Name Becomes Trademark: 90 Years of the Opel Blitz

• 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.

 Opel Vivaro-e

Made in Germany: Opel Celebrates 120 Years of Automobiles

• When the horses moved under the bonnet: Opel starts with Patentmotorwagen in 1899
• Mobility for the masses: Doktorwagen, Laubfrosch and Kadett pave the way
• From Lutzmann to Insignia; 120 years of car manufacturing in Rüsselsheim
• Company goal until this very day: Opel democratises technologies

The first Opel: Patent Motor Car, System Lutzmann, 1899

Opel is one of the carmakers with the richest tradition in the world. Next year, the brand will celebrate 120 years of automobiles. After listening to the advice of her sons Karl, Wilhelm and Friedrich, Sophie Opel decided to start producing cars in 1899 – four years after the death of company founder Adam Opel. What started in a garage in Rüsselsheim am Main with 65 hand-made Opel Patentmotorwagen “System Lutzmann”, has long become a mass phenomenon will more than 70 million vehicles built to date. From the very beginning, Opel championed the cause of producing cars as efficiently as possible and thus making them affordable for a broad audience. For example, Opel was the first German manufacturer to introduce the especially economic assembly line production as early as 1924. This helped the Opel 4/12 PS “Laubfrosch” and all later Opel 4 PS variants become bestsellers. The Rüsselsheim-based company already produced technologically-advanced vehicles for the masses with the Opel P4 and the Kadett (already with a self-supporting body) in the 1930s. Made in Germany and German engineering became affordable and accessible. Opel even stayed true to this democratising of mobility when developing a sports car: An affordable dream car hit the roads in 1968 in the Opel GT.

The brand has played a leading role in all segments – models such as the Opel Kadett, Rekord and Kapitän characterised the period of reconstruction and the period of the economic miracle. Stylish icons such as the Opel GT, Manta and Monza then followed. In the 1980s and 1990s models such as Corsa, Astra and Zafira then became bestsellers and symbols of reunification. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the opening of the plant in Eisenach, Opel became more popular than ever before. The first generation Astra was produced 4.2 million times between 1991 and 1998 making it the most built Opel model ever. Until this very day, the Rüsselsheim-based carmaker is firmly anchored in the centre of society and offers technologies that are normally reserved for expensive premium cars. Innovative solutions such as the IntelliLux LED Matrix light in the compact Astra (Car of the Year 2016) as well as in the Insignia flagship, the AGR-certified active ergonomic seats (available in many carlines) or the extensive array of assistance systems for more safety and comfort (all carlines) are typical for Opel.

From Lutzmann to Opel Doktorwagen: The pioneering years

Opel joins the ranks of the automotive pioneers of the late 19^th century that include Daimler, Benz and Peugeot by buying Friedrich Lutzmann’s motor car factory. In the spring of 1899, the first Opel patent motor car “System Lutzmann” is built in Rüsselsheim. Two years later, a converted Lutzmann wins the Heidelberg-Königstuhl “Mountain Race” by beating “16 other vehicles made by well-known German carmakers”. Overall, the development in the automotive industry is fast and furious. While the first models are direct descendants of horse-drawn carriages, Opel launches an ultra-modern small car for an extremely competitive price in 1909. The 4/8 hp Opel Doktorwagen already has an Opel engineered and Opel built 4-cylinder in-line engine. In the adverts, Opel promises that it is ideal for “Doctors, veterinarians and lawyers”. The Doktorwagen is available for prices between 4,000 and 5,000 Mark while many other cars made during this period cost 20,000 Mark. It transforms the motor car from a prestigious toy for the rich and the famous into an affordable mobility solution for a broad audience.

4/8 hp Opel Doktorwagen from 1909.

From Opel Laubfrosch to Kadett: Mass mobility

Friedrich – who had since been promoted to chief engineer – and his brother Wilhelm introduce the assembly line production at Opel in 1924. Ford were the first company to introduce this cost-cutting method in America in 1913. Opel always had a keen eye for developments in other countries. Adam Opel became fascinated by the sewing machine during his years of travel in France and later the System Darracq provided a major boost for car manufacturing in Rüsselsheim. The Opel brothers then launch the innovative 4/12 PS “Laubfrosch”. The two-seater with a top speed of 60 km/h is available for 3,900 Goldmark thanks to assembly line production. Later, the “car for everyone” is available for 1,930 Reichsmark. In the following years, an entire vehicle family is created based on the Laubfrosch technology. In total, 119,484 Opel 4 PS models are made until 1931.

4/12 hp Opel “Laubfrosch” (Tree Frog), 1924

What these revolutionary cars are for the 1920s, the Kadett is for the 1930s. Automotive progress is taking huge steps. The Kadett replaces the successful Opel P4 and celebrates its debut with a self-supporting steel body, single-wheel front suspension, 4-cylinder four-stroke engine and hydraulic drum brakes. The prices are well below those of the direct competitors. In 1938, the “normal” Opel Kadett limousine is available for an affordable 1,795 Mark.

The Kadett nameplate is revived in 1962 and Opel ups the ante even further with the Kadett A. While many competitors still rely on two-stroke or air-cooled rear-mounted engine, the newcomers shines with the comfort of a water-cooled 4-cylinder unit, a quiet 4-speed transmissions and body styles ranging from coupé to Caravan.

From Olympia Rekord to the “KAD” models: Prosperity increases

The first all-new Opel after the war is the Olympia Rekord and it sounds in a new era with its ponton-style body and chrome plated shark mouth. The design takes cues from that of large American limousines – and is perfect for the economic miracle that is just beginning. Those who are successful want to show it again. And a new type of vehicle also makes its debut with the Olympia Rekord Caravan – a lifestyle estate for the whole family. An all-new Opel Kapitän arrives in 1954, the Opel Rekord P2 is introduced in 1960 and the Rekord A follows in 1963 with disc brakes and soon afterwards with 6-cylinders. No matter whether as a coupé, estate or limousine – the mid-size Rekord becomes synonymous with the new middle class in the young Federal Republic of Germany. Opel produces 882,433 Rekord A by 1965. This success opens the door for the “big three” and in 1964 the “KAD” – for Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat – arrive in the luxury class. The second generation of these KAD models can even boast a unique level of driving comfort thanks to the legendary de Dion rear axle. Opel introduces the safety steering column in all passenger car models in 1968. Innovations to help cope with the growing amount of traffic.

From the Opel GT to the Calibra: New sportiness

Opel Experimental GT was shown on a slightly slanted platform at the IAA in 1965 to emphasize the two-seater’s dynamic shape.

Opel becomes the first European manufacturer to open a true, modern design studio in June 1964. And only one year later, the first concept car from a European manufacturer, the Experimental GT, celebrates its debut at the 1965 Frankfurt Motor Show. A further 36 months later, the serial production Opel GT is available from Opel dealers and marks the birth of a sports car legend. The icon is affordable for a broad audience thanks to mass production technology and the GT is the next hit from Rüsselsheim. The company sticks to this approach in the coming years. Opel Manta shares its technology with the Ascona when it is launched in 1970 and the Calibra “borrows” the Vectra’s technology from 1989.

The top-of-the-range variant of the aerodynamics world champion (Cd of 0.26), the Calibra Turbo 4x4 delivers 204 hp and offers the driving performance of sports cars twice its price.

From Opel Corsa to Ampera: Bestsellers and trendsetters

In 1982, Opel made a huge splash with a small car. Corsa A rounded off the company’s offering by sitting neatly under the Kadett. Opel Corsa was an impressive display of getting the most out of a small space without compromising on driving pleasure or cost effectiveness. Every single generation of the Corsa (A to E) has driven and continued the democratisation of individual mobility. To date, almost 14 million Corsa have been registered.

And next year the next generation will follow adding a new chapter to the story – with a fully electric version of the Corsa.

Just as the Corsa has shaped the small car segment, the Zafira has defined the compact van segment with room for seven since 1999. The third row of seats that disappears entirely under the boot floor is simply a stroke of genius. Owners of models made by competitors have to painstakingly remove the additional heavy seats when the boot space is required. Seven people can easily fit into the 4.32 metre long Zafira. Alternatively, the compact van can double as a transporter in a matter of seconds by folding award the seats and created a 1.56 by 1.15 metre loading area with a total capacity of up to 1,700 litres.

The current Opel Zafira is also a master of metamorphosis doubling as a transporter and a lounge on wheels thanks to the Flex7 ^Plus seating system.

A further trendsetter follows in the footsteps of the Corsa and Zafira after celebrating its world premiere at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show: The Opel Ampera, a car that redefines electro-mobility. The 2012 Car of the Year drives electric and also has its own source of power on board with the range extender. This makes the Ampera just as independent from loading stations as a conventional passenger car. 

Opel presents the next generation of the electric car at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The Ampera-e has an all-electric NEDC range of 520 kilometres thanks to its 60 kWh state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery. And the 150 kW/204 hp electric motor gives it sports car-like acceleration. The next electric car from Rüsselsheim will follow next year already and electro-mobility will get another boost with the Corsa-e – out of the niche and on to the road.

From Opel Astra to Insignia: New efficiency

Opel discovers the new lightness of being with the launch of the current generation Astra in 2015. The compact car weighs up to 200 kilogrammes less than its predecessor did. The engine offering follows the downsizing strategy: with smaller displacement and turbocharging, lower fuel consumption and higher efficiency. For the first time, the Astra is available with a highly efficient 3-cylinder direct injection petrol unit and the revolutionary IntelliLux LED Matrix light. The innovative system turns night into day without glaring other road users – a unique feature in the compact class.

Opel Astra convinces customers and experts alike and is voted “Car of the Year 2016”.

The Insignia A is the first Opel that can recognise traffic signs from 2008 and offers the intelligent AFL+ lighting system. Just like the Astra, the second generation of the Opel flagship has been trimmed for efficiency. The new generation Insignia is lighter, more economic and simultaneously much more spacious. A highlight feature of the Insignia GSi, Country Tourer, Grand Sport and Sports Tourer is the adaptive all-wheel drive with torque vectoring that can accelerate the rear wheels individually in a split-second depending on the driving situation. The Opel Insignia is the first vehicle made by a volume manufacturer to offer this technology in the mid-size segment.

From Opel Mokka to Grandland X: SUV phenomenon

SUV is the buzzword of the hour in the automotive industry. Customers want to sit a little bit higher to have a better overview and to enjoy the flair of long-distance travel and adventure. Opel recognised this trend at a very early stage and proposed a unique offer in the B-segment. The cool sub-compact Opel Mokka is also available with all-wheel drive and proves to be extremely popular from the very start. It is joined in the compact class by the Opel Crossland X and the Opel Grandland X in 2017. All members of the X-Family are available with the AGR-certified (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) active seats. Ergonomic and comfortable seats have been a part of the Opel DNA for a long time – 120 years ago the Opel Patentmotorwagen “System Lutzmann” already proudly sported leather upholstery.

!NEW! Around the World in 80 Years: Opel Kadett Celebrates its Birthday

• Opel Kadett launched as innovative small car with an integral body and frame
• Over 24 million Opel Kadett and Astra have been sold to date
• Current generation Opel Astra continuing the success story of its ancestors

Opel led the way in the 1930s, especially with the innovative and revolutionary all-steel unitary body construction.

The first Opel Kadett was a minor sensation, both technically and in terms of price. More than 100,000 of these four-seat models were built from 1936 to 1940 in Rüsselsheim, which even then was one of the most advanced car-making plants in Europe. The first Kadett with its revolutionary unitary body construction available as a sedan or convertible cost only 2,100 marks.

With its good value for money and progressive features, the first Kadett laid the corner stone for Opel’s success in the compact class. To date, eleven generations of Kadett and Astra have been successful in their segment: Over 24 million Opel Kadett and Opel Astra cars sold is an impressive number and a notable achievement. Lined up one behind the other, all Opel compact models built so far would surpass the magical 100,000-kilometer mark and create a column of cars that could circle the equator two and a half times. Opel compact cars have successively made personal mobility accessible to a broad customer base, especially in economically difficult times and not only that. The latest generations have made technologies and innovations from higher segments affordable for numerous customers. The new Opel Astra K, launched in 2015, has already been ordered 275,000 times across Europe.

1936-1940: Opel Kadett 1 – The “Volkswagen”

The speedy four-seater could do nearly 100 km/h and it did not take long to find its way into the hearts of the general public. It also found favor with the press: “As the first test drives have confirmed, the Kadett is certainly not an ordinary vehicle in this price range,” wrote a German newspaper, “Braunschweiger Tageszeitung,” on December 5, 1936. The chassis with Dubonnet independent front suspension and leaf-spring rear axle stemmed from the Opel Olympia, and the L-head four-cylinder gray cast-iron engine was taken from the Opel P 4. It generated 23 hp from a displacement of 1,073 cm³. The advantages of taking the engineering from a modular system also played a key part in the low price of the car. Just like its big brother the Olympia, which it resembles in appearance, the Kadett is a modern car. Harmonious proportions with a hatchback and integrated headlights are characteristic.

Flowing lines: The 1936 Opel Kadett shows harmonious proportions with a hatchback and integrated headlights.

Like its big brother the Olympia, which it also resembles, the Kadett was a snazzy car. It was characterized by harmonious proportions with fastback and integrated headlamps. In 1938 a major mid-cycle enhancement added a new radiator mask in late art deco style– experts today count this model as an intermediate generation.

From Kadett to Admiral

“Just as agile, versatile and obedient to all the driver’s commands as you would expect of a career-making cadet,” wrote the Cologne newspaper, “Kölnische Zeitung,” in 1936 about Opel’s new car. Its name, “Kadett” was as new as the segment. Up until the debut of the first Astra in 1991 (see page 54), Opel’s compact class line would use this name for more than  five decades. The company launched two more ranges with names stemming from the German navy, Admiral and Kapitän, in 1937 and 1938.

Unitary body and ultra-modern production

After the Olympia, which was the first German series-production vehicle to feature a unitary all-steel body, the first Kadett also had a monocoque body. There are many advantages of this construction compared with the classic wooden body-on frame. For instance, the driving performance and fuel consumption benefit from the car’s low weight, while the safety level is higher thanks to the rigid passenger cell and the lower center of gravity. The self-supporting structure opened the door to a new production method that is still commonly used today: The body and the powertrain (engine, transmission, axles) are “married” on the production line with the help of hydraulic elevators. The Kadett was manufactured by Opel, in Rüsselsheim. In 1936, the company operated the most modern drop forge in the world and the largest body press shop in Europe.

Fresh design and innovative technology

Headlamps integrated into the body instead of the ancient separate lamp units gave the Kadett a fresh appearance. Not surprising, because it was Opel that first made modern car design popular in Europe. Back in the 1930s, shortly after the company’s integration into the General Motors Group, a design department was established in Rüsselsheim on the initiative of GM chief designer, Harley Earl.

Impressive from all angles: Opel Kadett was popular right from the start and is now a sought-after classic car.

Plenty of car for your money: As long ago as 1936, the first Kadett offered the same good value for money and thus democratized luxury. This has become typical of the Opel brand. Details such as hydraulic four-wheel brakes, direction indicator, draft-free ventilation through a triangular hinged window and “dustproof” trunk accessible from the inside were at that time very unusual for this category of car – in the Kadett, they were all standard.

The secret of the Kadett’s success: Modern design, outstanding spaciousness and innovative technology such as the unitary body construction.

The Kadett was the first Opel model to feature an in-house developed downdraft carburetor with a so-called venturi tube. In this tube, named after the Italian physicist, Giovanni Battista Venturi (1746–1822), the fuel is mixed into the incoming air ahead of the throttle valve. The venturi tube is a smooth-walled piece of tubing with a constriction in it. When air flows through the tube and passes the constricted section, it has to flow faster at this point than in the other sections. As a result, a vacuum is produced (as on the upper side of an aircraft wing). At the constricted point is a tube filled with gasoline. The fuel is sucked in by the vacuum in the venturi tube and dragged along.

At a glance

Series	First generation Opel Kadett
Production period	1936–1940
Number	107,608 (Moskwitch: 247,439)
Body variants	Two-door sedan
	Four-door sedan
	Two-door convertible
Engine	Gasoline: 1.1 l/23 hp
Body/Chassis
Body/chassis design	Monocoque all steel body
Front wheel suspension	Rigid axle, forged
Front wheel suspension/damping	Dubonnet springs/shock absorbers
Rear wheel suspension	Rigid axle, banjo type
Rear wheel suspension/damping	Semi-elliptical leaf springs, hydraulic shock absorbers; “Normal-Limousine” (sedan) from 1937: semi-elliptical leaf springs, shock absorbers
Steering, type	Worm segment steering
Wheels, type	Steel disk wheels
Tires, size (Base)	4.50 x 16
Dimensions/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) (Sedan)	3810 x 1375 x 1455
Special-Limousine (from 1937)	3840 x 1375 x 1535
Normal-Limousine (from 1937)	3710 x 1375 x 1455
Wheel base (mm) (Sedan)	2337
Track width front/rear (mm)	1075/1168
Curb weight (kg)	757

The post-war generations: From Kadett A to the current Astra K

1962-1965: Opel Kadett A – For the economic miracle

A large trunk and plenty of room for four people plus a new, lively engine and low maintenance costs made up the recipe for success for the Kadett A. Opel built nearly 650,000 of them from 1962 to 1965. The contours of the two-door notchback model were businesslike and modern. The beltline was low down, the panoramic windows made for good visibility and a decorative strip running along the side accentuated the stretched form. Front fenders tapered off into the headlamps and the rear ends were shaped like fins. The interior space deeply impressed owners of conventional small cars. The trunk was a real baggage compartment and the fuel tank cap was outside! “Opel Kadett, in brief: O.K.,” wrote Opel’s advertising team, unable to also resist a dig at their competitors in Wolfsburg. “You never have the smell of gasoline in the trunk,” they said with a wink. With its modern, water-cooled front engine, the Kadett had another major design advantage over the Beetle. The 993 cm³ four-cylinder unit developed 40 hp and, from March 1963, also powered the new Kadett Caravan.

1965-1973: Opel Kadett B – “Das Auto”

B follows A, and in 1965 a new series replaced the first model. The new version was more than four meters long and thus a good deal bigger than its predecessor. As for its fashionable figure – the designers were inspired by their colleagues overseas. The flat sloping rear was reminiscent of the fastback models popular in the USA. In 1966, “Automobil Illustrierte” noted: “You can almost see the power and speed before you hear the engine.” Not only was the length stepped up – so, too, was the horsepower. Opel engineers enlarged the bore of the four-cylinder unit by 3 mm. The basic 1,078 cm³ unit developed 45 hp. Also available was a higher-compression 1.1 S engine with 55 hp.

The Kadett was a fast success, with over 2.6 million units produced from September 1965 to July 1973. And its success was certainly not limited to its country of birth. In 1966, the export quota reached 50 percent as customers from 120 countries around the globe snatched up the Kadett.

1973-1979: Opel Kadett C – The athlete

The Kadett C family had many faces: a smart family car, a chic second car with a practical rear tailgate, or a competitive sports coupé in war paint. A total of 1.7 million of them were built between 1973 and 1979. The rear-wheel drive Kadett C made its debut in August 1973 with a cleanly designed body and a new double-wishbone front axle. Characteristic design features included a flat radiator grille, an engine hood with the brand’s signature crease, and a front apron in spoiler form. “The Kadett not only drives exceptionally well, but is also conscientiously designed and cleanly made. It requires little maintenance, is repair-friendly and economical to run,” praised the car-testing experts at “auto motor und sport” in the 20/73 edition. The powerful GT/E debuted at the 1975 IAA. Its 1.9-liter engine with Bosch L-Jetronic injection produced 105 hp and propelled the mere 900 kilograms of Kadett to a top speed of 184 km/h.

1979-1984: Opel Kadett D – The front-wheel drive car

New epoch: Front-wheel drive and transverse-mounted engine celebrated their debuts in Opel compact class cars in the 1979 Kadett D.

The fourth generation of the post-war Kadett introduced a new compact class era at Opel. At the 1979 IAA, Opel’s first front-wheel drive model debuted as the modern-looking Kadett D. The packaging was truly convincing. Although the newcomer was 126 mm shorter than its predecessor at 3,998 mm, it sported a longer interior and offered significantly more space than many of its rivals. But it was not only the powertrain layout and the chassis with a torsion-beam axle at the rear that broke with tradition: the Kadett was given a new 1.3-liter OHC engine that generated 60 or 75 hp. The revolution continued with the body variants. In addition to the spacious station wagon with a load volume of up to 1,425 liters, Opel offered only fastback versions. In January 1983 the sporty Kadett GTE followed, with a top speed of 187 km/h and equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine that developed 115 hp. Other technical modifications included a tighter and lower chassis, new steering dampers and internally ventilated disk brakes at the front. A total of 2.1 million Kadett D units were produced from 1979 to 1984.

Great white: Opel Kadett D GTE with its sports chassis, Recaro seats and feisty 115 hp began hunting down GTIs in 1983.

1984-1991: Opel Kadett E – The aerodynamics world champion

Opel Kadett E: “Car of the Year 1985”

The second front-wheel drive Kadett, built from 1984 to 1991, was named “Car of the Year 1984” and was an absolute winner. Selling a grand total of 3,779,289 cars in its lifetime, it was the bestselling Opel so far and a real aerodynamics world champion. Opel engineers certainly hit the jackpot in 1984. Based on the engineering of its predecessor but with a completely new hatchback design, the Kadett E was set for a stellar career. With a drag coefficient of 0.39, the Kadett D was already best in its class, but this figure paled in comparison to its successor. After spending 1,200 hours of fine-tuning in the wind tunnel, the E model achieved a sensational 0.32. The sporty GSi, with a Cd of 0.30 and aerodynamic drag of 0.57 m2, was the most aerodynamic hatchback in the world. Buyers took to the new form after only a few months, paving the way for a new success story that provided the Kadett E with 625,000 new registrations across Europe in 1987. By this time, the station wagon version had already climbed to the top of its class. From the fall of 1985, a notchback variant was again in the line-up, the first since the Kadett C. Moreover, the sporty GSi variant was an icon in the making. When the legendary 16-valve engine arrived on the scene in 1987, it left its competitors eating dust.

1991-1997: Opel Astra F – The bestseller

Body variants of the ’91 Opel Astra F, 1991–1998.

Some 4.13 million Astra Fs were built between 1991 and 1997, making it the bestselling Opel model ever. Development work focused on combining modern design with more interior space, enhanced comfort and greater emphasis on environmental protection.

Opel Astra F with active belt system with pre-tensioners

The successor to the Opel Kadett assumed the name of its British sister model (the fourth generation of the Kadett had been sold in the UK as the Vauxhall Astra since 1980).

High safety as standard: Side protection with double steel tube reinforcements in all the doors.

Opel also launched a safety offensive with its new star. All Astras offered an active belt system with tensioners on the front seats belts, height-adjustable belts and seat ramps as well as side protection including double steel tube reinforcements in all the doors. For the first time, all engines came with catalytic converters.

1998-2004: Opel Astra G – The versatile car

In spring 1998, the Astra with coupé-like design was offered from the start as a three- and five-door hatchback and as a station wagon. A notchback sedan, coupé and convertible were added later. Progressive independent design, dynamic chassis and powertrain technology as well as nearly twice the torsional and flexural rigidity of its predecessor were just some of the characteristics of the completely new, second-generation Opel Astra. The new model’s fully galvanized body played a key role in its high value retention. Active safety was enhanced with a 30 percent increase in the light output of the transparent H7 halogen headlamps and the completely redesigned Dynamic Safety (DSA) chassis. It combined comfort with agile and safe handling, even under full load. The wheelbase was around ten centimeters longer, enabling more interior space, in particular more rear knee room in the rear and a larger trunk volume of 370 liters.

2004-2009: Opel Astra H – The mighty car

With twelve engines ranging from 90 to 240 hp and seven body variants, the choice of models for the Astra H that sold over 2.7 million units was exceptional. When it was launched in March 2004, the third-generation Opel Astra boasted a progressive design, high driving dynamics and plenty of technical innovations, immediately winning numerous comparison tests in specialist automotive publications. The Astra’s technological highlights included the adaptive IDSPlus chassis system with electronic Continuous Damping Control (CDC), otherwise only found in luxury class and exclusive sports cars, as well as Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) Bi-Xenon headlamp system with dynamic curve light.

The Astra also boasted high levels of safety. The consumer protection organization Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) awarded the Astra the highest rating of five stars for adult passenger protection. With a total of 34 points, the bestseller was considered one of the safest sedans in the compact class.

2009 – 2015: Opel Astra J – The designer piece

Sculptural artistry combined with German precision – the Opel Astra J not only embodies the brand’s new design philosophy, it also assists drivers with a range of technologies that already made an important contribution to the success of the best-selling mid-class Insignia. The Opel Eye recognizes traffic signs and informs the driver of speed limits or overtaking bans. It also warns drivers if they are in danger of veering out of lane. With the AFL+ headlamp system, the Astra can look around the corner and, if necessary, even automatically dim the lights or switch to high beam. With a chassis that can be enhanced by the FlexRide adaptive technology, the current Astra can play out its dynamic talents to the full. A new rear axle construction guarantees driving fun, improved handling and maximum comfort, with a Watt’s link incorporated to improve wheel control. Astra drivers also benefit from a new generation of front seats developed according to the latest findings in safety ergonomics and are awarded with the seal of quality from the independent medical and back experts of the AGR (action for healthy backs) organization.

From 2015: Opel Astra K – Car of the Year 2016
 

Up to 200 kg lighter, roomier inside despite a reduced overall length, and more efficient thanks to exclusive use of new-generation engines – the new Opel Astra is a quantum leap in development and is crowned European Car of the Year 2016. The compact car is once again available as a hatchback and as a spacious Sports Tourer. Opel receive numerous orders even before the official world premiere at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show – to date, Opel has received 275,000 orders of the latest generation Astra.

Continuing a tradition that started with the Astra G, the new Astra K also stands out with its lighting technology. It is the first car to introduce the adaptive, Full LED Matrix technology IntelliLux LED – so far reserved for luxury and premium models from higher classes – into the compact segment. New generation driver assistant systems also comprise Traffic Sign Assistant (TSA), Lane Keep Assist (LKA) with Lane Departure Warning (LDW) along with Following Distance Indication (FDI) and Forward Collision Alert (FCA) with Collision Imminent Braking (CIB). In addition, the new Opel Astra K once again delivers on wellness with newly engineered ergonomic front seats, certified by the AGR (Aktion Gesunder Rücken) organization once more, being introduced. These new front seats can even be enhanced with a ventilation and massage function.

!NEW! “Opel the Reliable“: From Gasoline Wagon to Astra Sports Tourer

• 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”
• 13^th 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) 

At the beginning of the 1930s the brand embraced its good reputation and developed “Opel the reliable” in the form of a logo. From 1936 the ad slogan was used for all model lines. Then, during the time known as the economic miracle, the slogan really came into its own. From the Quick Delivery Wagon (Schnelllieferwagen) Olympia Rekord to the Rekord Cabriolet and stately Opel Kapitän – all starred in ads and in the cinema advertising that wildly popular at the time under the motto “The Reliable”. The 1950s were Opel years, when the brand rose up out of the ruins of the bombed Rüsselsheim plant to become a prestigious brand of the postwar period.

Opel Olympia CarAvan 'Schnelllieferwagen' (1953) and Opel Astra Sports Tourer CDTI BiTurbo (2013)

In the 1960s the advertising became more colorful, the model offer more extensive and the engines larger – the claim “Opel the reliable”, however, remained. The quality promise stood loyally to the new Kadett, even though the main message in its advertising was already “Opel Kadett - in a word, O.K.” Slowly but surely new messages crowded out the classic claim: “Opel Kadett. The car” or “Opel Rekord – the upscale mid-size class” were emblazoned on the posters. At least the logo got a tiny addition: under the blitz was now written “tested reliability”.

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“).  

The new plan is called QUALITY!2022

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 13^th 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”.