Opel Kadett B 1968 - 1975 - Model history

Opel Kadett B

Opel Kadett B

Opel Kadett - the term car - this advertising slogan Opel used for its bestseller, which sold 2,6 million copies.B comes after A, and in 1965, the new Kadetta B series replaced the previous model, the Kadett A. The successor to the first post-war Kadett was 18 cm longer, with a total length of over four meters. It has been available in three body styles since its launch: as a four-door sedan, as a station wagon and, of course, as a "chic" coupe. The modern shape of the coupe was clearly inspired by "fastback" models such as the American Chevrolet Chevelle: the falling line of the rear gave the coupe a dynamic shape, which hinted at speed attributes. Three vents in the B-pillar have been noted in the annals of the automotive industry: today, these models, known as "coupes with gills", are particularly desirable and reach quite high prices.

Opel Kadett B

Opel Kadett B

In accordance with the overall sports design, the power has increased by five "horses". The diameter of the cylinders of this four-cylinder engine has been increased by three millimeters, so that the unit of 1.078 cm3 developing 45 bhp. A 1,1 liter S engine with higher compression and 55 bhp was also available. They were joined by a twin carburetor version and a shorter piston stroke, delivering 60bhp. The top of the range was the 1,9-liter 90hp four-cylinder, introduced in 1967 for the Cadet B rally, and it was a Record C engine. The unit also found itself in the Opel Olympia, richly equipped with premium variants, which has differentiated itself from Cadet by visual elements such as a cooler-looking refrigerator mask. In addition to the classic four-speed transmission, since 1968, the Opel Kadett B has also been available with a three-speed automatic transmission, which was unusual for this class of car at the time. Initially, the three-speed automatic was available with engines of 1,7 and 1,9 liters of working volume, and a year later, Cadet customers with a 1,1-liter 60-hp engine could opt out of manual transmission. Another curiosity was the 12V electric system in the Opel Bohum compact model. Competition from Cologne, Wolfsburg and Munich continued to use the 6V system.

For the first time, the Opel Kadett has been officially approved as a five-seater. However, this only applied to both sedan variants, while the coupe models still remained four-seater. The increased length had a major impact on the interior, and thus the trunk increased by 12 percent to 337 liters by VDA (German Association of Automobile Industry) standards.
The Opel Kadett B has been an instant success, with more than 105.000 units coming off the factory lines in its first year of production. While over 60 percent of compact models today are station wagon variants, at the time, Opel's Caravan accounted for only about 17 percent of total sales. The success extended beyond Germany, and about 50 percent of its annual output was exported. Opel Kadett has found its new owners in 120 countries, and although it has never been officially named a global model, it has at least been an international car.

Opel in sporting events: Rallye Kadett becomes the series winner

Long before VW created the GTI class, the Rallye Kadett, launched in 1966, was the originator of all compact sports models. The attractive coupe with a matte black hood and racing stripes was originally available with a 1,1 liter twin carburetor engine, which delivered 60bhp. Since 1967, a 1,9 liter engine has entered the scene. By the way, the matte black hood was not just a design show, it served to reduce the reflection of sunlight that could blind the driver, a problem first identified during the rally at the time. The 90-horsepower unit offered a maximum coupe speed of 170 km / h, while the sports chassis provided an additional level of safety.

With his sporting attributes and very good driving performance, the Rallye Kadett formed a great foundation for amateur sport. He attracted attention both at home and abroad, with victories on all types of tracks. The list of victories has no end: the reliable and affordable Rallye Kadett celebrated at the Stuttgart-Lyon-Charbonnier Rally, the Hessen Rally, the Trifels Rally and the Tour de Luxembourg. Opel's tuner, Guenter Irmscher, won the Tour d'Europ in 1967. That same year, the Cadet celebrated its biggest win to date: The team made up of drivers Lambart and Vogt was the winner in their class at the Monte Carlo Rally. How popular and successful the Rallye Kadett was in motorsport at the time is best shown by statistics from 1968: at a total of 238 events, this model achieved 222 victories in the class, and won 345 gold and 287 silver medals.
Opel Kadett B
For Individuals: The stylish 'sister' Opel Kadetta is called Olympia

Opel was again a pioneer in the niche of the Cadet B-based Olympia A vehicle. "Olympia represents the concept of the Opel Kadetta raised to a higher level," Opel press material of the time read. "With the same compact exterior dimensions, Olympia is convincing with its driving performance, exceptional equipment and comfort." It turns out that the manufacturer from Rieselsheim was right: more than 80.000 drivers bought the Olympia A between 1967 and 1970. The luxury coupe was available with 60, 75 and 90 hp, and upgraded equipment included components such as a thick carpet and upholstered dashboard with "true wood character". A modified, chrome radiator grille that flared into the wings, rectangular headlights and larger rear side windows made Olympia clearly recognizable when it came to the exterior.

Kadetta B's career ended in July 1973 after 2,6 million models were manufactured. Various body variants and numerous styling options have been an example for the entire automotive industry. With Rallye Kadett, Opel has established a compact sports car segment for a wider audience.

Opel Kadett B

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