Opel Rekord P
(1957 - 1962)
Opel Rekord P: All 5 models
Show all modelsCar articles about Opel Rekord P by year
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.
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.
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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All 5 Opel Rekord P models
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