Opel's black widow - a very special record C

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Opel's black widow - a very special record C

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Created on January 16, 2017

Text:

Daniel Reinhard

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

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Bruno von Rotz

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Hallo Fahrerlager / Archiv Rainer Braun

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Archiv

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Black and yellow - the Opel colors

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - as it once was, with thick tires under the standard bodywork

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Milestone - the Opel Rekord 1900 (known as the "Black Widow") is Opel's first racing touring car - Erich Bitter keeps a Porsche 911 at bay in Hockenheim in 1968

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Niki Lauda in the Rekord in Tulln-Langlebarn

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Niki Lauda in the Rekord in Tulln-Langlebarn - the later Grand Prix champion was not enthusiastic

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - ready to go

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - you can't tell from the Rekord C what it has under the hood

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Opening windows are relatively unusual for a racing car

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - of course the Opel was lightened as much as possible

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - you can only guess at the roar

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Neon light is rarely seen on the racetrack

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - a real curve would be needed now

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - the reconstruction corresponds almost one hundred percent to the original

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - one windshield wiper will have to do

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - perhaps the fastest Opel of its time

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - through the underpasses on the Opel factory premises

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - almost like on the Hunaudières

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Drive through the factory premises

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - the music starts at 5000 rpm

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Jens Cooper steps on the gas in his Rekord

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - stripped-down interior, but large rev counter

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Oil temperature, oil pressure and water temperature

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - ... so that you don't over-rev the engine

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - Opel Classic employee Jens Cooper and his work

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - some modifications had to be made to double the performance

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - the modified 1.9-liter with 180 hp

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - the air for the carburetors comes from the air vents in front of the windshield

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Opel Rekord C "Black Widow" (1968) - two fat Weber carburetors supply the Opel with fuel

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Opel Rekord C (1968) - at the Steckborn-Eichhölzli hill climb 2015

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Opel Rekord C (1968) - at the Steckborn-Eichhölzli hill climb 2015

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Summary

In the 1960s, Opel was not officially allowed to actively participate in motor racing due to a US regulation. However, this did not prevent some enterprising people at Opel from building a racing car based on the Rekord C. However, when the company managers found out, the car had to be disposed of. And disappeared forever. But a few years ago, the "Black Widow", as the car was called, was rebuilt. And has been on display at classic car events ever since. This report describes what it feels like to take a ride in the 180 hp Rekord and shows the car in many pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

A black Opel Rekord
No comfort
Starting signal at the Hockenheimring
Banishment
Reconstruction
Hot machine

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

It was the time when Latvian Anatole Carl Lapine headed the research studio in Rüsselsheim. The then 35-year-old designer is not only considered the father of the Opel GT, but also had various other "skeletons" in his closet. In 1968, for example, a Group 5 Rekord C with around 180 hp was created in the Opel factory catacombs, which was to give the BMW 2002 and the Porsche 911 a run for their money on the racetracks. However, the General Motors subsidiary was banned from all racing under the AMA agreement due to the risk of accidents, which the Americans wanted to nip in the bud. The AMA (Automobile Manufacturers Association) therefore passed a resolution in May 1957 prohibiting all US car manufacturers from engaging in factory motorsport. This was intended to distance themselves from the responsibility of illegal street racing. GM adhered strictly to the regulation for a long time, while Ford was soon back on the racetracks.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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