Opel GT electric car set world records 40 years ago
In 1971, Opel set several world records with a converted Opel GT with electric drive, as reported in the 1971 AR 24. 188.86 km/h were achieved over the flying kilometer, the standing kilometer ended at 115.88 km/h, the standing 500 meters at 92.98 km/h, the standing quarter mile at 85.87 km/h. An average speed of 126.89 km/h was achieved over 10 kilometers and 127.15 km/h over 10 miles.
The vehicle, an Opel GT, was converted into an electric car; the batteries weighed 570 kg for short-distance records and 740 kg for longer distances. However, even then the charge was not sufficient for more than 44 km of high-speed driving at an average speed of over 100 km/h. The vehicle was valued at DM 300,000 at the time. The two electric motors developed 120 hp and the batteries were supplied by Varta.
Well, the question remains as to how much progress has been made since then. It is also worth remembering that Jenatzy's cigar car had already reached a top speed of 105.9 km/h electrically in 1899. And as early as 1971, the AR editors said that the two main technical problems of the electric drive, namely weight and range, were still awaiting a solution. And in principle, this is still true 40 years later.
We are currently preparing a major report on the Opel GT without electric drive!
