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Future-proof - Opel Rekord 1700/1900 in the (historical) test

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Created on May 17, 1975

Text:

Engelbert Männer

Photos:

Adam Opel AG / Werk

12

Archiv

25

Adam Opel AG / Werk

12

Archiv

25

Opel Rekord L 2100 D (1973) - world record diesel with 60 hp

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - safe to drive thanks to tri-stable chassis

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - as a two-door sedan with a higher roof than the coupé

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - as a two-door sedan

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - as a two-door sedan

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - with clearly smoothed lines

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - as a four-door sedan

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - a well-maintained car for well-maintained people

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - far less fashionable than its predecessors ... and its owners

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Opel Rekord L (1972) - contemporary advertising photo

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Opel Rekord (1972) - extensive testing in Dudenhofen

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Opel Rekord L (1973) - as a four-door sedan

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Opel Rekord L (1973) - contemporary advertising photo

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Opel Rekord L (1973) - the sales success is explained, among other things, by the pleasing styling - at the 1973 Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Rekord (1973) - four-door model

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Opel Rekord (1973) - Cockpit

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Opel Rekord L 2100 D (1973) - with wide hat on the hood

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Opel Rekord 2100 D (1973) - Engine. The high OHC head makes the modified hood necessary

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Opel Rekord L Berlina (1975) - upscale equipment with side protection strip

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Opel Rekord (1976) - now with rubber-covered bumpers

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Opel Rekord L 2100 D (1976) - Diesel version

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Opel Rekord L 2000 S Automatic (1976) - top model with 100 hp

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Opel Rekord (1977) - the millionth Rekord D is in the factory collection today

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Opel Rekord L (1977) - the millionth Rekord II rolls off the production line with flowers and entourage on September 7, 1976

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Opel Rekord Coupé De Luxe (1972) - English advertising photo

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Opel Rekord L 1900 Coupé (1972) - with a graceful shape and harmonious proportions

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Opel Rekord Coupé (1973) - particularly elegant and Italian

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Opel Rekord L 1900 Caravan (1972) - elegant family transporter

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Opel Rekord L 1900 Caravan (1972) - Luxury version with carpet on the loading area

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Opel Rekord Caravan 3-door (1972) - with roof rack, headrests and fog lights

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Opel Rekord Caravan 3-door (1973) - a craftsman's dream in ochre yellow

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Opel Rekord Caravan 3-door (1973) - more utility vehicle than status symbol

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Opel Rekord Diesel 2000 Caravan (1973) - version for Italy with white front indicators and smaller engine with 55 hp

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Opel Rekord Caravan 5-door (1973) - at the Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Rekord L 2100 D Caravan (1974) - for economical family vacations

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Opel Rekord L Caravan (1976) - with halogen headlights

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Opel Rekord (1972) - railroad loading at the factory, together with a Commodore

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Summary

In 1975, the Rekord II had been the "best-selling European in its class" for a good three years, according to Opel's advertising text. For the 1975 production year, the output of all Rekord carburetor engines was reduced. In addition, Opel took small steps to reduce the earlier criticism of the Rekord's details. This test report explains the convincing features of the various engine variants.

This article contains the following chapters

Throttle engines
Twice N, once S
Model maintenance only on a small scale
Plus points
Minus points
Overall verdict
Technical data & measured values

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

No longer the brand's front-runner, but according to Opel's advertising text, the "best-selling European in its class", the Rekord II has now been that for a good three years. On the German market, it also held the top spot for registrations between 1.7 and 2.0 liter displacement. In February 1975, Opel reduced the output of all Rekord carburetor engines: Only the Rekord 2100 diesel with 60 hp at 4400 rpm remained unchanged (price from DM 14,750). With a rated speed (for the highest output) of only 4800 rpm, Opel now only supplied throttled engines for the Rekord. The 1900 N offers no more power than the 1500 engine in the VW Passat/Audi 80 (also for normal fuel). We criticized the extremely high compression ratio of 9.8 in the S engines of the Rekord 1700/1900 right from the start of delivery in early 1972. There were frequent fuel problems, especially with the 72 series of the Rekord S engine with 83 and 97 hp, despite correct ignition and carburettor settings: A tendency to ring and overrun (after-dieseling) even with domestic super fuel, and even more so when refueling abroad. From 1973, Opel gradually got to grips with these Super problems by modifying the engine (cylinder head gasket, distributor); only the series-production engines, which had a higher compression ratio, still achieved the peak value of 9.8; the series average was between 9.5 and 9.6. The official factory specification for Super with 98 RON remained unchanged.

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