When the bourgeois limousine becomes a hot rally weapon
01/29/2014
Between 1970 and 1975, Opel built the Ascona A, which was designed by Charles Jordan. Of course, the Opel people were aware of the brand's staid image and were looking for challenges in motorsport to give the Ascona a little more glamor. As early as 1972, magazine advertisements read: "Should you buy an Opel Ascona just because it wins rallies?".
However, the Ascona did not become a real rally success until 1974, when Walter Röhrl turned the steering wheel of the Group 2 version with over 200 hp. He won the European Rally Championship in the Ascona A.
Today, however, we are somewhat astonished by some of the basic data of the normal Ascona A, of which 690,000 were built: weight from 870 kg, price from DM 7,548 - that would be less than 4000 euros without inflation adjustments. Lightning!
