What's wrong with the Opel design?
12/08/2013
Admittedly, the question is a little puffery. And perhaps it also misses the point. But, like many others, I always found the design of new Opel models modern and attractive, but no sooner had a few years passed and perhaps the successor appeared than the appearance of the previously harmonious car somehow already seemed old-fashioned and "out of fashion". Perhaps it was because they always followed fashion and contemporary tastes a little too closely and didn't focus enough on classic shapes and details?
But if you take a model series today, many years later, and look at the generations, you don't necessarily come to the same conclusions. Let's try the Kadett of the post-war period (until the early nineties).
The first generation, the Kadett A, was built from 1962 to 1965. Compared to its big competitor, the VW Beetle, it was definitely more modern and, from today's perspective, elegantly designed without any frippery. While other vehicles still had a pontoon shape, the Kadett impressed with its large windows and straight lines.
Its successor, the Kadett B, was built from 1965 to 1973 and was only half a step ahead in terms of design, which is probably why it appeared somewhat outdated towards the end of the production period.
The next model, the Kadett C, looked much more modern. It was built from 1973 to 1979 and was also available as a City with a tailgate. As with the previous model series, there was also a coupé, which had many fans, especially as the GT/E.
With the Kadett D came the big break, from then on the front wheels were driven. The design had changed completely and the Kadett D was built for five years, from 1979 to 1984.
From 1984 to 1993, the Kadett E was probably the most rounded Kadett of the post-war era. And perhaps also the most ephemeral.
At the same time, the "E" was the longest-built Kadett alongside the following F generation, which was then called the Astra and rolled off the production line from 1991 to 2000.
All six generations are shown in this blog, so everyone can decide for themselves which design ideas have held up better or worse. More about Opel can be found in the Zwischengas archive.
All pictures: Copyright © GM Corporation
