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Take me with you, Captain - Opel Kapitän in the (historic) test

Name: Opel Kapitän 1954
Brand: Opel

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Created on July 1, 1954

Text:

Heinz Bühler

Photos:

Archiv Opel / General Motors

GM / Opel

Archiv

Archiv Opel / General Motors

GM / Opel

Archiv

Opel Kapitän (1954) - for the pilot or the passenger?

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Opel Kapitän (1954) - during the rapid test drive

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Opel Kapitän (1954) - Six-cylinder engine in longitudinal and side view

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Opel Kapitän (1954) - the perfect embodiment of American ideas for European proportions - Geneva Motor Show 1954

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Opel Kapitän (1953) - clearly followed American bodywork trends

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Opel Kapitän (1954) - in the advertisement

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Opel Rekord (1956) - in a contemporary advertising image

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Opel Kapitän (1956) - September 9, 1956: the two millionth Opel rolls off the assembly line in Rüsselsheim

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Opel Kapitän (1955) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1955 - Side view, left-front

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Studebaker Golden Hawk (1956) - with sunroof - Geneva Motor Show 1956

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Summary

The "new" Opel Kapitän for 1954 impressed with its modern pontoon body and low price. The magazine 'hobby' undertook extensive test drives and saw the Kapitän as a tough competitor for the upper mid-range cars of the time, even though the heating cost extra. This article reproduces the original wording of the 1954 test and shows the Opel Kapitän in historical pictures and advertising illustrations of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Overall positive assessment
Relatively economical
No running-in regulations
Fast and flexible
Improved chassis
Sufficient brakes
Modern passenger compartment for six people
Practical and less practical
Heating at extra cost
Practical dashboard
A hit created

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The 1954 Opel Kapitän is a common sight on today's roads, and although the number of this new model is constantly increasing, it still attracts admiring glances, and we were delighted that this vehicle was available to us as a test car for two weeks. It was on the second day after a long drive that we asked our passengers for their opinion. "I'm delighted with this car," said the young lady; and - as you would expect - she particularly emphasized that she had been very impressed by the "elegant lines, comfort and convenience" of the Kapitän. "Another thing that struck me was the quiet and smooth ride of the car, there is hardly any noise, at most a slight roar at high speed. However, I was disturbed by the soft suspension on bad roads, because the car floats a little at high speeds.

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