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Opel Rekord LS 1.8i Caravan - the end of the record

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Created on August 7, 2019

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

49

Opel/PR

8

Archiv

4

Bruno von Rotz

49

Opel/PR

8

Archiv

4

Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - lots of matt black, little chrome

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - a station wagon for a trip into the blue

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Blue in blue

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - simple equipment, simple appearance

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - with tailgate open

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - with large tailgate

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - open access for all

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - in its typical surroundings

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - ready for action

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - holds 810 liters

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - when mid-range cars were still just over 1.7 meters wide

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - when the catalytic converter was still labeled

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - not dissimilar in color to the Zurich streetcar

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - today a rarity in everyday traffic

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - in traffic today

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - a pleasant contemporary

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - ... and drives and drives and drives, even if it's an Opel and not a Volkswagen

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - looks really compact today

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Cloth seats and steering wheel without leather

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - functional interior

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - easy-to-read instruments, but no rev counter

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - everything nice and clear

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - five gears were almost a luxury

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - simple buttons and controls

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Note that you were not allowed to fill up with leaded gasoline

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - the 1.8-liter had no problem fitting into the engine compartment

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - the four-cylinder engine converted from transverse to longitudinal installation

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - originally this engine ran in the Kadett D and was installed transversely

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - overhead camshaft

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - visible technology

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - everything as it was when the car left the factory

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Warning from the manufacturer

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Maintenance instructions

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - chassis number on the bodywork

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Chassis badge

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Opel flash on the front

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - large headlights

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - all original

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - aerodynamically optimized rear-view mirror

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Wheel covers and steel wheels were standard

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - plain - matt black door opener

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Luggage racks were very popular back then

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - when you still had a rain gutter for the months of the luggage rack

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - the "catalytic converter" plates were fitted by the dealer

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - a little luxury is allowed

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - Dealer stickers from then and now

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Opel Rekord Caravan (1978) - with huge trunk - Geneva Motor Show 1978

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Opel Rekord E1 (1977) - entry-level model without side moldings

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Opel Rekord E1 (1977) - as a rare three-door station wagon

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Opel Rekord E1 (1977) - "Berlina" comfort version

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Opel Rekord E1 (1977) - four-door sedan

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Opel Rekord E - practical and durable family sedan - Oldtimer Sunday Morning on June 2, 2019

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Opel Rekord E2 GLS Caravan (1982) - with roof rack

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Opel Rekord E2 GLS (1982) - comfortable GLS version

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Opel Rekord E2 Luxus Diesel (1982) - Diesel with a hump on the hood

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Opel Rekord E2 Luxus (1982) - better equipped version

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1984) - Advertising - the comfort that doesn't stop behind the seats

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Opel Rekord E2 (1982) - Advertising - New elegance, new dynamics

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Opel Rekord E2 (1982) - Advertising - see for yourself what it has to offer

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - with steel rims and wheel covers

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Opel Rekord E2 Caravan (1986) - with luggage rack from the period

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Summary

From 1953 to 1986, Opel built mid-range Rekord cars. They were a great success, as they were among the best-selling cars of their kind for decades. They were popular as business, touring and family cars, as saloons, estate cars or coupés. In 1986, however, the successor was named Omega. But how does one of the last Rekord feel over 30 years later? This driving report takes a close look at the Opel Rekord E2 and tells its story in words and pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

Proven model
Practical and trouble-free
Aerodynamics and spaciousness
Fine-tuning at the end
From transverse to longitudinal
The practical estate car
One of the few survivors
Not necessarily suitable for senior citizens
Envy factor? No way
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

We are sitting in one of the last Opel Rekord Caravan built. The Rekord E2 was the end of an entire automotive dynasty, the successor was called Omega and could not hold a candle to its predecessor in terms of success. With the first Rekord, presented in 1953 as the Olympia Rekord, Opel had already set the technical guidelines that all future Rekord models were to follow: Self-supporting body, standard drive layout with longitudinal engine at the front and driven rigid axle at the rear, sedan and station wagon variants. While the first versions were still strongly influenced by American design, later models had a simpler and more European appearance.

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