Opel Kadett A - post-war offensive from 1962

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Opel Kadett A - post-war offensive from 1962

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Created on December 1, 1982

Text:

Eckhart Bartels

Photos:

GM Corporation / Opel

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General Motors / Opel

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GM Corporation

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Opel Automobile GmbH

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Archiv

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Opel Kadett (1962) - model year 1963, a hit right from the start

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Opel Kadett (1962) - straightforward and unadorned design

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Opel Kadett (1962) - the name "Kadett" had already been used earlier at Opel

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Opel Kadett (1963) - during the brake test

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Opel Kadett (1962) - functional interior

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Opel Kadett (1962) - Tape speedometer and gearshift on the floor

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Opel Kadett (1963) - bright, pleasing interior

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Opel Kadett (1962) - relatively good space even in the rear

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Opel Kadett (1962) - one liter displacement had to be enough

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Opel Kadett (1962) - lots of space in the trunk, especially compared to the Beetle

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Opel Caravan 1000 (1962) - available in the station wagon with additional third bench seat

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Opel Caravan 1000 (1962) - the Kadett for higher space requirements

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Rigid rear axle with leaf springs, a robust construction

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Opel Kadett (1963) - front axle and longitudinally mounted engine

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Opel Kadett (1963) - the customer service booklet

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Opel Kadett (1963) - A view through the compact Opel

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Opel Kadett (1963) - in short okay - Advertisement

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Opel Kadett (1963) - one of the most important new releases, the new small car from GM

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Joakim Bonnier with his former racing manager Huschke v. Hanstein from Porsche

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Opel Kadett (1963) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1963 - Side view of the coupé

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Opel Kadett Caravan (1963) - now also useful as a station wagon

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Opel Kadett (1962) - strictly two-door and with a clear notchback body

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Opel Kadett (1963) - box-like design for optimum use of space

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Opel Kadett (1964) - an acrobat drove the entire St. Ursanne hill climb course in 1968 - Les Rangier on two wheels for show

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Opel Kadett (1964) - significantly more compact than its successor from 1965 onwards

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Opel Kadett (1963) - the family and leisure vehicle

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Opel Kadett (1963) - the Beetle challenger

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Opel Kadett (1963) - light-flooded cabin

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Opel Kadett (1936) - with the technology of its predecessor, but a more modern body

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Opel Kadett (1936) - a lot of car for the money

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Opel Kadett (1936) - Success in series production - the first Kadett rolled off the production line in Rüsselsheim more than 107,000 times between 1936 and 1940

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Production line of the Opel Kadett in Rüsselsheim 1936

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Opel Kadett (1936) - The Opel Kadett's recipe for success was its ornes design, excellent space and innovative technology such as the self-supporting body

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Summary

When Opel presented the second generation of the Kadett in 1962, critics had few words of praise for the car. It had to contend with strong competition in the form of the Beetle, which enjoyed incredible popularity. In addition, the rumor mill from the Volkswagen camp was buzzing. Nevertheless, the Kadett was able to assert itself. This article takes another look back at the Kadett of the early sixties, which paved the way for several model generations. Many pictures show the newcomer of the time.

This article contains the following chapters

Stopped by the war
The offensive comes... slowly
Test bench instead of test kilometers
Between moderate enthusiasm and rumors
But it got its act together
Satisfying the customer
Now also known as a sports car
Image change and assertiveness
Comparison of the first two Kadett generations

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Respect for the Opel Kadett - this was the headline above the test report published by auto, motor und sport in the summer of 1963. The motoring journalists praised the Kadett's good acceleration, small dimensions, easy-to-use steering and gearshift as well as the engine, which always ran smoothly even when cold. Eckhart Bartels wrote the history of the Opel Kadett of the post-war generation for us. In the eventful year of 1962 - in the fall, as was customary in the industry - Adam Opel AG presented its long-awaited new small car, the bearer of a name steeped in tradition, to the public - the Kadett. In the year of the company's centenary, the company was delighted to finally be able to stand up to Wolfsburg.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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