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Opel Rekord 1700 in the (historic) test - Re-parking in the head

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Created on January 7, 1966

Text:

Jürgen Stockmar

Photos:

GM Corporation / Opel

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GM Corporation / Opel

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Archiv

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Opel Rekord L (1966) - Luxury version with better equipment and trim strips on the sills and wheel arches

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Opel Rekord (1966) - Strictly speaking, just a model upgrade for the new CIH engines

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Opel Rekord (1966) - Compared to its predecessor, the loading sill is slightly higher

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Opel Rekord L (1966) - Side view of the four-door sedan. The rear lights no longer reach around the corner

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Opel Rekord Coupé 6 (1966) - The dream of the middle class: the Rekord Coupé with six-cylinder engine

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1966) - the station wagon was still only available as a two-door model

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1966) - The rear of the station wagon remained unchanged

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Opel Rekord L 1900 (1966) - AI test car with Powerglide automatic transmission

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Opel Rekord L 1900 (1966) - No more comfort rocking: the Rekord has a firm suspension

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Opel Rekord (1966) - the two-door sedan from Swiss assembly production

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Opel Rekord Coupé 1900 (1966) - two round tail lights like on the Chevrolet Corvette

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Opel Rekord Coupé 1900 (1966) - with sporty center shift. The steering wheel is upside down

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Opel Rekord (1966) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1965 - Cutaway model of the new Opel CIH engine

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Opel Rekord (1966) - sectional drawing showing the oil circuit. Also clearly visible: the overhead camshaft

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Opel Rekord (1966) - longitudinal section of the new CIH engine

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Opel Rekord (1966) - Cross-section of the new CIH engine

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Opel Rekord (1966) - Control of the overhead camshaft via duplex roller chain

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Opel Rekord L (1966) - as a four-door sedan

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Summary

After 28 years, Opel replaced its proven OHV engines with a new engine family with an overhead camshaft. The proven Opel virtues of reliability and torque remained, as did the short-stroke design. Externally, the Rekord was much less revolutionary for 1966: only a new radiator face and a modified rear panel betrayed the generation change under the hood. This historical test report clarifies whether this was enough to distance itself more strongly from its main competitor Ford.

This article contains the following chapters

Overhead camshaft and only 5300 rpm
Nothing new overall
Better road holding, suspension remains firm
Something for everyone
Technical data and measured values

Estimated reading time: 17min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The typical Opel driver, who was often spoken of somewhat condescendingly, no longer needs to exist. The term may last for a while, but prejudices are difficult to dispel. It hardly has anything to do with the cars anymore. Whereas in the past, people were used to the models from Rüsselsheim being limited to the exterior, the driving characteristics have now undergone a transformation. The cars became firmer, the suspension stiffer. Last but not least, the new engine design helped to turn the once rather sedate family car into a car that could be driven quite quickly, at least with the more powerful engines. The Opel Rekord may not be a new car, but it has changed a lot.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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