Info für Besucher ohne Javascript

Premium

Narrowly escaping the excavator - the rescue of the 1972 Opel Kadett Rallye

This article was auto-translated. We apologize if some words are confusing or simply amusing. Would you like to help us improve?

Created on July 22, 2012

Text:

Stefan Fritschi

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

30

Bruno von Rotz

14

Archiv

29

Daniel Reinhard

30

Bruno von Rotz

14

Archiv

29

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The dream of many bachelors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The name said it all

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - lonely country roads are his favorite metier

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - As once on rally tracks

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Was also popular as a production touring car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Well lit

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The rear was particularly popular with competitors from Opel and VW

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Recognizable as a rally all around

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The ochre brown color is rarely found on the rally Kadett

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Fun to drive, even if you can almost count the horsepower one by one

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - How Opel buyers imagined rally technology

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - You could always compete with a Beetle

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Handy and agile

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - made quite an impression visually

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - at home on country roads

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Flowing shapes from the sixties

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Little chrome, lots of matt black

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Color applications made it look like a rally car

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Opel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - many youngsters dreamed of this Opel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - as beautiful today as it was when it was built

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - fast on the road

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The additional headlights were also available as accessories for "normal" Kadett models

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Looked fast even when stationary

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - From the outside, the Rallye version differed mainly in the color applications applied

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Stylish coupé

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - additional fog lights for more light

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The fixtures for the auxiliary headlights are nowadays hard to find spare parts

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Naked steel rims on the rally model

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - No gills - the more elegant version of the Kadett coupé

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Clearly marked

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The dashboard had more displays than the normal version

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The steering wheel can also be found in the Opel GT

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - All in black - for a particularly sporty look

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - On the right, a rev counter with a red area from just over 6,000 rpm

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Additional instruments for power consumption and oil pressure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - A good four-cylinder in the engine compartment of the Kadett

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - Down-to-earth technology - no room for exoticism

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The hood was incorrectly repainted with gloss black, the factory color was matt

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The black color applications look good on the Opel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The Opel flash on the Kadett

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - The Opel sign on the rear

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - "Opel, the reliable one" - Advertising slogan in 1972-_IMG_8132

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett B Rallye (1972) - An exterior mirror in chrome

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Coupé (1966) - longitudinal section through the "Kiemen-Coupé"

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Coupé (1966) - the Kiemencoupé was recognizable by the air vents behind the rear side windows

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Coupé (1966) - the sporty hatchback was only available with L-equipment

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1966) - Rallye and fashion - model from the 'Corsa' series by Gianni Baldini

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1967) - here still with the gills behind the rear window

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1967) - an early rally in white

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1967) - in the Automobil Revue driving test - In a right-hand bend

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett (1967) - The different bodies of the Kadett

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1968) - the gill coupe in metallic color

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1969) - the seat belts were standard equipment on the sporty coupé

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1969) - Rev counter and additional instruments in the Rallye

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1969) - in hard use - picture from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1969) - how the marketing people saw it - picture from a sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1970) - already with the new LS fastback

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1970) - the Rallye (front) and its brothers - illustration from the sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1970) - the additional equipment in the Rallye - Illustration from sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - the rally stripes look particularly impressive on bright colors

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1970) - one of the last Kiemen models

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett L (1971) - Safety steering wheel and dashboard with wooden applications in the L model

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - the rally Kadett and its brothers

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - in the field of application implied by the name - Illustration from sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - the "winning Kadett" and its standard extras - illustration from the sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett (1971) - "the car" - self-confident advertising language from Opel

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - the rally at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - a second-generation model without gills

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - Illustration from the sales brochure

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - with 1.2 liters and 60 hp, the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h took 17 seconds

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1971) - modified side stripes from model change

When logged in, you see more images in larger size.

Opel Kadett Rallye (1972) - a late rallye, model year 1972

You have only

14 out of 73

images seen in high resolution

Summary

When an old barn in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland was due to be demolished and a dismantled Opel Rallye Kadett was still inside, Martin Fehlmann was on the spot and launched a last-minute rescue operation. Fehlmann is an absolute Opel enthusiast. His love for the Rüsselsheim car began when the family's own B-Kadett Rallye was due to be scrapped because it was no longer deemed roadworthy. But Fehlmann Junior took the veto and began the restoration. In the process, he caught Opel fever. Today, he has an entire hall full of rare Opel models, and his cellar is stacked with brochures, memorabilia, model cars, Opel bicycles and sewing machines. This article describes the rescue of a rare ochre-colored Opel Kadett B Rallye from 1972 and shows the vehicle in its current condition, supplemented by many archive photos, brochures and advertising illustrations.

This article contains the following chapters

The "family silver" must be preserved
"There's another old Opel in a barn"
Indeed: the rally Kadett is real!
Of course, the car doesn't come for free
The Trax driver warms up the engine
Half-hearted restoration attempt causes extra work
Rare ochre yellow as an eye-catcher
Opel advertised the Kadett as "the car" in the 1970s
Pre-war Kadett later ran as the Moskvitch 400
50 years of the Kadett: lineage from A-Coupé to Astra OPC
B-Kadett from 1965 in eight body variants
Racing successes used on the sales front
No exception without a rule
Montage Suisse special model "Ascona 1700"
The B-Kadett was followed by the C-Kadett as an evolution
D- and E-Kadett are real "golf clubs" again
Further information

Estimated reading time: 13min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It all started in 1972, when Martin Fehlmann's eldest sister bought a silver Opel Kadett Rallye 1.2 S as a new car. She liked the sporty car, recognizable by the thick and thin fillets on the side, the matt black hood, missing wheel covers, fog lights and additional instruments on the center console. The young Martin naturally has fun with the great shape and the black applications. You're someone when you're picked up from school in a Rallye Cadet. When her sister marries a young farmer, she wants to sell the car. But the father decides otherwise. He would like to visit his daughter on her farm from time to time and, at the age of 46, gets his driver's license. Naturally, the first driving lessons are taken in the silver Rallye Kadett and, after passing the test, it is taken over as the new family car.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

Continue reading this article for free?

Images of this article

Source: