- Since 1907: Opel Gasoline Wagon’s sobriquet is “The Reliable“
- Five-decade lifespan: Advertising slogan from the 1930s to the 1980s
- Endurance test success 2013: Trade journal calls Astra “Opel, the most reliable”
- 13th Classic Car Event: Opel Quick Delivery Wagon meets Sports Tourer at the Opel Villas
The terms Opel and reliability are intrinsically tied to one another. In its recent 12/2013 issue, the respected trade journal auto motor und sport
declared “Opel, the most reliable“, describing the best compact
endurance test car of all time – an Astra Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTI that
did not have one single technical fault over the entire distance of
100,000 km. Opel Vice President Quality Thomas Simon says, “Typical Opel
values are precision, efficiency and reliability.” Opel has a long
tradition of quality, as the first cars with combustion engines from
Rüsselsheim very quickly earned a reputation for being “reliable”. At a
time when Otto engines still had to compete against steam and electric
propulsion drives (!), the first Opel cars were convincing with their
faultless operation and safe arrival at their destination.
Opel Astra Sports Tourer CDTI BiTurbo (2013) and Opel Olympia CarAvan 'Schnelllieferwagen' (1953) |
Opel Olympia CarAvan 'Schnelllieferwagen' (1953) and Opel Astra Sports Tourer CDTI BiTurbo (2013) |
Opel Olympia CarAvan 'Schnelllieferwagen' (1953) |
Yet the slogan from the 1930s again celebrated a comeback until well into the 1970s. The seal of quality “Opel the reliable” again adorned ads for the Rekord and Commodore! With a new design, it was also the ideal supplement to “ADMIRAL – the fast touring car” (to 1976). It was after that that traces of the original claim are lost. Instead, advertisers bet on the appeal of powerful V8 engines (“Badge for advanced drivers”, “For fast horse enthusiasts”) or the sportiness still ubiquitous today (“Opel Manta. Because you know what driving is about”, “Opel Manta. If conventional cars are too boring for you“).
But Opel never lost sight of the term reliability, remaining true to
its tradition. Which is why Thomas Simon explains the strategy for the
coming years as follows: “We are already on the right track with the
quality offensive we began in 2007 – as the result of the auto motor und sport endurance
test impressively shows. In addition, we have drawn up the plan
QUALITY!2022 as an important component of our overall strategy
DRIVE!2022. Our ambitious but realistic goal is to take over quality
leadership in the automotive industry. Customer satisfaction with the
product, service and the entire experience at all points of contact with
the brand is the be-all and end-all.”
The past, the present and the future all come together at Opel under one common denominator – “Opel the reliable”. The German automaker also demonstrates this at the 13th Classic Car Event at the Opel Villas in Rüsselsheim this coming Sunday, June 30. In the illustrious circle of beautiful Opel classic cars there will also be two special vehicles parked next to each other – the legendary Opel Schnelllieferwagen from 1953 and the faultless Opel Astra Sports Tourer from the auto motor und sport endurance test. When the 25,000 visitors expected at the event stroll around the two exhibition cars, they’ll see on the 1953 Olympia Rekord, large and clear: “Opel the reliable”.
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