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Opel Kadett A in the (historic) test - class for the masses

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Created on January 1, 1963

Reading time 15min

Written by:

Olaf von Fersen

Photos:

Archiv

22

Archiv

22

Opel Kadett (1963) - schachtelartiges Design für optimale Platzausnutzung

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Opel Kadett (1963) - der Käfer-Herausforderer

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Opel Kadett (1963) - das Familien- und Freizeitfahrzeug

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Opel Kadett (1962) - den Namen "Kadett" hatte man schon früher genutzt bei Opel

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Opel Kadett (1962) - gradliniges und schnörkelloses Design

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Opel Kadett (1962) - Modellbaujahr 1963, von Anfang an ein Volltreffer

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Opel Kadett (1962) - strikt zweitürig und mit klarer Stufenheckkarosserie

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Opel Kadett (1963) - eine der wichtigsten Neuerscheinungen, der neue Kleinwagen von GM

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Opel Kadett (1963) - bei der Bremsprüfung

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Opel Kadett (1962) - funktionales Interieur

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Opel Kadett (1962) - verhältnismässig gute Platzverhältnisse auch hinten

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Opel Kadett (1962) - viel Platz im Kofferraum, vor allem im Vergleich zum Käfer

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Opel Kadett (1962) - der geräumige Kofferraum

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Durchsichtszeichnung durch den kompakten Opel

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Opel Kadett (1963) - das Fahrgestell

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Vorderachse und längs eingebauter Motor

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Vorderradaufhängung

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Opel Kadett (1963) - Starre Hinterachse mit Blattfedern, eine robuste Konstruktion

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Opel Kadett Caravan (1963) - macht sich jetzt auch als Stationswagen nützlich

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Opel Caravan 1000 (1962) - während der Woche Handwerkerfahrzeug, am Wochenende Familienkutsche

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Opel Caravan 1000 (1962) - Seitenansicht

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Opel Kadett (1963) - kurz gesagt okay - Werbeanzeige

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Summary

In the early sixties, there was a lot of whispering in the Ruhr area. Between two highways, on the site of the closed Dannenbaum colliery, a large factory had been built in the east of Bochum. It was known that Opel wanted to launch a small car from here. And in view of the dimensions of the new building, it was assumed that the Rüsselsheim-based company had quietly and secretly launched an attack on the throne of the VW Beetle. When the production halls opened their doors and the first post-war Cadets were released onto the roads, the amazement was great... This article reproduces an original test report from 1963 and shows the compact car in historical photos.

This article contains the following chapters

Could the Kadett - like the VW - create a new benchmark?
This Kadett is not an "Opel"!
The rumor mills are chattering
First impression - not always the best
Decent equipment, cleanly finished
Unexpectedly quiet engine
The riding characteristics
Temperament and fuel consumption
Pleasing new release - safe to buy
Technical data and test results

Estimated reading time: 15min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Only twice in the history of the automobile has it happened that a factory was created and set up specifically to produce a particular automobile. Further parallels, if you like, can be drawn between the creation of the VW and the Opel Kadett. It took a while before the decision was made in Rüsselsheim to jump in at the deep end - in other words, to throw over a billion DM into this project. It was whispered years ago that Opel was seriously considering a new Cadet. Some even claimed to have seen test vehicles, others reported on alleged design details. Then came the big day when it was presented to the public in Rüsselsheim, and the question came to the fore:

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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