine. In any case, the magazine 'hobby' was impressed by the improved top models from Rüsselsheim. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report at the time and shows the models in historical illustrations.

This article contains the following chapters

Yank on the outside - European on the inside ...
A rear axle straight out of a picture book
Improved engines
Real driving benefits
With fuel injection
Headlights as symbols of prestige
Sweets in the equipment
'Paprika' from the injection engine
Are technology and temperament enough?

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

In the home country of Daimler and Benz, 'Americans' of all stripes have little chance. Opel has felt this truth for years in the sales of the big three - Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat - they simply failed because of the cars offered to prestige-obsessed buyers by the descendants of Daimler and Benz under the 'good star on all roads'. There is nothing against Opel in this country, as the ranking in the sales statistics proves, according to which Opel, with the Kadett and the Commodore, is so popular with buyers that Rüsselsheim has been in second place behind the giant from Wolfsburg in overall production for many years. The Rekord business was revitalized when the Rekord was launched with the six-cylinder engine in the Commodore version. This also proved that there was nothing against higher marine grades in general.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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