Perfect all-round visibility thanks to the panoramic windshield?
04/02/2016
At the beginning of the fifties, it became a major fashion trend - the panoramic windshield. Hardly any major manufacturer wanted to do without it, especially if they were still relying on American design.
From 1957, Opel also installed windows in the Rekord P1 that went around the corner, so to speak. And this was so important that the "P" even appeared in the name.
The new windshield certainly had its advantages, as there was no longer a windshield frame to get in the way when turning into a road and all-round visibility was better overall.
However, there were also disadvantages. For example, the lower corner protruded into the door opening and many a driver with a panoramic windshield construction got a bruised knee when getting in or out of the car.
In any case, Opel also dispensed with this design statement when the successor to the Rekord P1 was presented in 1960, called the P2. Although the windshield was still curved, it was no longer pulled around the corner as much. All-round visibility was still good, and a car couldn't be much clearer than an Opel Rekord P2.
Today, we can only dream of almost pillarless cars; the A, B and C pillars are now so wide that entire bicycles can disappear behind them if you're not careful ...
Incidentally, the two Opel models shown here will be auctioned off in Toffen on April 23, 2016.
