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With the luxury limousine up the Gaisberg - Opel Diplomat (historical test)

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Created on December 15, 1965

Text:

Günther Gebhardt

Photos:

GM Corporation / Opel

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Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

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Archiv

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GM Corporation / Opel

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Archiv Reinhard / Max Pichler

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Archiv

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Opel Diplomat (1964) - on presentation tour

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Opel Diplomat V8 (1965) - Test drive on the Gaisberg

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Opel Diplomat V8 (1965) - easily accessible engine from Chevrolet

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Opel Diplomat V8 (1965) - Interior

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Opel Diplomat V8 (1965) - huge trunk

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Opel Diplomat (1964) - together with Admiral and Kapitän

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Opel Kapitän (1964) - the entry-level variants in the KAD triplet

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Opel Admiral (1964) - with additional equipment refinements

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Opel Diplomat (1964) - Advertising for KAD - Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat

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Opel Admiral (1964) - the more elegant version of the Kapitän with more equipment

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Opel Diplomat V-8 (1964) - with powerful V8 from Chevrolet, 190 hp from 4.6 liters displacement

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Opel Diplomat (1964) - automatic transmission with torque converter and selector lever in the center - at the 1964 Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Admiral (1964) - with the direct predecessor Kapitän L and the first Kapitän from 1939

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Opel Diplomat Coupé (1965) - with Chevrolet 5.4-liter V8 engine - Geneva Motor Show 1965

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Summary

Certainly, it's not the first thing that comes to mind. A comfortable touring sedan belongs on the highway or a fast country road. The gentlemen from the magazine 'hobby' thought differently, and tested the Opel Diplomat on the hill climb to the Gaisberg near Salzburg. And came to a surprising conclusion. This report reproduces the original wording of the test at the time and shows the Opel Diplomat in historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

American V8
Ami with a European look
No sedan chair
Kickdown with 'music in it'
Plenty of assistance
Diplomatic Gaisberg race
Conclusion - a successful European-American symbiosis
Technical data and test results

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The Diplomat's surprisingly good cornering characteristics led us to a private race on Austria's classic mountain track, the Gaisberg. The Diplomat already brings great value for the money it costs, but you can get an original American, a Chevrolet, Buick, Plvmouth or Studebaker for about the same amount. However, if you decide on the 'Yank from Rüsselsheim' after careful consideration, you are buying an American engine in a car with European standards for road holding, braking safety and build quality. The 190 hp of this car are packed into a lot of driving safety, and that should be a plus point for the Diplomat that can hardly be overlooked. The quality of workmanship is the second point in favor of the big Rüsselsheim car.

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