Sharper, more technical: Bestseller with new Opel Vizor design including illuminated Blitz
From Vision to reality: New Opel Astra adopts characteristic elements of Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car
Perennial favourite: New Opel Astra sounds in next chapter of 90-year compact-class success story
Sporty, elegant, practical and with numerous features that are otherwise only known from higher vehicle classes: This is what distinguishes the Opel Astra and the Opel Astra Sports Tourer. Together with its predecessor Opel Kadett, the compact model bestseller from Rüsselsheim stands for a success story in its segment that has now lasted almost 90 years. Opel will soon open the next chapter for the Astra. Because the new Opel Astra is coming soon – sharper, more technical and even more eye-catching than ever. Opel has revealed a first glimpse of the future of the Astra by showing the new Vizor, which will adorn the model and is inspired by the breathtaking high-performance Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo concept car.
"For decades, the Astra has stood for what distinguishes Opel: German engineering that combines emotions with proven practicality and top technologies for everyone. The Astra is 'made in Germany' through and through – designed, engineered and made in Rüsselsheim. Now we are taking the next big step with our compact class bestseller: The new Opel Astra and the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer will delight customers with new, even sharper and more precise design highlights as well as innovative technologies. Stay tuned, more details will follow shortly," teased Opel CEO Florian Huettl.
The further developed Opel Vizor gives a first taste of the new Opel Astra. The characteristic brand face will be even slimmer and more precise than before. The Opel Blitz emblem is illuminated for the first time in the history of the Astra – and will make the perennial compact class favourite just as recognisable as the top-of-the-line Grandland SUV, the first Opel model to introduce the illuminated Blitz. Sharp and precise contours are characteristic for the new Opel Astra front. For example, the designers and engineers have also refined the Opel Compass and fitted it with characteristic light strips – as can be seen on the Opel Corsa GSE Vision Gran Turismo.
With its sharper appearance and innovative safety and feel-good technologies, the new Opel Astra is now even more modern, attractive and comfortable. In this way, the Opel Astra and Astra Sports Tourer will continue the successful compact class tradition. More information about the new Opel Astra and its world premiere will follow soon.
Gerry Dirix, owner of a 25-year-old Opel Astra F, visits Opel headquarters in Rüsselsheim
More than a million kilometers on the clock: it's possible!
31 years of Opel Astra: Compact bestseller and ambassador of innovation
Five generations of success: Nearly 15 million Astras (F-K generations) sold
Beginning of a new era with the sixth generation of Astra, available as a plug-in hybrid, i.e. with electric drive, in two power variants.
Since 1991, Opel Astra has continued the tradition of innovation started by the Opel Kadett in the compact class. Opel Kadett brought premium technology to the mainstream and the Opel Astra - like its predecessor - has been Opel's ambassador of innovation through all its generations. The Astra gave everyone access to expressive design, versatility and dynamic handling, along with German thrills, precision and reliability. New generation of Opel's compact model, which made its debut in 1991, fully embodied the spirit of innovation that reigned at Opel. Newcomer also had a new name - Astra - and featured state-of-the-art security systems,
Opel Astra F emphasized reliability and durability. With this Astra, Opel had already taken an important step, opting for a closed circuit of raw materials with a high degree of component recyclability. From 1991 to 1997, Opel produced no less than 4.13 million Astras, making the Astra F the best-selling Opel to date. Opel was keen to point out that Gerry Dirix was one such buyer and takes great care of his car.
Gerry - immensely and rightfully proud of his car - wanted to personally present his Astra to Opel's new CEO, Florian Huettl. After all, his car has over a million kilometers on the clock and it still has the original engine and gearbox. A unique event for him and Opel!
This loyal customer is therefore called Gerry Dirix and he comes from Paal-Beringen. He is 45 years old and has been an Opel driver for decades. Professionally, he is a musician and also works in an educational institution.
At the age of 20, he bought an Opel Kadett as his first car, and his second car was a 1997 Opel Astra F, which already had 150,000 km on the clock. 25 years later, he has traveled a unique route, totaling more than 1,000,000 kilometers on the clock without any problems!
This car is still used for his daily trips.
Thanks to his calm driving style, good care and timely maintenance of his vehicle, Gerry achieved a unique performance.
He left on Tuesday, July 12 for Rüsselsheim with his Opel Astra F. "A very exciting moment that I was looking forward to," he says. “My car was ready a week in advance and had undergone a full technical check. Everything went off without a hitch, like it has for the past 25 years. But of course, I still had a little stress. An invitation from the headquarters of Opel is still something”.
Man from Beringen therefore arrived in Rüsselsheim on Tuesday evening without incident, with no less than a million and 11,000 kilometers on the clock. “A unique case,” he comments proudly.
Secret of this exceptional longevity, according to Gerry? “My car has always been maintained in an official garage with original parts. And of course the love of the driver also plays a role. Because it is and remains simple: take care of your car like a person, with love and respect”, says Gerry with great pride.
A message to which Opel fully subscribes, wishing Gerry Dirix and his Opel Astra F many pleasant kilometers to come!
Last year marked the start of a new era for the Opel brand, with the arrival of the sixth generation Astra: with the announcement of the last Astra in 2021, this successful model is now in its sixth generation . For the first time, the C-segment model from Opel will be available as a plug-in hybrid, i.e. with electric drive, in two power variants.
1862-2022: Opel democratises innovations for 160 years
For all: From sewing machines and bicycles to today’s electric vehicles
1899: Opel starts producing cars and quickly makes mobility affordable
Emotional bestseller: From Opel GT and Manta to Corsa and Mokka
Opel success in motorsport: From Kadett Rallye to all-electric Corsa-e Rally
New drivetrains: From RAK and HYDROGEN to pioneering electric brand
In 2022, Opel is celebrating a very special anniversary. For 160 years, the brand with the lightning bolt emblem has been making innovations affordable for a wide audience. This was ensured by Adam Opel himself when he founded the company in August 1862 – and later by his five sons and his wife Sophie, who energetically participated in the further development of the company and can therefore be considered the first female manager of a sewing machine, bicycle and automobile brand.
Offering customers innovations paired with emotion and tradition – the automobile manufacturer has remained true to this commitment to this day. There are numerous models from the legendary 4/12 PS “Laubfrosch”, Kadett and Kapitän to current bestsellers such as the Astra, Mokka and the Corsa, which is celebrating its 40th birthday this year. Just as Opel was a pioneer in the 1920s with the introduction of assembly line technology, the car manufacturer is now on the way to becoming a sustainable mobility brand that will rely entirely on electric vehicles in Europe from 2028.
“Opel has been moving people for 160 years. Today we are driven by the same spirit as the company founder Adam Opel: technology and innovations for everyone – whether sewing machines, bicycles or cars. All this with a clear view of the future, always ready to face new challenges. Many bestsellers from Opel's rich history stand for this, as do our current models, most of which are already electrified. From 2028, Opel will be a purely electric brand in Europe. We are therefore well prepared for the next 160 years,” says Opel CEO Uwe Hochschurtz.
Beginnings: From sewing machines to the biggest bicycle maker in the world
Success story began at the end of August 1862. Adam Opel assembled his first sewing machine in Rüsselsheim, laying the foundation stone for the young Opel company. Production figures quickly rose – not least because Opel accommodated individual customer wishes and designed special sewing machines for special requirements. As early as 1868, Adam Opel and his employees moved into a new factory. Company soon developed into one of the largest sewing machine manufacturers in Germany and exported to the whole of Europe.
After the sewing machines, Opel built up its next successful pillar with the bicycle. In 1886 the first penny-farthing bicycle was built in Rüsselsheim - making Opel one of the first bicycle manufacturers in Germany. Soon the range of models expanded to include tricycles and “Sicherheits-Niederräder” (“safety bicycle” with “low wheels”), and in 1888 the first factory building was inaugurated, reserved solely for the production of bicycles. Opel was quick to adopt modern technology such as pneumatic tyres, ball bearings and free-wheel hubs for its bicycles. From 1894 onwards, Opel introduced bicycles specially designed for women. Success story continued through the decades. In the 1920s, Opel advanced to become the world's largest bicycle manufacturer.
Start 1899: Affordable mobility with advanced technology and production
Decisive developmental step in the history of the company – driven forward by the five sons after Adam Opel's death – was the start of automobile production in 1899. Opel is thus one of the pioneers in this industry and one of the most traditional car manufacturers in the world. Automobile production in Rüsselsheim started with the Opel “Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann”.
1899: Opel Patent-Motorwagen System Lutzmann
In 1906 the 1,000th vehicle was built. Final breakthrough came in 1909 with the legendary 4/8 PS “Doktorwagen”. At 3,950 marks, it cost half as much as luxurious competitors and paved the way for a broader section of the population to own their own car. Introduction of the modular system in 1910 also made a significant contribution.
1909: Opel Doktorwagen
Opel was the first German manufacturer to introduce large-scale production using assembly line technology. First car to roll off the assembly line in Germany in 1924 was the 4/12 PS “Laubfrosch”, always painted green. Just three years later, the Opel 4 PS, with a base price of only 2,980 marks, was no longer an expensive luxury item for the well-heeled, but developed into a reliable means of transport for many. At the same time, thanks to rational production, the car became more affordable from year to year - and with continuously increasing performance. Demand for Opel continued to grow, and in 1931 the 1.2 litre became the first true “people's car”.
1924: Opel Laubfrosch
Next revolution in production followed soon after. In 1935, new Olympia model became the first German mass-produced vehicle with a unitary all-steel body, which, thanks to its low weight, ensured improved driving performance and low fuel consumption. For the first time, the new design enabled the so-called “marriage” between the body and the power units. Entire production process was thus faster and more efficient, paving the way for the construction method to enter large-scale production.
1935: Opel Olympia
With heart and mind: Innovative bestsellers and new car classes
Over the decades, Opel has repeatedly set trends with new models and vehicle variants and created true bestsellers. Most enduring and traditional model line was the Opel Kadett, the first version of which saw the light of day in 1936.
1936: Opel Kadett
1962: Opel Kadett A
In 1962, Opel Kadett A became a million-seller: as a compact car, it was the driving force behind the German “economic miracle”, and in the 12th generation – since 1991 under the name Astra – it continues to ensure that innovations find their way into the compact class. Opel remains conscious of its tradition. For example, the side “gill”-look in the all-new Opel Astra hatchback is reminiscent of earlier Kadett generations.
2021: All-New Opel Astra
What is now known as Opel Astra and Insignia Sports Tourer rolled off the production line a few decades ago as the Caravan. Here, too, Opel played a pioneering role. In 1953, carmaker launched Olympia Rekord Caravan, a mixture of “car and van”, first large-series station wagon from a German manufacturer. But Opel was also an early player among the “big stuff”.
1953: Opel Olympia Rekord CarAVan
2021: All-New Opel Astra Sports Tourer
First post-war Opel, a 1.5 tonne Blitz truck, left the factory in 1946. Today, the light commercial vehicles Combo, Vivaro and Movano, all of which have already been electrified, are practical, have a large load volume and are fully up to date – the latter even comes in two CO2-free versions: the battery-electric Vivaro-e and the hydrogen fuel cell transporter Vivaro-e HYDROGEN.
Opel Vivaro-e HYDROGEN
Opel has also enjoyed great success with smaller models over the decades. First and foremost, the Corsa small car, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Right from the start, it quickly became the best-selling vehicle in its segment and continues to be a success. In the current generation, electrified for the first time, it is once again a bestseller in its class.
Opel also established a new vehicle class in 1991 - Frontera, an “all-wheel drive recreational vehicle”, made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Compact Opel Frontera Sport was the first to demonstrate what is now widely known as an SUV, and the five-door Frontera with a long wheelbase became the forerunner of the modern off-road vehicle. Around 30 years ago, it immediately became the market leader and triggered a four-wheel drive boom throughout Europe.
In 1999, Opel once again demonstrated how it combines heart and mind with innovative solutions. With Zafira and its highly variable Flex7 concept, Opel defined the new segment of seven-seater compact vans. For the first time, a seven-seater could be transformed into a two-seater with a large load area in the blink of an eye - without having to remove any seats.
Safety and comfort for all: Airbags, IntelliLux LED Pixel Light and AGR seats
Safety and comfort across all vehicle classes have always been Opel's top priorities. From the 1930s onwards, the self-supporting unitary body made the Olympia, Kadett and Kapitän more stable and lighter. Opel Rekord C was also an innovator for the brand. When it was launched in 1967, it was the first Opel car to have coil springs on the rear axle. It also set standards in its class with front disc brakes and a brake booster. In addition, the telescoping safety steering column became standard in Opel models as early as 1968.
In 1991, the Astra was fitted with the Opel Safety System with side impact protection, anti-submarining ramps in the seats and seat belt tensioners. And in 1995, Opel was the first German car manufacturer to introduce full-size airbags for driver and front passenger as standard on all new cars.
Opel also democratises lighting technologies in the medium, compact and small car classes that were previously only available in much higher-priced vehicles. In 2003, Opel was the first vehicle manufacturer to introduce AFL (Adaptive Forward Lighting), dynamic cornering lights and 90-degree cornering lights in the mid-size class; in 2008, the next generation of lights, AFL+, also made its debut with the introduction of the first Opel Insignia.
And in 2015, the Opel Astra was the first to feature the adaptive IntelliLux LED Matrix Light, the latest generation of which, as Pixel Light with a total of 168 LED elements, now provides situation-specific, precise illumination in the Insignia, Grandland and the new Astra without dazzling other road users.
IntelliLux LED Pixel Light
In addition to safety, Opel drivers can also count on comfort. Ergonomic seats available in many models are not only adjustable in many ways and offer options including ventilation and massage functions – they have also been certified by the Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (Healthy Back Campaign).
“Only flying is nicer”: Sporty cars that arouse the emotions
Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD
Emotions that extraordinary cars can arouse were recently demonstrated by the Opel Manta GSe ElektroMOD - electrified homage to the Opel Manta sports coupé that became a cult car in the 1970s and 1980s. Even back then, Opel Manta A inspired with its design and characteristic front "visor", which today adorns all new Opel models from the current Mokka to the Grandland as the Opel Vizor.
However, the company had already underlined its reputation as a manufacturer of particularly dynamic series-produced models. In 1965, Opel presented the Experimental GT, the first concept car from a European car manufacturer, at the IAA motor show in Frankfurt. The two-seater broke the mould of conventional European car design. Only three years later, the first series-produced Opel GT rolled off the production line. Its performance, unique design and attractive price made the GT a hit with buyers, and it is still a real dream car today.
In 1990, Opel Calibra seamlessly joined this line-up. With its streamlined wedge shape, the sleek model scored points with customers and set a world record drag coefficient of 0.26. The optimum aerodynamics combined with powerful engines producing up to 150 kW/204 hp pushed the maximum speed to 245 km/h.
Sporty cars in search of records - that has always been part of Opel. Most spectacular example from the early days was set on 23 May 1928 by Fritz von Opel, Adam Opel's eldest grandson. With the RAK 2 rocket car, he reached a speed of 238 km/h on the Berlin Avus.
Almost five decades ago, Walter Röhrl put Opel front and centre in motorsport. In 1974, he and co-driver Jochen Berger became European Rally Champions in an Ascona SR, and in 1982, together with Christian Geistdörfer, he won the Monte Carlo Rally in an Ascona 400 against strong four-wheel drive competition, and at the end of the season claimed the World Rally Championship title.
Opel Ascona 400
Opel Corsa-e Rally is currently proving that top performance and environmental compatibility are not mutually exclusive. With the emission-free small car, Opel is the first manufacturer to develop a battery-electric rally car that has been competing in the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first electric rally one-make cup worldwide, since 2021 and thus demonstrates the future of rallying.
Opel Corsa-e Rally
For the environment: From catalytic converter as standard to electric pioneer
Opel is aware of its responsibility towards the environment and acts accordingly - then as now. As early as 1985, Opel presented the Corsa 1.3i, first European small car with a three-way catalytic converter. And in spring 1989, the brand with the lightning bolt emblem was the first European manufacturer to equip all models from small cars to large limousines with the exhaust gas after-treatment system as standard. To further increase the sustainability of the vehicles and the materials used, Opel is the first car manufacturer to have implemented a recycling cycle for synthetic materials just one year later.
Opel was already on the road electrically at an early stage - and at a “record pace”. As early as 1971, the Elektro GT set six sensational electric car world records on the Hockenheim racetrack.
Opel Elektro GT
Opel continued its role as electric pioneer in series production vehicles as well. With the electrified Opel Ampera, Europe's “Car of the Year 2012", the traditional brand established a new segment in the European automotive market. With its range extender, the coupé-like four-seater was the first electrically driven vehicle suitable for everyday use with a range of around 500 kilometres. Opel Ampera-e, a purely battery-electric compact car, followed in 2016. A single charge of the 60 kWh lithium-ion battery provides a driving range of up to 520 kilometres (according to NEDC). And in 2019, Opel launched the Corsa-e, the brand's first all-electric compact car, affordable e-mobility accessible to many customers across Europe.
Opel Corsa-e
Range of electric models – as plug-in hybrids as well as battery-electric – has continued to grow ever since, so that by 2024 all Opel models will also be available in electrified variants.
Latest addition to the zero-emission range is the new Vivaro-e HYDROGEN fuel cell van. It is no coincidence that an Opel Vivaro-e serves as the technology carrier for the innovative drive concept. Stellantis and Opel have gained a lot of experience in more than two decades of developing hydrogen fuel-cell-drive – from the HydroGen1 feasibility study to the HydroGen4 test fleet in customer use – and have expertise in this field that covers all areas of the system.
Long tradition: Opel commercial vehicles since beginning of 20th century
November 1930: The “Blitz“ is born
Success story: A total of 442,312 Opel Blitz vehicles built in Germany by 1975
Ready for the future: Opel Combo Cargo, Vivaro and Movano continue their success stories and will become electric
1930 Opel Blitz 2.0 t
Ninety years ago, the “Blitz” truck laid the foundation for a long line of successful Opel commercial vehicles. At the same time, the model name became the world-famous symbol that still characterises the brand today. While six-cylinder petrol engines with 55 hp once purred under the long bonnet of the commercial vehicle, much has changed since then: the current Opel vans boast highly efficient direct-injection diesel engines with up to 180 hp – in addition to comfort, safety and braking power at passenger car level. Today's heroes are known by the names Combo, Vivaro and Movano; the last Opel with the Blitz nameplate went into well-deserved retirement in 1987. By the end of the Blitz model line, almost half a million vehicles had been built at the plants in Rüsselsheim, Brandenburg and Luton. Then as today, Opel commercial vehicles are economical, safe and durable companions for the transport of all types of loads.
In the beginning
Origins of commercial vehicles at automotive pioneer Opel date back to 1899. Delivery and transport vans were already built early on, based on the Patent Motor Car “System Lutzmann”, the first automobile made in Rüsselsheim. In 1907, the first fully-fledged truck was added to the portfolio.
1907 8/14 hp Delivery Van
The three-quarter tonne vehicle had pneumatic tyres and a propeller shaft drive as standard and was available with either a two or four-cylinder engine. During the first world war, norms specifying “standard trucks” of up to four tonnes were introduced by the military. Robust Opel “standard trucks” were sold until the early 1920s. From 1923, a new range of commercial vehicles was created, consisting of smaller light trucks with a payload of one to two tonnes.
1912 3,0 t Truck
Success in five letters
Another generation of modern commercial vehicles was on the starting blocks for the 1931 model year. Engineers did a great job in economically hard times, presenting newly developed “express transport trucks” with excellent design. As a sales promotion measure, the Opel advertising department was to create a concise term that could be pronounced in German as well as “in any modern language”. And it was to only have five letters – that was a must! Opel advertisers chose an unusual, but extremely high-profile and effective way of finding a name: the name for the new product was sought throughout Germany by means of a competition. “Win an Opel! We are looking for a name that we want to make famous all over the world! New truck is to set off on its successful career in Germany and beyond its borders under a name that identifies it as a German make and is also an expression of its superior quality,” wrote Dr. Wilhelm von Opel in full-page newspaper advertisements. Grand prize was a 4/20 hp limousine while four Opel Motoclub motorbikes were the second to fifth prizes. Closing date for entries was October 6, 1930, and Sales Manager Andersen announced the winner at the Opel Dealer Conference on November 24, 1930 in Frankfurt's "Ufa-Palast". “Blitz” was chosen from about 1.5 million entries. A term that had already been used for Opel bicycles from 1889 and was now to stand for Opel commercial vehicle construction for the next six decades. For Dr. Wilhelm von Opel, it was a name "which equally symbolizes the origin, power and performance of our new product".
1930 Opel Blitz 1.5 t
Performance was also a major theme at the presentation of the newly christened Opel Blitz: two basic models with a payload of 1.5 to two tonnes, three different wheelbases and two engines met customers’ individual wishes. Promise of being a true “express transport truck” was fulfilled by a 2.6-litre four-cylinder and, in the case of the Blitz “6”, a 3.6-litre “Marquette” six-cylinder engine. In the following years, the range was constantly refined – with success: the career of the new Blitz trucks was so overwhelming that five years after their debut, the company built a plant specifically for commercial vehicle production.
1931 Opel Blitz 2.5 t
Eastward expansion
As the plant at Rüsselsheim headquarters was operating at full capacity, Opel expanded in Brandenburg an der Havel. On April 7, 1935, the ground-breaking ceremony for the new production facility in state-of-the-art industrial architecture covering 850,000 square metres and designed exclusively for truck manufacturing took place. It was the first Opel plant designed solely for assembly line production.
1935 Opel Blitz 2.5 t
1937 Opel Blitz 3 t no. 25.000
In July 1937, the 25,000th Blitz express transport truck left the assembly line in Brandenburg. The same year, Opel updated its engine portfolio with units from passenger car production. Three-tonne truck was fitted with the modern 3.6-litre six-cylinder engine from the Opel Admiral, which had overhead valves and a spur gear-driven camshaft. It developed 75 hp in the Opel Blitz, which, with a top speed of 90km/h, was now faster than many a passenger car. 1.5-litre four-cylinder OHV from the Opel Olympia with 37 hp was used in the 80 km/h one-tonne car. Solid, reliable, durable – the Blitz had the proverbial Opel virtues.
In 1945, ten years after the inauguration of the new plant, the Blitz production in Brandenburg came to a standstill. Building structure was destroyed after heavy air raids, and the remaining production facilities were dismantled and sent to the Soviet Union as reparations. Opel Kadett lines in Rüsselsheim suffered the same fate. While the Opel Kadett was then built as the “Moskvich” in Moscow, the Blitz facilities were never reassembled again.
New beginning in west Germany
First Opel Blitz after the war 15.7. 1946
New beginning at the Rüsselsheim main plant was with a truck: the first post-war Opel was a Blitz. “On Monday, July 15, 1946, a simple ceremony was held to celebrate re-starting series production of the 1.5 tonne, six-cylinder, 2.5-litre Opel Blitz fast transport truck, which signalled the resumption of series production of motor vehicles at Adam Opel AG,” said the news at the time. As a symbolic act of the restart, the commanding general of the 3rd US Army, Geoffrey Keyes ceremonially cut a yellow ribbon. Platform truck ordered by a Wiesbaden businessman cost 6,600 marks. Compared to the previous version, the gross vehicle weight was increased by 200 to 3,400 kilogrammes and payload grew to 1,725 kilogrammes. Under its characteristic bonnet, the OHV six-cylinder engine familiar from the Kapitän now had 55hp. 839 Blitz fast transport trucks were produced to the end of 1946, and by the time production was discontinued in December 1951, the total reached 37,117 units.
1946 Opel Blitz 1.5 t
Big brother of the 1.5-tonne vehicle, the three-tonne truck, had already been produced exclusively by Daimler-Benz since August 1944. Manufactured under license as the L 701, the Blitz rolled off the assembly line at the Mannheim plant – initially with a greatly simplified “standard cab”, then from 1948 again with the original cab supplied by Opel from Rüsselsheim. In 1949 the L 701 successor was introduced and Opel took over all unsold cars and all remaining parts.
1950 Opel Blitz 3 t
Until 1954 the last 467 units of the famous truck were produced in Rüsselsheim – now again under its original name and with the Blitz logo on the front.
Truck for the economic miracle
1952 Opel Blitz 1.75 t
Thanks to its fresh design, the 1.75-tonne replacement of the 1.5-tonne Blitz was popular throughout Europe. Wide grille and the shapely fenders were skilful adaptations of typically 1950s American form language, while the cabin was made of steel. Smooth-running, 2.5-litre six-cylinder limousine engine stood out from the typically rustic motors on the truck market. Increased load capacity made the 1955 model particularly special: with a payload of two tonnes, the Blitz could transport more than it weighed. Specialists supplied conversions for buses, removals, deliveries and the fire brigade, based on the 3,300 or 3,750 mm-long platforms. Around 20,000 units of the so-called “Rundschnautzer” (round-nose) left the plant every year. By the time of the 1960 model change, production had totalled 89,767 vehicles.
1952 Opel Blitz 1.75 t Articulated Truck
Blitz generation for the swinging sixties featured a new 2.6-litre six-cylinder engine as well as a shorter, downward sloping hood. Aficionados described the design of the panel van version as subtly elegant and especially effective. With the Rüsselsheim plant operating at full capacity, the cabin and the cargo structure were produced externally by coachbuilder Voll.
Opel at Frankfurt Motor Show 1957
Blitz appeared at the 1965 IAA with a comprehensive makeover – the cabin displayed a more expressive front with extra emphasis of horizontal lines. A 70 hp four-cylinder power unit joined the line-up. This 1.9-litre petrol engine featured a chain-driven camshaft-in-head and originated from a new generation that had debuted in 1965 in the Opel Rekord B. In 1966, the 2.1 and 2.4-tonne variants got a new straight-six that powered the Blitz to a top speed of 110 km/h. At the end of the sixties, the Opel Blitz was still one of the most popular light trucks on the German market; nearly one in two petrol trucks up to three tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) was an Opel. Company took another important step in 1969, adding a diesel to the petrol range – Opel produced 47,368 petrol and 7,374 diesel trucks between 1965 and 1975.
1963 Opel Blitz
1965 Opel Blitz
Production of the Blitz truck in Germany ended on January 10, 1975. After 417,211 units built in Rüsselsheim and Brandenburg, the model that gave its name to the Opel emblem left the portfolio. The name itself, however, remained; a neat compact van had joined the Opel commercial vehicle range just two years earlier, in March 1973 – Opel Bedford Blitz.
Frankfurt Motor Show 1973
Little truck from Luton
Opel concentrated on passenger cars in the 1970s and relocated the production of commercial vehicles to the Luton plant in England. Powered by frugal Opel diesels and lively Vauxhall petrol engines, the Opel Bedford Blitz was a convincing concept: engine in front of the driver, driving wheels under the cargo area, McPherson strut front suspension, car-like handling. With its unitary body, level load surface, big doors and compact instrument panel, the vehicle attracted a lot of praise. Opel Bedford Blitz was especially popular as the basis for campers and reached market shares of more than 20 per cent.
1973 Opel Bedford Blitz
At this time, Opel also offered heavy Bedford trucks (up to 10.2 tonnes gross vehicle weight) under the Blitz nameplate.
1974 Opel Bedford Blitz Tipper Truck (Type E 2034)
1980 Opel Bedford Blitz
With its refreshed design and new 2.3-litre diesel engine, the Bedford Blitz represented the backbone of Opel’s commercial vehicle range from 1980 to 1987. At the end of production, the “Blitz” nameplate retired after 57 years of active duty. With the famous Blitz emblem, however, the tradition lives on in every Opel.
Comeback with a new name
After a 10-year pause, Opel made a successful return to panel vans in 1997 with the Arena. With their numerous variants, pioneering light technology, connectivity and high-tech assistance systems, the Combo Cargo, Vivaro and Movano continue the great tradition of the Opel Blitz today.
Opel LCV Range 2020
Opel recently expanded its offer of especially efficient LCVs with the all-electric Vivaro-e. Thanks to the Combo-e and an electric version of the Movano, the range will become fully electrified next year. All Opel models will have an electrically driven version by 2024.
