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80-577: The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War , developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show . Production began in November 1938. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon . 2-door coupé cabriolets were also built. The pre- war Kapitän featured

160-524: A self-supporting ("unibody") all-steel body, closely following the 1934 Citroën Traction Avant . This was one of the most important innovations in automotive history. Launched in 1935, the Olympia was light and its aerodynamics enhanced performance and fuel economy. The 1930s was a decade of growth, and by 1937, with 130,267 cars produced. Opel's Rüsselsheim facility was Europe's top in terms of vehicle production, and ranking seventh worldwide. 1938 saw

240-412: A 2.5-litre engine at the time. Power later increased to 60 PS (44 kW; 59 hp), as better petrol quality allowed manufacturers to increase compression ratios. From March 1951 up to July 1953, Opel built 48,562 cars of this series. In November 1953, Opel launched a completely new Kapitän that was longer and wider than its predecessor. The new generation featured a revised rear live axle ,

320-534: A 7% share of PSA, becoming PSA's second-largest shareholder after the Peugeot family. The alliance was intended to enable $ 2 billion per year of cost savings through platform sharing, common purchasing, and other economies of scale. In December 2013, GM sold its 7% interest in PSA for £250 million, after plans of cost savings were not as successful. Opel was said to be among Europe's most aggressive discounters in

400-562: A brief period without a full-sized Opel, the range was replaced by the Senator in 1978. Only 4,976 Kapitän B models were built in 15 months. Opel Opel Automobile GmbH ( German pronunciation: [ˈoːpl̩] ), usually shortened to Opel , is a German automobile manufacturer which has been a subsidiary of Stellantis since 16 January 2021. It was owned by the American automaker General Motors from 1929 until 2017 and

480-742: A compact MPV, the Zafira . In 1999, Opel unveiled its first sports car, the Speedster (Vauxhall VX220 in the UK). However, it was not a success and was discontinued in 2005. The company moved into the city car market in early 2000 with the Agila launch. The third generation Opel Corsa was launched in 2000, followed by a new version of the Vectra in 2002 and the Astra in 2004. Three generations of Vectra gave way to

560-562: A decade, but when production finished, there was no direct successor due to declining sales of executive saloon models from mainstream brands. A Corsa-based coupe, the Tigra , was also launched around this time and lasted in production for six years. The second generation Opel Vectra was launched in 1995, with the Vectra nameplate now extending to the Vauxhall version in the UK. The first Opel MPV,

640-464: A flatter roof made the car some 6 centimetres (2.4 in) lower. The P1 was built only for one year. From June 1958 to June 1959, 34,282 were produced, which was fewer cars than the annualized output of either its direct predecessor or of its direct successor. The P2 Kapitän came to market in August 1959 and while it still had the panoramic windscreen, it gained a new grille and a revised body with

720-521: A further three were assembled during 1943, giving a total production volume for the version launched in 1939 of 25,374. In addition, 2 were assembled in 1946, and one in 1947, but these were not officially recorded in the statistics. Included in the production total were 248 of the two-seater cabriolets built for Opel by independent coach builders Gläser of Dresden and Hebmüller of Wülfrath in Wuppertal . There would, however, be no resurrection for

800-483: A high production level. The large Opels were never dominating players in their market segment on the same scale as the smaller Rekord and Kadett models, possibly due to the strength of Mercedes-Benz in the big car sector. Nevertheless, the highpoint for the big Opels was 1960 when together the Kapitän and Admiral were Europe's top-selling six-cylinder saloons, with nearly 48,000 sold. In 1964, Opel introduced

880-408: A length of 74 cm (29 in), weighing 7 kg (15 lb) empty and 16 kg (35 lb) with fuel. The maximum thrust was 45 to 50 kp, with a total burning time of 132 seconds. These properties indicate a gas pressure pumping. The first missile rose so quickly that Sander lost sight of it. Two days later, a second unit was ready to go, Sander tied a 4,000-meter (13,000 ft)-long rope to

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960-706: A more angular roof and a new rear. It was driven by a stronger new, oversquare 2.6-liter-inline six (bore x stroke: 85 x 76.5 instead of 80 x 82 mm), still of OHV and pushrod design. Carried over were the 3-speed and 4-speed overdrive transmission; the latter was replaced from December 1960 by GM ´s 3-speed Roto-Hydra-Matic automatic. The P2 climbed to a top speed of 150 km/h (93.2 mph), reached 100 km/h (62 mph) in 16 seconds and consumed 12 L/100 km (24 mpg ‑imp ; 20 mpg ‑US ). From August 1959 to December 1963, Opel built 145,618 units of this Kapitän series. No other Opel Kapitän model, before or subsequently, achieved such

1040-479: A new product in 1886: he began to sell high-wheel bicycles , also known as penny-farthings . Opel's two sons participated in high-wheel bicycle races, thus promoting this means of transportation. In 1888, production was relocated from a cowshed to a more spacious building in Rüsselsheim. The production of high-wheel bicycles soon exceeded the production of sewing machines. At the time of Opel's death in 1895, he

1120-468: A pattern that Opel would follow for decades, providing more car for the money than other competing models. The 1488 cc OHC four-cylinder water-cooled engine was changed little since it was introduced in the 1937 Opel Olympia . The 1953 version was rated at 40 PS (29 kW) at 3800 rpm. This was increased at the end of 1955 for the 1956 model year to 45 PS (33 kW) at 3900 rpm. A slight increase in maximum torque accompanied this, with

1200-438: A rear stabilizing bar and slightly enlarged drum brakes. Carried over was the six-cylinder engine, though its compression ratio was raised to 7.0:1, giving 68 PS (50 kW; 67 hp) initially. For 1955, output rose to 71 PS (52 kW; 70 hp) and it was further enhanced to 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) for 1956. Like the smaller Olympia Rekord , which somewhat resembled 1953 US Plymouth models (such as

1280-479: A record speed of 238 km/h (148 mph) in front of 3,000 spectators and world media representatives, including Fritz Lang , director of Metropolis and Woman in the Moon , world boxing champion Max Schmeling , and many other sports and show business celebrities. A world speed record for rail vehicles was reached with RAK3 at a top speed of 256 km/h (159 mph). After these successes, von Opel piloted

1360-656: A shark's mouth (der "Haifischmaul-Kuehlergrill"). All the cars were delivered with their standard steel wheels painted black regardless of the colour of the car body. This cost-cutting approach provided sales opportunities for after-market wheel trims. The advertised price in Germany was DM 6,410 for the two-door "Limousine" (sedan) and DM 6,710 for the "Cabrio-Limousine" and "Caravan" (estate). By July 1954, Opel had produced 113,966 "Limousine" (sedan) or "Cabrio-Limousine" Olympia Rekords along with 15,804 "Caravan" (estate) versions and 6,258 Olympia Rekord panel vans. Production of

1440-503: A spirit of optimism that the model's marketplace performance would validate. Opel followed the design trends of its parent company, General Motors, by incorporating annual facelifts. The Opel Olympia Rekord featured new front grill design and trim modifications. The policy of annual facelifts ensured publicity, and the car was a commercial success. It achieved second place in the West German sales totals each year. The number one seller

1520-537: A two-barrel version of the same, coupled either with a 4-speed manual or Opel's 3-speed automatic transmission. The modernized body was marginally shorter and narrower, by about 5 centimetres (2 in) in both dimensions, but still proved too large and American-looking for European buyers. Production ended in May 1970, as buyers of large cars preferred more equipment and prestige. The more up-market Admiral and Diplomat lived on until July 1976 and July 1977, respectively. After

1600-723: A two-door convertible ( "Cabrio-Limouisine" ) priced an extra DM 300, but found few customers. Also available in August was a 3-door estate , which Opel branded as the Opel Olympia Rekord CarAVan. The "Caravan" name would be used on many subsequent Opel estate models. The car's styling incorporated an "Americana flavour" that "was in tune with the times, rather than decreed" by the General" from corporate headquarters in Detroit . The Opel Olympia Record featured an open-mouthed front grill which reminded commentators of

1680-591: A unitary body, an innovative feature for its time; it was studied by the Soviet engineers and heavily influenced the design of the GAZ-M20 Pobeda . The Kapitän inherited its 2.5-litre engine from its predecessor : in this application a maximum speed of 118 km/h (73 mph) was reported. Civilian automobile production by Opel ceased in the Fall / Autumn of 1940, by which time 25,371 Kapitäns had been produced:

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1760-476: A wholly owned subsidiary. In 1935, Opel became the first German car manufacturer to produce over 100,000 vehicles annually. This was because of the popularity of the Opel P4 model. The sales price was 1,650 marks and the car had a 23  PS (17  kW ) 1.1 L four-cylinder engine achieving a top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph). Opel also produced the first mass-production vehicle in Germany with

1840-517: Is still headquartered in Rüsselsheim am Main. The company designs, engineers, manufactures, and distributes Opel-branded passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles, and vehicle parts; together with its British sister marque Vauxhall, they are present in over 60 countries around the world. The company was founded in Rüsselsheim , Hesse , Germany, on 21 January 1862, by Adam Opel . In the beginning, Opel produced sewing machines . Opel launched

1920-465: The CIH six with an output of 112 PS (82 kW; 110 hp) in 1966 and 1967. Like its more expensive brethren, the Kapitän was reworked in late 1967 and received rub strips, a new ZF steering and a collapsible steering column . At the same time, a new HL (Hochleistung = high-performance) version of the 2.8-liter six became available that put out 140 PS (103 kW; 138 hp). The new KAD

2000-878: The Calibra , being launched the following year. Soon afterward, Opel launched a high-performance version of the Omega – the Lotus Omega (Lotus Carlton in the UK) – which featured Lotus-tuned suspension and had a top speed of 175 mph. Opel's first turbocharged car was the Opel Rekord 2.3 TD , first shown at Geneva in March 1984. In the 1990s, Opel was considered GM's cash cow, with profit margins similar to Toyota's. Opel's profit helped to offset GM's losses in North America and to fund GM's expansion into Asia. 1999

2080-571: The Chevrolet brand. Opel traces its roots to a sewing machine manufacturer founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main . The company began manufacturing bicycles in 1886 and produced its first automobile in 1899. With the Opel RAK program, the world's first rocket program, under the leadership of Fritz von Opel , the company played an important role in the history of aviation and spaceflight: Various land speed records were achieved, and

2160-636: The Cranbrook ), the Kapitän used a similar design language. Model year 1956 saw a mild facelift with a more up-to-date grille, bezeled headlamps, larger front indicator lights and revised side trim. The 1956 reached a top speed of 140 km/h (87.0 mph) and consumed 13 L/100 km (22 mpg ‑imp ; 18 mpg ‑US ). From May 1957, a semi-automatic three-speed overdrive transmission with an additional fourth gear became available on request. From November 1953 to February 1958, 154,098 Kapitäns were built. In its time, this generation

2240-719: The Insignia in 2008, with the new model becoming the company's first European Car of the Year award winner for 22 years. Following the 2008 global financial crisis and the Chapter 11 reorganization of GM , on 10 September 2009, GM agreed to sell a 55% stake in Opel to a consortium including Magna group and Sberbank – with the approval of the German government. The deal was later called off. With ongoing restructuring plans, Opel announced

2320-497: The PSA Group agreed to buy Opel, its English twin sister brand Vauxhall and their European auto lending business from General Motors for US$ 2.2 billion. In return, General Motors will pay PSA US$ 3.2 billion for future European pension obligations and keep managing US$ 9.8 billion worth of plans for existing retirees. Furthermore, GM is responsible for paying about US$ 400 million annually for 15 years to fund

2400-752: The PSA Group prior to its merger with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to form Stellantis in 2021. Most of the Opel lineup is marketed under the Vauxhall brand in the United Kingdom since the 1980s. Some Opel vehicles were badge-engineered in Australia under the Holden brand until 2020, in North America and China under the Buick , Saturn (until 2010), and Cadillac brands, and in South America under

2480-757: The Sintra , was launched in Europe in 1996, imported from the US where it was sold as a Pontiac , but discontinued after three years due to disappointing sales. The Vauxhall-badged UK market version was also slated in motoring surveys for its dismal build quality and reliability. 1997 saw the demise of the Calibra coupe after an eight-year production, with no immediate replacement. The Opel Astra hatchbacks, saloons, and estate were wholly revamped for 1998 and, within two years, had also spawned coupe and cabriolet versions, as well as

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2560-403: The "Olympia" name applied in 1935 to its predecessor model in anticipation of the 1936 Olympic Games . That first Olympia was a defining model for Opel, featuring then-revolutionary unibody construction. With the German economy was on an upswing, General Motors expected to produce the cars in large volumes. The name "Rekord" was added in 1953 based on the theme of sporting success and reflected

2640-638: The 1920s, Fritz von Opel initiated together with Max Valier , co-founder of the "Verein für Raumschiffahrt", the world's first rocket program, Opel-RAK , leading to speed records for automobiles, rail vehicles and the first manned rocket-powered flight in September 1929. Months earlier in 1928, one of his rocket-powered prototypes, the Opel RAK2, piloted by von Opel himself at the AVUS speedway in Berlin, reached

2720-645: The 1980s there. The factory opened in 1982, and its first product was the Opel Corsa (imported to the UK as the Vauxhall Nova from 1983). The Ascona switched to front-wheel drive for an all-new General Motors J-Car global model format in 1981, with the Cavalier nameplate continuing for the UK market. The Kadett was revamped again in 1984, and became the company's first winner of the European Car of

2800-527: The Opel RAK collaborators were able to attain powered phases of more than thirty minutes for thrusts of 300 kg (660-lb.) at Opel's works in Rüsselsheim," again according to Max Valier's account. The Great Depression led to an end of the Opel-RAK program, but Max Valier continued the efforts. After switching from solid-fuel to liquid-fuel rockets, he died while testing and is considered the first fatality of

2880-536: The Opel versions. The Opel Ascona of this era was sold on the UK market (and made in British and continental factories) as the Vauxhall Cavalier . Both of these cars had mild styling changes, as did the flagship Opel Rekord and Vauxhall Carlton saloon and estate ranges, which went on sale towards the end of the 1970s. By the 1970s, Opel had emerged as the stronger of GM's two European brands; Vauxhall

2960-585: The Year accolade. The Rekord's successor, the Opel Omega (still Vauxhall Carlton in the UK), achieved the same success two years later. The long-running Ascona nameplate was discontinued in 1988, with its replacement being sold as the Vectra , although the UK market version was still sold as the Vauxhall Cavalier. The Opel Manta coupe was also discontinued in 1988, with its Vectra-based successor,

3040-451: The advertised maximum power was increased to 45 PS (33 kW). In other respects, the engine was little changed. In July 1956, the two-door cabriolet version was discontinued because of low demand. The 1957 model appeared in July 1956. The grille was again modified, the roof was slightly flattened, and the exterior acquired even more chrome embellishment. A new all-synchromesh gearbox

3120-504: The cabriolet Kapitäns in 1948 when the saloon version was reintroduced. In October 1948, the Kapitän was reintroduced as Germany's first post- war six-cylinder automobile. It would have made sense to start building the Kapitän a year earlier, as the engine was also used in the Opel Blitz trucks at the time, but the occupation regulations prohibited civilian sales of passenger cars of over 1.5 litres displacement. Initial production

3200-514: The closure of its Antwerp plant in Belgium by the end of 2010. In 2010, Opel announced that it would invest around € 11 billion in the next five years. €1 billion of that was designated solely for the development of innovative and fuel-saving engines and transmissions. On 29 February 2012, Opel announced the creation of a major alliance with PSA Peugeot Citroen , resulting in GM taking

3280-547: The company's American leadership had rejected an "invitation" to switch to munitions manufacture a few months earlier. In 1942 Opel switched to wartime production, making aircraft parts and tanks. Truck manufacture continued at the Brandenburg plant , where the 3.6-liter Opel Blitz truck had been built since 1938. These 3 short tons (2.7  t ) trucks were also built under license by Daimler-Benz in Mannheim . After

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3360-525: The company's SUV line-up in 1994, but had been dropped from the UK and continental markets by 2000 due to disappointing sales. At the end of 1992, the company unveiled a completely new Corsa, which, like the original model, was produced at the Zaragoza plant. This car carried the Corsa nameplate on the UK market as a Vauxhall. A second generation Omega was launched in early 1994. It remained in production for

3440-473: The completely new KAD (Kapitän, Admiral , Diplomat ) models; the Kapitän served as the base model of this three-tier model range. It was powered by the same engines as the contemporary Opel Admiral , namely a 2.6- or a 2.8-litre inline-six; a small number of Kapitäns even received the Chevrolet -sourced 4.6-liter V8. For the Austrian market, 580 Kapitän and Admiral models received the 2.5-liter version of

3520-500: The compression ratio going from 6.5:1 to 6.9:1. The 1950s was a decade during which minimum fuel octanes were raised progressively across Western Europe. However, "normal" grade fuel for the Olympia Rekord throughout its production. The Opel Olympia Rekord was introduced with a new generously proportioned body and an old 1,488 cc engine in March 1953. The top seller was the two-door saloon . Starting in August 1953, Opel offered

3600-420: The country's largest automobile exporter in 1928. The "Regent" – Opel's first eight-cylinder car – was offered. The RAK 1 and RAK 2 rocket-propelled cars made sensational record-breaking runs. Opel as a company and its co-owner Fritz von Opel , grandson of Adam Opel, were instrumental in popularizing rocket propulsion for vehicles and have an important place in the history of spaceflight and rocket technology. In

3680-492: The dashboard was redesigned and the shifter was relocated from the floor to the steering column. With 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp), the first post-war Kapitän could reach a top speed of 126 km/h (78.3 mph), needed 29 seconds to reach 100 km/h (62 mph), and consumed 13 litres per 100 kilometres (22 mpg ‑imp ; 18 mpg ‑US ) in the process. Up to February 1951, 30,431 Kapitäns were built. The 1951 Kapitän, introduced in March 1951,

3760-427: The dawning space age. Sander's technology was confiscated by the German military in 1935. He was forced to sell his company and was imprisoned for treason. He died in 1938. In March 1929, General Motors (GM), impressed by Opel's modern production facilities, bought 80% of the company. The Opel family gained $ 33.3 million from the transaction. Subsequently, during 1935, a second factory was built at Brandenburg for

3840-536: The early post-war years. Opel GT This two seater sports car was introduced in 1968 and was produced until 1973. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Vauxhall and Opel ranges were rationalised into one consistent range across Europe. The 1973 version of the Opel Kadett was later rebadged in hatchback, saloon, and estate form as the Vauxhall Chevette for the UK market, with German factories producing

3920-405: The end of 1955, featured simplified bumpers without the over-riders. The grille was now filled with tightly packed thin vertical bars. Further price reductions followed the trend of other German auto-makers during the mid-1950s. The advertised German market price for the 1956 model ranged from 5,410 to DM 6,560. The 1,488 cc engine was also upgraded with an increased compression ratio to 6.9:1, and

4000-512: The end of the war, with the Brandenburg plant dismantled and transported to the Soviet Union, and 47% of the buildings in Rüsselsheim destroyed, former Opel employees began to rebuild the Rüsselsheim plant. The first postwar Opel Blitz truck was completed on 15 July 1946 in the presence of United States Army General Geoffrey Keyes and other local leaders and press reporters. Opel's Rüsselsheim plant also made Frigidaire refrigerators in

4080-598: The existing pension plans in Great Britain and Germany. Opel Olympia Rekord The Opel Olympia Rekord is a two-door family car that replaced the Opel Olympia in March 1953, and marketed through 1957. Innovations included a modern Ponton -style body incorporating styling features from the United States, and the start of annual model year changes to exterior and interior trim. The car kept

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4160-400: The first Olympia Rekord ended in July 1954, In late summer 1954, the mildly facelifted 1955 car was presented. The advertised power output of the 1,488 cc engine was unchanged at 40 PS (29 kW) despite a slight increase in the compression ratio from 6.3:1 to 6.5:1. The back window was enlarged and the front grille was modified. A single body-colored horizontal bar was incorporated across

4240-599: The four years between 1953 and 1957, Opel recorded production of 582,924 Olympia Rekords, with the rate accelerating markedly in 1957. It was produced at about half the rate of the Volkswagen Beetle. Still, it was repeatedly Germany's second best seller. It was the first of a long line of Opel models that would outsell competitor vehicles from Ford, both in Germany and in key European export markets. During six years from 1952 until 1958, Ford recorded production of 564,863 Taunus 12Ms and 15Ms which were comparable to

4320-451: The late 1920s in Rüsselsheim. According to Max Valier 's account, Opel RAK rocket designer, Friedrich Wilhelm Sander launched two liquid-fuel rockets at Opel Rennbahn in Rüsselsheim on 10 and 12 April 1929. These Opel RAK rockets were the first European, and after Goddard, the world's second, liquid-fuel rockets in history. In his book Raketenfahrt Valier describes the size of the rockets as of 21 cm (8.3 in) in diameter and with

4400-401: The less expensive manufacturing process), but by the 1930s, this type of vehicle would cost a mere 1,930 marks – due in part to the assembly line, but also due to the skyrocketing demand for cars. Adam Opel led the way for motorised transportation to become not just a means for the rich, but also a reliable way for people of all classes to travel. Opel had a 37.5% market share in Germany and was

4480-514: The licensed Opel Darracq version discontinued in 1907. In 1909, the Opel 4/8 PS model, known as the Doktorwagen ( lit.   ' Doctor's Car ' ) was produced. Its reliability and robustness were appreciated by physicians, who drove long distances to see their patients back when hard-surfaced roads were still rare. The Doktorwagen sold for only 3,950 marks, about half as much as

4560-408: The luxury models of its day. The company's factory was destroyed by fire in 1911, and a new facility was built with more up-to-date machinery. Opel's cars were initially tested on public roads, leading to complaints about noise and road damage. Under public pressure, Opel began construction of a test oval in 1917. The track was completed in 1919, but not open to the public until 24 October 1920 under

4640-570: The market. GM reported a 2016 loss of US$ 257 million from its European operations. It is reported that GM has lost about US$ 20 billion in Europe since 1999. Opel's plant in Bochum closed in December 2014, after 52 years of activity, due to overcapacity. Opel withdrew from China, where it had a network of 22 dealers, in early 2015 after General Motors decided to withdraw its Chevrolet brand from Europe starting in 2016. In March 2017,

4720-573: The new version of the Kadett – entered production in 1979, initially built in Germany and Belgium. It was sold in the UK alongside the stronger-selling Vauxhall version – the Astra – which entered UK production in 1981. During the 1970s, Opel expressed interest in building an additional production facility in Spain and eventually settled on a location near Zaragoza , intending to develop a new supermini for

4800-479: The official name of Opel-Rennbahn (Opel Race Track). In the early 1920s, Opel became the first German car manufacturer to build automobiles with a mass-production assembly line. In 1924, they used their assembly line to produce a new open two-seater called the Laubfrosch (Tree frog) . The Laubfrosch was finished exclusively in green lacquer. The car sold for an expensive 3,900 marks (expensive considering

4880-507: The partnership was dissolved after two years, following which Opel signed a licensing agreement in 1901 with the French Automobiles Darracq France to manufacture vehicles under the brand name Opel Darracq. These cars consisted of Opel bodies mounted on Darracq chassis, powered by two-cylinder engines. The company first showed cars of its design at the 1902 Hamburg Motor Show . Production began in 1906, with

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4960-464: The presentation of the highly successful Kapitän . With a 2.5 L six-cylinder engine, all-steel body, front independent suspension, hydraulic shock absorbers, hot-water heating (with electric blower), and central speedometer. 25,374 Kapitäns were made before the intensification of World War II brought automotive manufacturing to a temporary stop in the autumn of 1940, by order of the government. Opel automobile production ended in October 1940, after

5040-451: The previously open grille. A new base model was offered at DM 5,850, which was DM 1,000 more than the market-leading Volkswagen Type 1 . Opel's new entry-level family car also received a reduced name, being badged simply as the Opel Olympia. At the same time, the other models in the range continued with the Opel Olympia Rekord name. The 1955 model year also saw the introduction of a light panel van version. The 1956 model, introduced towards

5120-480: The production of " Blitz " light trucks. In 1929 Opel licensed the design of the radical Neander motorcycle and produced it as the Opel Motoclub in 1929 and 1930, using Küchen, J.A.P. , and Motosacoche engines. Fritz von Opel attached solid-fuel rockets to his Motoclub in a publicity stunt, riding the rocket-boosted motorcycle at the Avus racetrack. After acquiring the remaining shares in 1931, General Motors had full ownership of Adam Opel AG and organized it as

5200-473: The rocket. After 2,000 m (6,600 ft) of rope had been unwound, the line broke, and this rocket also disappeared in the area, probably near the Opel proving ground and racetrack in Rüsselsheim, the "Rennbahn". Sander and Opel also worked on an innovative liquid-propellant rocket engine for an anticipated flight across the English Channel. By May 1929, the engine produced a thrust of 200 kg (440 lb.) "for longer than fifteen minutes, and in July 1929,

5280-425: The slope of the rear roof-line, restricted the driver's view out unnecessarily and made the rear doors very narrow: many back seat passengers, once they had negotiated their way onto the back seat had headroom issues. This time, the 2,473 cc six cylinder engine had its maximum output raised to 80 PS (59 kW; 79 hp) at 4,100 rpm. Wheelbase, track widths, length and width were all slightly increased, while

5360-406: The two companies formed the backbone of GM's European operations – later merged formally in the 1980s as General Motors Europe . In March 2017, PSA Peugeot Citroën agreed to acquire Opel, the British twin sister brand Vauxhall and the European auto lending business from General Motors for €2 billion ($ 2.3 billion), making the French automaker the second biggest in Europe, after Volkswagen . Opel

5440-434: The two companies' operations and product families into one did not start until the 1970s – which had Vauxhall's complete product line replaced by vehicles built on Opel-based platforms – the only exception to the rule being the Bedford CF panel van. This only solely Vauxhall design was marketed as an Opel on the continent. By the turn of the 1980s, the two brands were, in effect, the same. Opel's first front-wheel drive car –

5520-435: The world's first public rocket-powered flight using Opel RAK.1 , a rocket plane designed by Julius Hatry . World media reported these events, including Universal Newsreel in the US, causing "Raketen-Rummel" or "Rocket Rumble" immense global public excitement, particularly in Germany, where, among others, Wernher von Braun was highly influenced. Opel RAK became enthralled with liquid propulsion, building and testing them in

5600-408: The world's first rocket-powered flights were performed in 1928 and 1929. After listing on the stock market in 1929, General Motors took a majority stake in Opel and then full control in 1931, making the automaker a wholly owned subsidiary , establishing an American ownership of the German automaker for nearly 90 years. Together with British manufacturer Vauxhall Motors , which GM had acquired in 1925,

5680-414: Was a stylistically slightly modernized version of the old model; technically it was much the same. The engine's compression ratio rose from 6.0:1 to 6.25 to 1, its output from 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp) to 58 PS (43 kW; 57 hp). From the outside the car was readily distinguished from the first post-war Kapitäns, thanks to an abundance of chrome and a US style grill at the front. This

5760-449: Was considerably larger than the predecessor, which proved a hindrance in the marketplace. Sales of the Kapitän A fell sharply off; up to its discontinuation in November 1968 a total of 24,249 cars left the factory. The costlier Admiral and Diplomat models actually sold better. The Kapitän B was introduced in March 1969 and was the last car bearing the Kapitän name. Engine options included a single-barrel carburetted 2.8-liter inline-six or

5840-510: Was introduced. German market advertised prices now stood between DM 5,510 and 6,560. By way of comparison, 1957 was the year that Volkswagen reduced the price of their entry-level Volkswagen Type 1 to less than DM 4,000. The Opel Olympia Rekord was superseded in August 1957 by the new, larger, and more highly styled Rekord P1 , which was available in a four-door body style for the first time. The 1937 Opel Olympia engine would continue to power entry-level Opel Rekord models through 1965. During

5920-444: Was reserved for the occupying powers , but sales to private customers started in 1949. There was no sign of the wide range of coupé and cabriolet bodies that had broadened the model's appeal in the 1930s: the 1948 Kapitän was offered only as a saloon/sedan, based on the 1939 version. The main differences from the pre-war model were round headlights as opposed to hexagonal ones, as well as improved leaf springs and dampers. From May 1950

6000-490: Was the last time when Opel was profitable for an entire year after almost 20 years. The first major Opel launch of the 1990s was the 1991 Astra, which spelled the end for the Kadett nameplate that had debuted more than 50 years earlier. The company also turned to Japanese Isuzu for its first SUV, the Frontera , which was also launched in 1991 but produced in Europe despite its Japanese origins. The larger Monterey joined

6080-634: Was the leader in both markets. The first cars were designed in 1898 after Opel's widow Sophie and their two eldest sons entered into a partnership with Friedrich Lutzmann, a locksmith at the court in Dessau in Saxony-Anhalt , who had been working on automobile designs for some time. The first Opel production Patent Motor Car was built in Rüsselsheim early 1899, although these cars were not very successful (A total of 65 motor cars were delivered: eleven in 1899, twenty-four in 1900 and thirty in 1901) and

6160-427: Was the most modern large mass-produced car in Europe during the immediate pre-and postwar years. Competitive Mercedes models with flat, upright, one piece windscreen and external headlamps seemed from another age in spite of their greater prestige value. The result was that this solidly built and comfortable car lost rapidly in value and maintenance effort, with few second-hand buyers being able to afford to tax and insure

6240-423: Was the much smaller and less expensive Volkswagen Type 1 . Around 580,000 Olympia Rekords were produced. Opel's executive, Edward Zdunek, explained the annual facelifts, stating they gave customers the possibility of "sozialen Differenzierung" (social differentiation). Commentators also noted that the yearly facelifts disadvantaged owners by depressing second-hand values for the Olympia Rekord. The Olympia Rekord set

6320-545: Was the third-best-selling brand in Great Britain after the British Motor Corporation (later British Leyland ) but made only a modest impact elsewhere. The two companies were direct competitors outside of each other's respective home markets. Still, mirroring US automaker Ford's decision to merge its British and German subsidiaries in the late 1960s, GM followed the same precedent. Opel and Vauxhall had loosely collaborated before, but serious efforts to merge

6400-490: Was the third-most popular car in Germany behind Volkswagen ´s Beetle and Opel's own Rekord (Oswald, p. 73). The 1958 Kapitän (series P1), introduced in June 1958, was both wider and lower than its predecessor, and featured panoramic windows. It won some plaudits for its American-inspired "dream-car" styling, but there were also critics who pointed out that the extent of the wrap-around front and rear windows, along with

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