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Opel Rekord C - the golden dream of our fathers

Name: Opel Rekord 1900 1971
Brand: Opel

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Created on February 16, 2016

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Winters/Siragna

GM Corporation / Opel

Archiv

Bruno von Rotz

Archiv Winters/Siragna

GM Corporation / Opel

Archiv

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - bold front and deliberate use of chrome

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - a golden roof over your head

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - particularly comfortable as a four-door model

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - with a width of around 1.75 meters above average for the time

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - the unclear rear makes parking difficult

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - more for the factory manager than for the gardener back then

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - many people wanted one back then

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - the sedan weighed in at around 1.1 tons

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - many people saw it from this perspective on the highway

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - American styling with European dimensions

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - room for three people in the front if necessary

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - clearly laid out dashboard

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - this version shifts gears at the steering wheel

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - the version with steering wheel gearshift also has a bench seat at the front

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - clearly drawn instruments

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - no, that's a clock on the left, not a rev counter

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - toggle switch and air inlet openings

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - Radio with medium wave and ultra-short wave reception

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - leatherette upholstery

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - Rubber mats on the floor

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - wide rear seat

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - good in-line four-cylinder in the front

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - longitudinally mounted engine

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - 90 DIN horsepower did not overtax the 1.9-liter engine

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - you can imagine the sound when you see the engine

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - Chassis badge

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - the Opel lightning bolt on the front

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - contoured hood

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - the Opel flash merges into the fold of the hood

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - Rectangular headlights

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - geometrically designed rear lights

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - air supply was taken care of

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - these door handles provide support

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - beautiful wheel covers

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - Opel flash also on the rear

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Opel Rekord C 1900 (1971) - General Motors flaked off

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Opel Rekord P1 (1957) - front view, wonderful curves and full-view panoramic windshield

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Opel Rekord P1 (1957) - the American lines look elegant

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Opel Rekord (1960) - as a two-door model

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Opel Rekord Coupé (1961) - For the first time, Opel also offers its mid-size class as a sleek sports model

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1960) - Station wagon in the color "coral red"

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Opel Rekord Coupé (1963) - in the color "Laplata silver"

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

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Opel Rekord (1965) - a complete departure from the lines of its predecessor, the P2

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Opel Rekord (1966) - the Rekord B as a transitional solution with new engines

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Opel Rekord B (1966) - was only built for about a year as a temporary solution

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Opel Rekord (1967) - Rekord C as a two-door sedan

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Opel Commodore (1971) - the radiator grille distinguishes it from the Rekord C

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Opel Rekord (1966) - the model wears clothes from the Gianni Baldini "Corsa" collection

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1966) - the station wagon

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1967) - Estate version now also four-door

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Opel Rekord (1967) - geometric front end

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Opel Rekord 1700 L (1967) - Rear with slightly retracted "dovetail"

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Opel Rekord L (1967) - with steering wheel gearshift

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Opel Rekord (1971) - shortly before being replaced by the Rekord D

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Opel Rekord Sprint Coupé (1967) - when you could still advertise with fur coats

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1967) - when mid-range cars were still allowed to be red

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - two-door sedan at the presentation

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - the two-door sedan

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - Rear view of the basic version

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - some models were still assembled in Switzerland

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - without radio, with steering wheel gearshift and handbrake under the dashboard

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - good access to the rear seat

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Opel Rekord 1900 (1967) - View into the cocpkit

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Opel Rekord 1700 (1967) - Gas tank cap behind the flap with the license plate

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Opel Rekord Deluxe (1967) - called "Record" at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Rekord (1967) - seen in the background, in the foreground a model of the GM test site, at the 1967 Geneva Motor Show

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Opel Commodore (1967) - Cockpit and interior

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Opel Commodore (1967) - View of the interior

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Opel Rekord C (1971) - a white station wagon is the ten millionth Opel ever built in September 1971

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Opel Rekord Coupé (1968) - Advertising - walk safe, drive Opel

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Opel Rekord (1968) - Advertising - here they come, the elegant Rekords

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Opel Rekord (1969) - Advertising - they are all chasing a record

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Opel Rekord (1969) - Advertising - built for long friendship

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Opel Commodore GS (1968) - as a sedan with a 2.5-liter six-cylinder engine and 130 hp

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Opel Commodore (1967) - Body like Rekord, but more comfort inside

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Opel Commodore (1967) - significantly higher quality interior fittings in the luxury version

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Opel Commodore GS/E (1971) - 150 hp thanks to fuel injection engine - the crowning glory at almost 200 km/h

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Opel Commodore Coupé (1967) - with 2.5-liter engine and 115 hp around 175 km/h fast

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Opel Commodore Coupé (1967) - elegant and fast hardtop coupé, a dream car at the time

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Opel Rekord Sprint (1969) - dynamic coupé similar to the Kadett Rallye

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Opel Rekord L (1973) - with smoothed lines

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

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Opel Rekord L 1900 Caravan (1972) - beautiful red station wagon

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Summary

With the Opel Rekord C, the German General Motors subsidiary launched a new generation of the already successful upper mid-range model series in 1966. Some improvements were made and, above all, the focus was on a modern design that combined American lines with European vehicle dimensions. And it was well received. Almost 1.3 million Rekord Cs were built in just over half a decade, as a saloon, coupé or estate, with two, four or five doors, with various engines and power transmissions. One of these Rekord saloons with a 1.9-liter engine is described and illustrated in this vehicle article, which is supplemented with plenty of historical images, test references and a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

With steering wheel gearshift and front bench seat
A real car
Modular principle
Dynamics made to measure
Unclear
Predominantly good marks
Proves itself even against the more modern competition
The reliable one?
Sold by the millions
A dream in gold
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

"The Rekord is a good touring car: comfortable, spacious, large trunk, very good heating. However, the 1500 and 1700 are lame." This was the top line of the test report written by Thomas Messner for ADAC Motorwelt. And perhaps the Swiss first owner, who bought the gold-colored Rekord portrayed here in 1971, had read Messner's comments. In any case, he opted for the 1900 and it came with 90 hp as standard. That was over 40 years ago. Many things about the Opel Rekord C are reminiscent of America, not least the wide front bench seat and the gearshift on the steering wheel, which guaranteed more legroom for passengers. For an extra charge, the Rekord could also change gears with a center shift stick, but "our" car has a steering wheel gearshift. And it works flawlessly. And without taking long to get used to.

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