Opel
(1899 - today)
Brand:
Country:
Germany
Opel is the oldest German car brand still in existence. Founded as early as 1868 as a sewing machine factory, bicycles followed from 1886 and finally the first car in 1899. In March 1929, the Opel brothers sold the majority of the family business to General Motors. From 1931, Opel was a 100 per cent GM subsidiary and was already the largest German car manufacturer at that time. After the war, Opel maintained second place in the registration statistics behind VW for a long time until quality problems damaged its reputation in the 1990s. In August 2017, Opel was taken over by the French PSA Group and as a result has been part of Stellantis since 2021.
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In 1899, the Opel company launched its first passenger car, which it was able to build thanks to patents and inventions from the Lutzmann company. 65 examples were produced by 1901, and at least two survived in Germany. This report describes the first Opel passenger car and shows some pictures of it.
At first glance, everything seems the same as always. But on closer inspection, many things are different. The Opel 4 PS was conventionally built and yet contained many innovations. The first examples rolled off the production line 100 years ago - the very first cars in Germany. A driving and history lesson in the "Laubfrosch" from 1924.
The Opel 4 PS was one of the most popular cars of the 1920s. The Laubfrosch also belonged to the 4 PS family, as did the P4 and the first Kadett. This type history traces the evolution of the Opel 4 PS up to the P4/Kadett, illustrated with several historical pictures.
In 1928, Fritz von Opel made several attempts to break the then current speed record of 333 km/h with rocket-powered automobiles and rail vehicles. Although this did not happen, the stories surrounding it are still worth reading. This report summarizes the turbulent year 1928 and shows the record-breaking vehicles in historical photographs.
Opel is to become all-electric by 2028. This is not the first time that the brand with the lightning bolt has faced enormous challenges. Fires, wars and economic crises - the Rüsselsheim-based company has always managed to emerge from them. This retrospective shows an excerpt from the eventful Opel history from the beginning to the 1980s, when the twenty millionth Opel had just rolled off the production line in Rüsselsheim ...
The first Opel Kapitän was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in the spring of 1938, 75 years ago. This report summarizes the various Kapitän generations and shows them in pictures.
Between 1938 and 1953, Opel offered the first Kapitän, a modern yet robust vehicle with a self-supporting body that combined American characteristics with European engineering experience and sold over a hundred thousand units on the market. This report tells the story of the successful Opel luxury class model and shows it in three original brochures and in pictures and advertising illustrations from the time.
The Hebmüller company was once one of the hottest companies in German coachbuilding, but today it is known at best as the builder of the two-seater VW Beetle convertible, although many other bodies were produced in the workshops in Barmen and Wülfrath, including for Opel, Ford, Humber and DKW. This report looks back on the history of Hebmüller and shows some of the showpieces of their work in pictures.
The "new" Opel Kapitän for 1954 impressed with its modern pontoon body and low price. The magazine 'hobby' undertook extensive test drives and saw the Kapitän as a tough competitor for the upper mid-range cars of the time, even though the heating cost extra. This article reproduces the original wording of the 1954 test and shows the Opel Kapitän in historical pictures and advertising illustrations of the time.
"Station wagons" were hardly widespread in Europe in the first half of the 20th century. In the USA, however, the practical multi-purpose vehicles known as "station wagons" gained some popularity in the interwar period. This article reproduces a report from the magazine "Hobby", which was devoted to the increasingly popular "station wagons" in 1955.
The 1953 Olympia Rekord was not only Opel's first major new design, it also made the middle class affordable for a much larger proportion of the population, making it a great success. Not only in Germany, but also in Switzerland and other countries, it appeared high up on the registration hit parade. It was carefully designed without superfluous innovations and lasted longer than many competitor vehicles. Sensible and reliable, and beautifully shaped to boot - what more could anyone want in the 1950s? This vehicle report describes the development and history of the Olympia Rekord and shows it in many historical and modern illustrations, as well as in the advertising images of the time.
The Opel Kapitän 56 met all the criteria - comfortable, flexible handling and solid workmanship. But such a high standard also led to criticism at a high level. This article reproduces the wording of the 1955 Motor-Rundschau magazine test, in which the Kapitän was extensively tested for strengths and weaknesses.
Opel presented the new Kapitän in 1958. With many improvements and American-style styling, the new luxury-class sedan went after customers, but buyers apparently liked the Opel Rekord more than the Kapitän, which is why the latter was revised again after just one year. However, the 1958 Kapitän certainly had many strengths, as Werner Oswald explained in his driving test for 'hobby'. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report at the time and shows the car in historical illustrations.
Between 1957 and 1960/62, Opel produced around 600,000 Rekord P1 models with various engines as sedans, station wagons or vans. The successful model impressed with typical Opel virtues without any significant weaknesses. But it also looked really good, especially in the particularly rare "Ascona" version, which was only assembled in Switzerland. This report tells the story of the Opel Rekord P1 and shows it in current and historical footage. Of course, there is also a sound sample.
When hobby-Auto editor Werner Oswald compared the new Chevrolet Corvair with the Opel Kapitän P2 in December 1959, the future of the rear-wheel-drive American with its air-cooled six-cylinder boxer engine was still written in the stars. Oswald believed that it would cause a similar revolution in the automobile market as Chevrolet had once triggered when the Chevy overtook the Ford Model T. Oswald was quite wrong with his speculation, as was already recognized in the mid-sixties. This article reproduces the original text from 1959 and shows the two rivals from the GM Group in many archive photos.
For many years, Germany's best-selling six-cylinder car did not come from Stuttgart. The Opel Kapitän P 2.6 presented in 1959 was the Rüsselsheim-based company's big success. No Kapitän before or after it sold more; none embodied the dream of prosperity during the economic miracle more. This article tells the story of the Opel flagship with the panoramic windows and shows it in many photos as well as in the sales literature of the time. A sound sample of the six-cylinder engine is also included.
After an incredible three years of model consistency, Opel presented the new Rekord in the summer of 1960, which was soon called the "P2". In keeping with the style of the time, panoramic windows and body curves were no longer quite so pronounced, which benefited all-round visibility and ease of entry. The editor of Automobil-Illustrierte had almost nothing but words of praise for the new Rüsselsheim mid-size class, even apart from its looks. This article reproduces an original test report from 1960 and shows the 1961 Opel Rekord in extensive historical photos and sales material.
Opel presented the new Opel Rekord (P2) in 1960. The magazine 'hobby' took its pulse and came to the conclusion that even in its new version it had remained exactly what it should be in terms of the perfect car psychology of its creators and had to be in its class, namely a reliable mid-range car with plenty of space and good comfort. This article reproduces the original text from back then and is illustrated with historical photos and two vehicle brochures.
At the beginning of 1962, sporty types could choose between the Opel Rekord Coupé and the Ford 17 M TS for just under DM 8,000. The Opel offered an individual coupé body and the typical Opel characteristics, the Ford 70 hp and an almost frothing temperament in the limousine guise. Instead of comparing them directly, two 'hobby' testers wrote down their impressions of each vehicle separately. The comparison was made by the reader. This article reproduces the original wording of the 'hobby' report at the time, supplemented by archive photos and advertising images of the two vehicles. Further tests in the Zwischengas archive are also referenced.
The second generation of the panoramic windshield Rekord continued the lineage of Rüsselsheim's mid-size cars, beginning in 1935 with the Olympia, and cemented Opel's reputation as a manufacturer of well-designed, reliable and affordable automobiles. The coupé, launched one year after the saloon, was not out of line. Nevertheless, there was a lot to report about the two-door model with the huge trunk... This article quotes an original test report from April 1962 and shows the Rekord P2 Coupé in historical photos and sales material.
The Opel Rekord L was convincing across the board. The performance, comfort and good price went together, which made the car interesting for families, among others. No wonder this Rüsselsheim model was referred to as a family touring car... This report combines the original wording of the Motor-Rundschau's "major test" of the time with historical images and sales literature from the period.
In 1960, Opel presented a new Rekord P2, which was significantly smoother and much more European than its predecessor, the P1. The Rüsselsheim-based company had achieved a great success, selling almost 800,000 units in less than three years before it was discontinued. This driving report tells the story of the Rekord P2 and portrays a 1.7-liter model from 1962, supplemented by advertisements and archive footage from the time.
For Opel, the objective for the Kadett was clear: it was to become a people's car. At least it had the potential to be. With its unobtrusiveness, solid technology, good space, plenty of elasticity and moderate fuel consumption, it scored points, which was also confirmed by the trade press. The magazine 'hobby' had predicted the post-war Kadett early on and naturally devoted an extensive test to it, which is reproduced here in the original wording, supplemented with many historical photos of the car.
When Opel presented the second generation of the Kadett in 1962, critics had few words of praise for the car. It had to contend with strong competition in the form of the Beetle, which enjoyed incredible popularity. In addition, the rumor mill from the Volkswagen camp was buzzing. Nevertheless, the Kadett was able to assert itself. This article takes another look back at the Kadett of the early sixties, which paved the way for several model generations. Many pictures show the newcomer of the time.
In the early sixties, there was a lot of whispering in the Ruhr area. Between two highways, on the site of the closed Dannenbaum colliery, a large factory had been built in the east of Bochum. It was known that Opel wanted to launch a small car from here. And in view of the dimensions of the new building, it was assumed that the Rüsselsheim-based company had quietly and secretly launched an attack on the throne of the VW Beetle. When the production halls opened their doors and the first post-war Cadets were released onto the roads, the amazement was great... This article reproduces an original test report from 1963 and shows the compact car in historical photos.
At the end of 1962, the magazine 'hobby' carried out a major comparative test with eleven saloons from Germany, France, England and Italy. In a tough competition, hot-blooded family sports cars had to be compared with utility saloons designed for comfort. The fact that a German representative won was not a matter of course, as places 2 to 4 went to "foreign countries". This article reproduces the original wording of the report at the time and shows all eleven sedans compared in many archive photos.
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Opel Kadett - The buddy type
The Opel Kadett's first career ended in 1940 after the outbreak of war in Europe. It only returned in 1962 to become the most successful model in the brand's fleet for the next 30 years. This article is dedicated to the first two generations of the car, which despite its success never rose above the rank of officer's candidate, and shows it in current and historical images.
Opel by no means reinvented the wheel with the Rekord A from 1963. However, since the masses trusted the tried and tested, valued reliability and did not want to overburden their wallets, the Rüsselsheim-based company, which had already been under the control of General Motors for 25 years, baked a versatile passenger car from familiar ingredients. The result was not an explosion of flavor, but classic home cooking that provided the middle class with all the nutrients it needed. Well, almost all of them, the car wasn't perfect, of course; the rear axle, for example, had a certain lack of innovation. And then there was the matter of the doors... The original test report from 1963 looks back at the Opel Rekord A and shows it with the help of many pictures and illustrative graphics.
The Opel Kadett appeared in the fall of 1962 as a competitor to the VW Beetle. In addition to the standard version, there was also the luxury version shown here.
At the beginning of 1963, Opel is no longer the undisputed market leader in the mid-range segment. The competition from Cologne had clearly caught up. With a completely new body and up to 100 hp, the Rekord A was to regain lost ground. Our article explains how it succeeded.
After a literally bumpy start, the Opel Kadett was hardly recognizable in the 1964 model year. Opel had improved the chassis set-up so that the Kadett now stayed on the road even in undulating bends. On top of that, they gave the sedan and Caravan the 48 hp "Super" engine from the coupé. The result was a veritable small sports saloon that was reminiscent of the Mini Cooper S, as this contemporary test report from the "Automobil-Illustrierte" magazine explains in detail.
Why do we always have to be in such a hurry and squeeze small engines to the limit? The Opel Admiral teaches its driver that it's not about how quickly you reach your destination, but how comfortably. After all, what's the point of arriving early if you have to lie down for an hour afterwards to recover from the journey? Remember: if the engine is relaxed, so is the driver. This article reproduces a test report from 1964 and shows the center of Opel's luxury class in historical images.
The Opel Rekord A recaptured the market share that its predecessor had lost to the futuristic Taunus P3 and impressed with its luxurious body and corresponding spaciousness, but irritated with an unusually large number of minor annoyances for an Opel. In this historical test report from 1964, the model with the 1.7-liter engine was tested. We reproduce it in full, accompanied by historical photos, sales brochure and operating instructions!
In 1964, the Swiss company Italsuisse presented an Opel Kadett Spider at the Geneva Motor Show, which was positioned as a potential competitor to the VW Karmann Ghia. The car, designed and built by Pietro Frua in Turin, appealed to the Opel decision-makers at the time, but even after intensive testing, they were unable to bring themselves to produce it in series. One of the two cars built has survived to this day and impresses with its timeless elegance. This report portrays the surviving Opel Kadett A Italsuisse Spider from 1964 and describes its development and life story.
With the Chevrolet V8 under the hood, the drive system of the top model also matched the American look of Opel's new three-seater. But unlike the conventional US models, it also had a chassis that could cope with the power, as well as decent brakes. In addition, the automatic transmission raised ride comfort to a completely new level by European standards. This historical test report identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the Opel Diplomat V8.
Certainly, it's not the first thing that comes to mind. A comfortable touring sedan belongs on the highway or a fast country road. The gentlemen from the magazine 'hobby' thought differently, and tested the Opel Diplomat on the hill climb to the Gaisberg near Salzburg. And came to a surprising conclusion. This report reproduces the original wording of the test at the time and shows the Opel Diplomat in historical pictures.
The six-cylinder engine of the Opel Kapitän transformed the good old Rekord into a superior little road warrior. For less than 10,000 marks, no other saloon could offer such performance. However, the stubborn suspension and light rear end made it a case for specialists. This historical test report explains why the Opel Rekord-6 was nevertheless unrivaled.
The Opel Admiral, which evolved from the early Kapitän "L", was elegant with its Americanized body. Its outward appearance was matched by its spaciousness, equipment, driving and operating comfort and, with the mechanical gearbox, its driving performance. This test report from 1966 examined the characteristics of the successor to the largest car in the Opel range at the time.
After 28 years, Opel replaced its proven OHV engines with a new engine family with an overhead camshaft. The proven Opel virtues of reliability and torque remained, as did the short-stroke design. Externally, the Rekord was much less revolutionary for 1966: only a new radiator face and a modified rear panel betrayed the generation change under the hood. This historical test report clarifies whether this was enough to distance itself more strongly from its main competitor Ford.
With the appearance of the second generation, the Opel Kadett bid farewell to its compact sportiness. With its larger, more rounded body, the new model focused much more on spaciousness and comfort than on agility and driving dynamics. Surprisingly, the suspension had nevertheless become significantly stiffer, so that the Kadett L, which appeared comfortable on the outside, was a little caught between two stools. This historical test report explains it in detail.
For the 1967 model year, the Opel Rekord became bigger, more beautiful - and more expensive. Although the equipment and chassis had been refined accordingly, the popular mid-range car was still one price class higher than before. This test report from November 1966 discusses whether it had what it took to be a sales success, even at a base price of 7590 marks.
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.
Special problems sometimes require special solutions. This is how Switzerland came up with its very own Opel Kadett B in 1968 - which wasn't even called that. But it impressed with unusual qualities and sportiness. This report tells the story of the rare Opel Ascona 1700 and shows it in many pictures. Of course, there is also a sound sample.
The Opel Kadett B appeared in the summer of 1965 and could do everything a little better than its predecessor. By August 1973, 2.6 million units had been built. One of the rarest variants today is the estate.
Opel built the KAD series B from 1969 to 1977. KAD stands for Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat, the individual models of the luxury class series. In the B models, Opel had made full technical use of the De Dion rear axle and the fuel injection system for the six-cylinder engine. In any case, the magazine 'hobby' was impressed by the improved top models from Rüsselsheim. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report at the time and shows the models in historical illustrations.
Suppose you have You have 7000 marks in the bank and a soft spot in your heart for coupés, how can you combine the one with the other? Well, with 7000 Marks you are a coupé candidate who is by no means spared the agony of choice! How would you like it? Sporty, automatic, family-friendly, rally-like? You can have it all in the variants we want to present here... However, in the selection of Fiat 850 Coupé, DAF 55 Coupé, Opel Rallye Kadett and Ford Capri tested, the elegant and sporty Capri comes out on top. The details can be found in the comparison test from 1969.
Opel's top model was often accused of being too American. Yet the Diplomat offered what we appreciate so much about US models without adopting their weaknesses. It combined the American strengths of smooth running, power, space and comfort with the European virtues of clean workmanship and good road holding. This historical test explains why the Opel Diplomat E was not a luxury car, but nevertheless a very good car.
In 1969, Opel presented a styling study called the Opel CD at the IAA, which was a long way from series production. Nevertheless, the positive response motivated those responsible at Opel to commission Pietro Frua to create a version closer to series production. The result was the Opel Gran Turismo HS V8 coupé, sometimes also known as the Coupé Diplomat Frua or CD Frua. Unfortunately, this model was also subsequently denied series production, but the basic lines and many ideas of the Bitter CD were eventually built several hundred times in Germany. This article describes the history of the two Frua coupés built on the basis of the Opel Diplomat and shows the cars in historical and modern pictures.
In the mid-sixties, Opel had three vehicle types in its range: estates, saloons and coupés based on saloons. There was no real sports car, nor did anyone expect one from a bourgeois brand. This made the 1965 IAA all the more sensational: there was a sports coupé with a racy, Italian-American shape - and a lightning bolt at the front. Three years later, the "Experimental GT" prototype had become the Opel GT production car and customers were enthusiastic about it. This report goes back to the beginnings, shows the history of development, design influences and conflicting goals, refers to test reports from back then and tells how the Opel GT with 1.1 and 1.9 liter engines feel today. The whole thing is garnished with many historical and current pictures, two original brochures and sound samples.
In 1970, Opel presented the Manta as a competitor to the Ford Capri, designed by Charles M. Jordan and with clear echoes of Ferrari sports cars. Technically, the Manta was based on the Ascona, which did not change with its successor, the Manta B. This report describes the history of the popular family sports coupé, of which over one million were produced, and shows it in many historical and current illustrations.
Although the Mercedes 280 was the top dog in 1970, the BMW 2800 and Opel Diplomat were hot on its heels. The magazine 'hobby' therefore compared precisely these two competitors and came to the conclusion that not only the BMW 2800, but also the Diplomat E was a good car. This article reproduces the original wording from back then and is illustrated with extensive historical images and a luxury brochure on the big BMW.
This historical test recommends something that few sports car enthusiasts would have thought of at the time: buying an Opel GT with automatic transmission. Reason: With such a racy line, the last bit of driving performance doesn't matter. It is therefore almost surprising that the test report still recommends the large 1.9-liter engine and not the phlegmatic 1100.
Of course, the Opel Commodore GS/E was a simple design compared to other high-performance sedans. However, one must not forget that nowhere else was there 150 hp for so little money - if at all. High driving performance, low maintenance costs and good workmanship make the sporty fuel-injected Opel a worthy alternative to BMW and Mercedes, as this historical test report shows.
"Is it possible to produce bestsellers?" asked the 'hobby' tester right at the beginning of his report, which he wrote shortly after the launch of the Opel Manta (A). And he came to the conclusion that the prerequisites for this were actually good, as he could hardly find a fly in the ointment. This article reproduces the original wording from the 1970 test report and is supplemented with the relevant illustrations and some archive images.
During the first test in February, the snow and ice meant that we were able to guess rather than definitively experience how much explosive power the Rüsselsheim-based company had put into the most powerful Commodore version. In March, however, the Commodore GS / E had a free run on the Lausanne-Geneva highway, which it took quite brutally. The Motor Show was a kind of birthplace for the Commodore models: the basic model was presented in 1967, followed by the GS/E with computer-controlled Bosch petrol injection in 1970. The refreshed and re-edited Hobby report from 1970 shows how the test drivers of the time saw the car.
In 1971, Automobil Revue tested the Opel GT/J and was extremely positive. Their summary was: In its low-priced GT/J version, the first Opel of the "new generation" thrilled younger drivers in particular. It is a real sports car with an exclusive line, outstanding performance and safe driving characteristics, but without tearing too big a hole in the wallet with high purchase and maintenance costs. The test has shown that today even a large manufacturer can build cars that satisfy the connoisseur. The report takes another look back and shows the original restored photos
For most people, the VW Beetle is the Volkswagen par excellence, in every sense of the word. A car for the people, a people's car. And the Beetle was indeed an above-average success. But before it, Ford's Model T had already passed the 15 million mark, and in modern times the Toyota Corolla, VW Golf and Ford's F-series even managed to reach over 30 million, although they were not the only people's cars to do so. This report looks back at some selected production successes in car history and shows them in 200 pictures. A feast for the eyes!
In contrast to the Ford Capri, the Opel Manta was not a design sensation at its debut that turned the heads of passers-by by the dozen. Its beauty was more of the inconspicuous variety, which suited the down-to-earth Opel technology very well. Despite its looks, the Manta was not a sports car. Instead, it scored points for its refinement, driving safety and excellent workmanship, as you can read in this historical test report.
With the Opel Rekord C, the German General Motors subsidiary launched a new generation of the already successful upper mid-range model series in 1966. Some improvements were made and, above all, the focus was on a modern design that combined American lines with European vehicle dimensions. And it was well received. Almost 1.3 million Rekord Cs were built in just over half a decade, as a saloon, coupé or estate, with two, four or five doors, with various engines and power transmissions. One of these Rekord saloons with a 1.9-liter engine is described and illustrated in this vehicle article, which is supplemented with plenty of historical images, test references and a sound sample.
Of course, not every Opel Kadett was gold-colored back then; they were available in all colors and were also popular in red or yellow. And they were available in many versions with different engines and equipment variations. The choice was enormous. But this was not the only reason why the Opel Kadett B was one of the Opel brand's most successful models. This driving report is about the Opel Kadett 1100 from 1971. It tells the model history and shows the Kadett B in current and historical images as well as in the advertising of the time.
With the Opel Manta, the Rüsselsheim-based manufacturer presented an independent coupé in response to the Ford Capri. And the newcomer convinced the critics, even Paul Frère was sure that nothing could stand in the way of success. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report in Auto Revue from 1971 and shows the pretty coupé in historical pictures.
When an old barn in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland was due to be demolished and a dismantled Opel Rallye Kadett was still inside, Martin Fehlmann was on the spot and launched a last-minute rescue operation. Fehlmann is an absolute Opel enthusiast. His love for the Rüsselsheim car began when the family's own B-Kadett Rallye was due to be scrapped because it was no longer deemed roadworthy. But Fehlmann Junior took the veto and began the restoration. In the process, he caught Opel fever. Today, he has an entire hall full of rare Opel models, and his cellar is stacked with brochures, memorabilia, model cars, Opel bicycles and sewing machines. This article describes the rescue of a rare ochre-colored Opel Kadett B Rallye from 1972 and shows the vehicle in its current condition, supplemented by many archive photos, brochures and advertising illustrations.
With the 2.8-liter injection engine from the Opel Admiral, the Commodore GS/E 1972 became a Euro-sized muscle car. Even the otherwise so critical car testers openly spoke out in favor of its unreasonableness: If a Commodore, then a proper one. Why bother with the smaller engines? This article introduces the Opel Commodore B and shows a picture of a GS/E coupé from 1974.
From 1970 to 1975, Opel built the Manta A, which fulfilled all hopes with almost half a million units produced. Even today, the handsome coupé still impresses, especially the luxurious Berlinetta version. This driving report briefly summarizes the history of the Rüsselsheim coupé and describes driving impressions and reactions from the environment, supplemented by many current and historical illustrations.
With the Fiat 130 and the Opel Admiral, two limousines for the executive floor appeared in 1969. Both models have since become rarities, but when they are reunited, they reveal unexpected qualities, as this comparison drive shows. This article shows the two luxury limousines in many pictures and tells their story
The trend towards powerful, sporty-looking coupés suffered from the fuel problems of the time in 1974, but the example of the USA showed that the road racers were also in demand in speed-restricted countries. sport - auto took a close look at the most powerful coupé variants from Audi, Ford and Opel.
With the Ascona, Opel closed the gap between the Kadett and the Rekord in 1970. And with the 19 SR model variant, Opel entered into direct competition with BMW and Alfa Romeo. And it did surprisingly well. Walter Röhrl even won a World Rally Championship race and the European Rally Championship in the Ascona. The Opel Ascona was also a success in sales and many people still remember driving the reliable sedan to this day. This driving report focuses on the most powerful 19 SR model and shows it in current and historical pictures.
In 1975, the Rekord II had been the "best-selling European in its class" for a good three years, according to Opel's advertising text. For the 1975 production year, the output of all Rekord carburetor engines was reduced. In addition, Opel took small steps to reduce the earlier criticism of the Rekord's details. This test report explains the convincing features of the various engine variants.
In the first half of '75, the Manta accounted for only 3.4% of German Opel registrations (6630 out of 191,544). It was high time for a new model. And the second edition of the Opel Manta had many convincing qualities, as the test from that time shows.
The new Ascona 1.6 N had a new but familiar look, and was refined in key areas compared to the previous model. Did it succeed? Answers are in the 1975 test report!
Every sixth Opel Manta sold in Germany in 1976 was a GT/E. No wonder, as it could compete with the BMW 320, which cost 2000 marks more. However, the Opel injection engine should not only be seen from a sporting perspective, as it was also suitable for everyday driving. This test report from 1976 explains why.
Between 1976 and 1978, Opel built the Kadett Aero together with Baur, but only just over 1200 of them, as the car was too expensive for most potential buyers. The magazine 'hobby' tested the newcomer in 1976 and came to quite positive conclusions. This report reproduces the original text from 1976 and shows the Opel Kadett Aero in historical pictures.
Since the 1950s, station wagons from Rüsselsheim have combined the elegance and comfort of a passenger car with the utility of a delivery van. With the Opel Rekord D, the German GM subsidiary broke away from the US design language for the first time and presented what was probably the most Italian and graceful Opel ever. The practical five-door models were also extremely successful in terms of style. Unfortunately, however, they were not only good to look at, but also good to drive, which is why many of them died early on. This article is dedicated to the elegant space miracle and shows a surviving Rekord 1900 Caravan in many pictures.
In September 1973, Opel presented the Kadett C as a sedan, station wagon and coupé. Despite many shared components, the two-door coupé was the prettiest Kadett variant, which quickly found many friends, even when there were no fuel-injected engines under the hood to ensure sporty performance. The S engine produced 60 hp in the Coupé and with SR equipment it was hardly inferior to the faster versions, at least visually. This driving report describes the history of the Kadett C Coupé, gives driving impressions and shows an example from 1978 in many pictures. The report is supplemented by a sound sample and historical illustrations.
The Opel Manta B was presented in 1975 as the successor to the successful Manta A, smoothed and larger, following technically proven concepts. It developed into the long runner in the Opel model program and was built over half a million times by 1988. However, it became famous and infamous through tuning excesses and film appearances and, of course, through the Manta jokes. This driving report shows an original example from 1980 and tells the story of the second Manta edition.
When Opel developed a Group B successor to the Ascona 400, the decision was made to use the Manta as the basis and to continue with rear-wheel drive. There was, however, a four-wheel drive prototype, but it was never used in racing. With only 245 vehicles built, the Opel Manta 400 remained an exotic model. This vehicle report tells the story of the homologation vehicle and shows a road-going version in many pictures.
In the fifties or seventies of the last century, the Opel driver was imagined as a relatively bourgeois citizen with a hat and suspenders. The car had to be reliable and durable, not at all glamorous or flashy. With the Opel Monza in 1977, Opel completely abandoned this image and created a coupé that was unique on the market and could compete with significantly more expensive rivals. This driving report tells the story of the Opel Monza and shows it in historical and current pictures, as well as in the sales brochure.
From 1953 to 1986, Opel built mid-range Rekord cars. They were a great success, as they were among the best-selling cars of their kind for decades. They were popular as business, touring and family cars, as saloons, estate cars or coupés. In 1986, however, the successor was named Omega. But how does one of the last Rekord feel over 30 years later? This driving report takes a close look at the Opel Rekord E2 and tells its story in words and pictures.
With some cars, one detail is enough to make them recognizable. On the Opel Corsa A, with which the Rüsselsheim-based company entered the market for modern small cars rather late in 1982, nothing was as striking as its flared fenders, which made it look powerful even with 45 hp. With the 100 hp GSi, however, the driving performance also matched the muscular appearance. This article tells the story of the Opel Corsa A and its sporty offshoots and shows it in current and historical images
Convertible fun doesn't have to be expensive, especially not with a classic car. The Opel Kadett, Ford Escort and VW Golf prove that you can enjoy open-top driving fun even on a budget.
From 1991 to 1998, Opel built the Astra F, which was the first Kadett to no longer bear the traditional name. Once again there was a GSi model and, as with the predecessor Kadett E, the two-liter engine with 16 valves produced 150 hp and made the Astra GSi 220 km/h fast. This vehicle report describes the successful Astra GSi model, shows it in contemporary pictures and places it in the context of the competition at the time.
At a quick glance, an Opel Lotus Omega hardly looks any different from its sedan counterparts from Rüsselsheim, but under the hood sits a twin-turbo six-cylinder engine with 377 hp, which takes the four-door car to 200 km/h faster than almost the entire sports car elite of the time. This put the six-figure price into perspective, but could not prevent the Opel from being misunderstood by everyone. This driving report tells the development history of the model, of which fewer than 1000 were built, and describes driving impressions from today, illustrated with many pictures.
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Opel Tigra - Ladies' choice
Objectively speaking, there wasn't much to be said for buying an Opel Tigra. It was less spacious than a Corsa, more expensive and even slower to accelerate. But it simply looked outrageously good - and it could dive better too. This article introduces the award-winning Corsa coupé and shows it in lots of historical footage.
Based on the Opel Calibra, a station wagon coupé study was created in 1996, which showed neither the snaking lines in form nor in driving behavior as the name suggested. The Bertone Slalom was a reinterpretation of a classic concept and in part followed the boss's very special preferences. This article introduces the "Gran Turismo saloon" and shows it in historical photographs.
Current market prices for Opel
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
Convertible Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
Convertible Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
null, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 2473 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 2473 cm3
Convertible, 0 PS, 2473 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 2473 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 2473 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
Convertible Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
Convertible Sedan, 0 PS, 1488 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Opel
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opel Olympia Rekord 1956 Not Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (November 28, 2015) |
Olympia Rekord | 1956 | Not Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (November 28, 2015) | |
| Opel Commodore B 1976 Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (April 25, 2015) |
Commodore B | 1976 | Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (April 25, 2015) | |
| Opel Kadett A N 1965 Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen (April 23, 2016) |
Kadett A N | 1965 | Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen (April 23, 2016) | |
| Opel Commodore B 1976 Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen (April 29, 2017) |
Commodore B | 1976 | Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen (April 29, 2017) | |
| Opel GT 1973 Sold Bonhams Tupelo Automobile Museum (April 26, 2019) |
GT | 1973 | Sold | Bonhams Tupelo Automobile Museum (April 26, 2019) | |
| Opel Olympia Rekord P2 1961 Conditional Sale Auctionata Berlin Sale (August 31, 2015) |
Olympia Rekord P2 | 1961 | Conditional Sale | Auctionata Berlin Sale (August 31, 2015) | |
| Opel Lotus Omega (Carlton) 1991 Sold Silverstone Auctions Race Retro Classic Car Sale (February 22, 2019) |
Lotus Omega (Carlton) | 1991 | Sold | Silverstone Auctions Race Retro Classic Car Sale (February 22, 2019) | |
| Opel Monza GS/E 1985 Not Sold Avus Hamburg Auktion (March 22, 2014) |
Monza GS/E | 1985 | Not Sold | Avus Hamburg Auktion (March 22, 2014) | |
| Opel Kadett 1937 Sold Auktionshaus Wiesbaden Mainz-Kastell Auktion (March 16, 2013) |
Kadett | 1937 | Sold | Auktionshaus Wiesbaden Mainz-Kastell Auktion (March 16, 2013) | |
| Opel GT A-L 1900 1970 Sold Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (November 30, 2013) |
GT A-L 1900 | 1970 | Sold | Oldtimer Galerie Toffen Toffen Auktion (November 30, 2013) |
Query all auctioned vehicles of Opel
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