75 Years Ago: Opel resumes Passenger Car Production in Rüsselsheim

• Late autumn 1947: Olympia is the first series-produced passenger car to roll off the assembly line after the plant is rebuilt
• Basis for success: Opel Olympia, Rekord and Co pave the way for the coming years of the German “Wirtschaftswunder”
• Current compact class bestseller: New Opel Astra is also “made in Rüsselsheim”

160 years of Opel mean 160 years of innovations for millions of people. Throughout its long history, the tradition-rich manufacturer from Rüsselsheim has always met challenges with new ideas and products that laid the basis for its continued success. Just like 75 years ago: In the late autumn of 1947, the Opel Olympia rolled off the assembly line as the first series-produced passenger car after the reconstruction of the Rüsselsheim plant. A model that had already made history and was now to drive the restart of car production. With success: to this day, countless models and automotive legends have left the factory halls at Opel's headquarters – just like the latest bestseller with the ’Blitz’. New generation of the Opel Astra is also produced here. Like the Olympia 75 years ago, the Astra "made in Rüsselsheim" will make history. Next year, sporty Opel Astra GSe and the battery-electric Astra Electric will roll off the production line here alongside the familiar plug-in hybrid versions. This will make the Astra the first Opel model to be available in all drive variants – from highly efficient combustion engines to electric drive.

Opel Olympia 1947: Start of a new era of car production in Rüsselsheim

Opel had to start from scratch once before – after the great fire catastrophe of 1911, when a fire had reduced large parts of the Rüsselsheim plant to rubble. At that time, the Opel family and the employees showed courage to try something new and, after previously having made sewing machines, turned their attention completely to bicycle and automobile production. Situation is similar after the end of the Second World War. In 1945, there is hardly a stone left standing on the company premises near the Main river. However, reconstruction is quickly pushed ahead, so that parts production can initially be resumed under the existing circumstances. As early as the summer of 1946, the first 1½ tonne Blitz truck leaves the plant, which is then still under construction. Vehicle production picks up speed at the end of 1947. With the Opel Olympia, series production of passenger cars finally starts again. The Rüsselsheim based company thus chooses a model that already made history at its premiere twelve years earlier: in 1935, the Olympia was the first German mass-produced car to have a self-supporting all-steel body and, thanks to its low weight, improved driving performance and low fuel consumption. At the same time, the design of the modern safety body paved the way for large-scale production. These were the best prerequisites for a successful return to passenger car production in 1947.

Opel Olympia

Opel Olympia of 1947 differs from its predecessor in particular by an improved front axle with double wishbones and a slightly smaller wheelbase. Axle and steering of the two-door car now come from the Opel Kapitän. A concept that speeds up passenger car production in Rüsselsheim. Less than one year later, larger, four-door Opel Kapitän goes into series production. And as early as June 8, 1949, Opel officials announce the completion of the 100,000th 1.5-litre Opel Olympia. Simultaneously, the main plant in Rüsselsheim continues production of a "cool" product that only a few people today associate with the brand: the "Frigidaire" refrigerator, which is in great demand at the time and becomes a bestseller in the 1950s.

But the foundation stone for the booming production in Rüsselsheim – and for the mobility of millions in the following German “Wirtschaftswunderjahre” ("economic miracle years") – is laid as early as the end of the 1940s with models such as the Olympia, Kapitän and Co. Models that make a broad section of the population mobile again and innovations affordable. Opel has maintained this credo over the decades and continues to inspire people with models that are as practical as they are emotional and at the same time affordable. So it is no wonder that the latest generation of the compact class bestseller Opel Astra is also manufactured at the company's headquarters.

All-New Opel Astra: Next bestseller “Made in Rüsselsheim”

Opel Astra GSe

Opel is driving into the future with the new Astra: Freshly crowned “Golden Steering Wheel 2022”1 winner is more dynamic than ever before – with a pure and bold design including the Opel Vizor brand face – while remaining a true everyday hero as five-door version as well as Astra Sports Tourer. Cutting edge technologies such as the intuitive, fully-digital Pure Panel cockpit or the adaptive, glare-free IntelliLux LED Pixel Light make driving more pleasant and safer – just like the AGR-certified (Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V.) ergonomic active seats for driver and front passenger. Last, but not least Astra customers have a wide choice of drive alternatives: Opel Astra five-door and Sports Tourer are not only available with highly efficient internal combustion engines, but also, for the first time, as electrified and thus locally emission-free plug-in hybrids. And the battery-electric Opel Astra Electric will follow next year. A real success model – conceived, designed and made in Rüsselsheim.

Opel Astra Electric

[1] AUTIO BILD edition 45/2022 and BILD am SONNTAG edition 46/2022, category for “Best car under €50,000”.

!NEW! Opel Kadett B Celebrates 50th Birthday: “Opel Kadett. Das Auto“

Opel used this advertising slogan for its bestseller that sold over 2.6 million units

50 years of Opel compact class cars: The new Astra K descends directly from the 1965 Kadett B that was built 2.6 million times.

B follows A, and in 1965 the new series Kadett B replaced its successful predecessor, the Kadett A. The successor to the first post-war Kadett was 18 centimeters longer, exceeding four meters in length and was available in three body versions right from market launch: as a two or four-door sedan, of course again as a CarAvan station wagon and as a chic coupé. The coupé’s fashionable figure was clearly inspired by fastback models such as the Chevrolet Chevelle from the USA: a flat, sloping rear gave the coupé a dynamic form that promised speed. The three ventilation slots in the B-pillar have gone down in the annals of automotive history: today these models, known as “gills coupés”, are especially coveted and fetch top prices.

Opel Kadett B “gills-coupé“: The three vents in the c-pillar gave the classic car its name. 

Downsizing is tradition at Opel: In the beginning there was the one-liter engine

Matching the overall sportier design, power was also stepped up by 5 hp. The bore of the four-cylinder unit was enlarged by three millimeters and now the 1,078 cm3 unit developed 45 hp. Also available was a higher-compression 1.1 liter S engine with 55 hp. This was joined in 1966 by a twin-carburetor version of the short-stroke engine with 60 hp. The engine highlight was the 90 hp 1.9 liter four-cylinder engine – introduced in 1967 for the rallye version of the Kadett B – from the Rekord C.

 This unit was also featured in the Opel Olympia, already well-equipped in its premium variant, which also differentiated itself from the Kadett with visual elements such as grille molding wrapped around its front. In addition to the classic four-speed transmission, from 1968 the Kadett was also available with a three-speed automatic gearbox, which was still unusual in this class at the time. Initially the three-speed automatic was only available with the 1.7 and 1.9 liter engines; one year later, buyers of the 1.1 liter Kadett with 60 hp were also able to forego the manual transmission. Also unusual was the 12 volt on-board voltage in the compact model made in Bochum – the competitors from Cologne, Wolfsburg and Munich were still content with six volts.

Opel Kadett B hatchback: The three-door is almost as elegant as the coupé. 

Now, for the first time, a Kadett was officially approved as a five-seater. But this applied only to both sedan variants, the coupé models remained four-seaters. The increased length benefitted mainly the interior, whereby the luggage compartment also grew by 12 percent to a volume of 337 liters according to the VDA (German Association of the Automotive Industry) standard.

Opel Kadett B CarAvan: The combination between an elegant three-door and spacious station wagon.

Opel Kadett B was an instant success, with more than 105,000 units leaving the plant in the first year. While today over 60 percent of compact models are station wagon variants, back then the CarAvan share was just around 17 percent. And its success went beyond Germany’s borders, with around 50 percent of annual production being exported. The Kadett was at home on the roads in 120 countries and, without ever officially being called a global vehicle, really was an international car.

Opel goes for sport: Rallye Kadett becomes series winner

Opel Kadett B Rallye: Available from 1966 – the ancestor of all sporty compact class cars.

Long before VW entered the GTI class, the Rallye Kadett introduced in 1966 was the forerunner of all compact sports cars. The striking coupé with matte black hood and stripes was initially available with a 60 hp twin-carburetor version of the 1.1 liter engine, and from 1967, even with a 1.9-liter unit. By the way, the matte black hood was not a design whim, it served to keep the reflection of strong sun rays from blinding the driver – an issue first identified during rallying at the time. The 90 hp unit accelerated the coupé to 170 km/h, and a sporty chassis ensured additional safety reserves. With its sporty features and very good driving performance, the Rallye Kadett offered an excellent basis for amateur sports. It grabbed attention at home and abroad with victories on all types of tracks. The list of victories is endless: the reliable and affordable Rallye Kadett celebrated success at the Rallye Stuttgart-Lyon-Charbonnières, the Hessen Rallye, the Rallye Trifels and the Tour de Luxembourg. Opel tuner Günther Irmscher won the Tour d’ Europe in 1967. The same year the Kadett celebrated its greatest victory until then: the Lambart/Vogt team was class winner at the Rallye Monte Carlo. Just how popular and successful the Rallye Kadett was in motorsports at the time is shown in the statistics from 1968: in a total of 238 events, this model scooped up 222 class victories as well as 345 gold and 287 silver medals.

For Individualists: Opel Kadett’s elegant brother is called Olympia

Opel Kadett B hatchback: The five-door is similar to a business coupé as offered by present-day premium brands.

Opel was again a pioneer in niche vehicles with the Olympia A based on the Kadett B. “The Olympia is the consistent use of the successful Kadett concept on a higher level,” stated the Opel press information from that time. “With the same compact exterior dimensions, the Olympia convinces with high driving performance and exceptional equipment and driving comfort.” The Rüsselsheim automaker was proven right: more than 80,000 customers bought the Olympia A between 1967 and 1970. The luxurious coupé was available with 60, 75 and 90 hp, and its upgraded equipment included special tufted carpets and a padded instrument panel “with real wood character”. A modified radiator grille wrapped around the fender with chrome trim, rectangular headlamps and larger rear side windows made up the exterior visual upgrade.

Opel Olympia A: The Kadett B’s stylish brother with the legendary 90 hp 1.9 liter, four-cylinder engine under the hood.

The Kadett B’s career ended in July 1973 after 2.6 million models had been built. Its diverse range of variants and numerous styling possibilities were exemplary for the automotive industry. And with the Rallye Kadett, Opel established the compact sports car segment for the broad public.