Adam Opel AG is a German company producing cars. The company was founded on January 21, 1863 and began manufacturing cars in 1899. Today, Opel is the largest producer of General Motors in Europe.
In 1862 Adam Opel founded his own company for the production of sewing machines. In 1898 the mechanic F. Lutsman of Dessau made several motor Self-propelled similar in concept presented with five years earlier Benz Victoria. The sons of Adam Opel interested petrol carriages, which at the same time express themselves successfully in some local races. In January next year the young heirs to Opel buy small workshop Lutsman, patented his design and organize mass production of cars branded the Opel Lutzmann . They have opened four-body and located behind cylinder engine of 1542 cm³, which allows power from 3,5 hp. This first model in the company's history was made in 65 copies.
In 1902, however, he already seems too archaic and unviable as a concept. Then the brothers bought a license to manufacture French cars Darracq, whose circulation under the Opel brand is organized in Rüsselsheim.The body is made entirely in Germany and the chassis and the twin engine arrive finished from France. The model is referred to as the Opel Darracq 8/4 the PS , and in 1905 was absorbed and production of 4-cylinder the Opel Darracq the PS 35/40 . A year later, the family Opel decided to refuse the services of A. Darak because at the same time completed the first entirely original production model of Opel. The prototype, called the Opel 10/12 the PS , is shown back in 1902 at the exhibition in Hamburg, and in 1906 We have already produced more than 1,000 pieces. After successful expression of international motor race Cup Kaiser 1907 Opel becomes the preferred supplier of cars for the head of state Wilhelm II. The first company model commissioned by the palace's Opel 65 PS 4-cylinder engine and a specially designed custom body type "landole."
In 1909 it appeared the model and the Opel 4/8 the PS , known as Doktorwagen , because its reliability and agility visokoprohodimost quickly assessed by local doctors. The car is equipped with four-cylinder engine of 1000 cm³ three-stage gearbox and a top speed reaches 55 km / h in power 8 hp It produces up to 1910 when it was replaced by a four versions of the Opel 4/8 the PS , the Opel 8 / 14 PS and Opel 10/18 PS with bodywork type "cab".
By the beginning of World War now offers a particularly popular in Germany models Opel 5/12 P8 , the Opel 5/14 the PS and the Opel 6/16 the PS . At that time the largest such displacement car of the Opel Opel 40/100 PS 1912, whose eight-cylinder engine with a displacement of 10 200 cm³, and its maximum speed to reach 120 km / h.
In 1914 he created the Opel Rennwagen the GP, that famous pilot Charles Yorns managed to win one of the local races.
In technical terms postwar cars of the Opel the Opel 21/60 the PS and Opel 30/75 PS are based on the first six-cylinder model of the company Opel 18/50 PS of 1916 Despite their merits, these luxury saloons sold difficult due to the severe economic situation in postwar Germany. This is the main reason why in 1924 the company launched a small two-seater the Opel 4/12 the PS , acquired eloquent nickname Laubfrosch ( "Tree Frog") because of its bright green color. The popular car has a 4-cylinder engine (951 cm³, 12 hp) and reaches a top speed of 66 km / h. At its base are offered more seater sedan, convertible ( the Opel 4/14 the PS ) and wagon.
Thanks to Laubfrosh Opel became the first German company mastered conveying production of passenger cars. On the occasion of this model, however, conflict arises with the French company Citroën, which accuses Opel's plagiarism because striking resemblance between him and Citroën is 5CV , produced in the early 1920s. The Germans, however, failed to prove their innocence and the issue is closed. Bestseller remains on conveyor until the end of 1925, then in its place comes a version with four-body resting on the extended chassis and engine old gives way to a perfect 1016-cc engine of 26 hp. In this kind of model venture to 1929
A curious and quite trifling detail of its rich corporate history is the fact that somewhere in the mid-1920s Opel became the first manufacturer in the world that creates service network for servicing their vehicles throughout the country.
Linking with General Motors
In 1928 the company transformed from a family business into a limited company Adam Opel AG. A year later, 80 percent of it was acquired by US giant General Motors, and in 1931 overseas sales could acquire entirely masters now in Rüsselsheim.
That 1928 remains memorable in the history of Opel and the creation of unique ultra car Opel RAK-2 , equipped with a rocket engine with solid fuel. On May 23 the same year the speed section of track near Berlin AVUS Fritz von Opel (grandson of Adam Opel) managed to reach the same car speed 238 km / h.
In 1929 it was launched luxury the Opel 24/110 the PS The Regent , equipped with 8-cylinder engine of 5970 cm³, which was created as a direct competitor to Mercedes-Benz. At the same time presented the successor to Laubfrosh - the Opel 4/20 the PS with 1016 cc engine. In 1931, in his place comes the Opel 1.0 , and in 1932 - and the Opel 1.2 .
In the mid-30s comes the next generation of affordable compact models P4 whose production soon reach 100,000 per year (according to rumors in 1938 production model is forcibly stopped at the insistence of the new National Socialist government; cause it is that the leaders of the Third Reich did not want to allow American plant to become a competitor to the newly built factory of Volkswagen).
In parallel with the debut of the P4 in the mid-1930s the market appears sensational model the Opel the Olympia , whose name was inspired by conducted in 1936 World Olympics in Berlin. This is the first German car with a self-supporting body, which is thanks to this advanced feature is 110 kg lighter than its predecessor, the Opel 1.3 The Regent . It is they who have been taken and originally used in the Opel Olympia engines, which were subsequently replaced by more modern units by 1288 cm³ (26 hp) and 1488 cm³ (37 hp).
At the end of 1936 the company also offers another model of the same class, called the Opel the Kadett . He again has a self-supporting body and the external differences Olympia are negligible, as used in this case is the engine of the previous model P4. In 1938 Kadett was modernized and its production is fully passed on to the new company plant in Brandenburg, where since 1935 producing trucks Opel Blitz and 1.5-liter engines for some of the cars. At 6-cylinder model Opel 2.0, produced in the period 1934-1937, the first in the company's history has been introduced independent front suspension type Dubonet ( Dubonnet ), anything after 1939 receive all models of Opel.
During the Berlin Motor Show in the beginning of 1937 the company introduced two new models - the Opel the Super 6 and the Opel the Admiral . The first of them enjoyed a particularly long and successful career, but the second was adopted with applause from the audience not only because of its innovative design but also because of the powerful and reliable 6-cylinder engine of 3626 cm³ and maximum speed of 132 km / h in power 75 hp It features soft suspension, comfortable seats, low noise level in the cabin and the possibility to choose between two attractive bodies with four doors - sedan and convertible, in parallel with them presents and spectacular custom bodies on the same base made of local bodywork masters. Production Admiral was discontinued at the beginning of World War II
When Germany declared war on the United States, the Opel plant passed under state control. At the same time military trucks Opel Blitz for the needs of the Wehrmacht procure engines from the Opel the Admiral . In 1944, Opel's factories suffered serious damage as a result of Allied bombing.
Immediately after the war the concern General Motors began restoring factory in Rüsselsheim. Truck factory in Brandenburg, however, is lost forever. The reason for this are not severe destruction and Soviet occupation authorities to dismantle the plant and re-assembled somewhere near the Urals.Additionally, Soviet authorities require Allied production technology, tools and drawings for Opel Kadett, to restore production of the model at the factory in Leipzig. The production line was delivered in Leipzig, but instead of being discharged, continues his way to Moscow, where in December 1946 began production of Moskvich 400, completely identical to Opel Kadett (called in the USSR as a joke and "quietly" Opel Fiatovich) .
In 1939 debuted and modern midrange sedan the Opel Kapitän , which is distinguished by its avant-garde design, designed in the US, and with full metal body and your self-supporting 2473-cc engine power from 55 the hp, the Opel the Super 6 . He became very popular not only in Germany but also in other countries that sell to October 1940, when forced down the assembly line is circulated to over 25,000 units. His production has continued with minor technical amendments and after the war, and particularly between 1948 and 1951 then the model underwent a major stylistic modernization completed in markedly American style. Technically one of the few differences with the previous version, the gear lever is now positioned on the steering column.
In 1950 it was modernized and the Opel the Olympia , as a standard sedan with two doors are joined by two new variants - convertible and universal.
The first all-new postwar looks like a model of the Opel bestseller Opel the Record , which debuted in the fall of 1953 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Despite its modern body with two doors, offered in sedan and convertible versions, it retains almost entirely archaic mechanics and 1488-cc engine from its predecessor, the Opel the Olympia . In this case, power and top speed of the model were increased to 40 hp and 120 km / h. By the end of the 50s Opel Record underwent three phased modernization where maximum power is further enhanced and implemented a new four-speed transmission. Appear and new modifications, such as four-door sedan, universal, marked Caravan, and more. Customers can choose between engines with a displacement of 1196 to 1,680 cm³ and automatic transmission type Olymat. The car enjoys great popularity not only in Europe but even in the US market, as between 1953 and 1960 the first generation Opel Record is circulated to more than 1.5 million units. In 1954 he was presented the successor to the Opel Kapitän . The new large sedan from "American-style" features a spacious passenger cabin, panoramic windows, front seat Sofa type "bench" hanging pedals and more. Originally used forced to 68 hp version of the prewar 6-cylinder engine of 2473 cm³, but with the appearance of new the Opel Kapitän the R , at the end of 1958 comes the new 2605 cc engine of 80 hp.
In 1964, appears completely renovated the Opel Kapitän A , whose external radiation again combines the latest overseas trends. Again then launched the first postwar model of business class F, which was revived in the name of the Opel the Admiral . Parallel to it is available almost identical to the Opel the Diplomat , which comes with a 4.6-liter dvigagel Chevrolet V8 with 165 hp.Subsequently, this engine is placed on order and models Opel Kapitän and the Opel the Admiral , in the meantime the Opel the Diplomat is equipped with a new 5.4-liter V8 with 230 hp All three models have identical type rear suspension in December Dion.
In 1963 came the turn of the second generation of the Opel the Record , which is distinguished by its visibly larger body, then in 1964 and the presence of a powerful 6-cylinder engine with 2605 cm³.
Opel Rekord C, 1.7 L, 1968
In 1962, when the company celebrates its centennial anniversary in operation enters the new Opel plant in Bochum, where he organized the production of the reborn Opel the Kadett . It is a compact model with two doors and a new engine with 993 cm³, merged in a single block and four-clutch gearbox that provides an output of 40 hp. Three years after its premiere, he gets a new 1078 cc engine and in 1967 appears limited edition version of the sport the Opel the Kadett the Rally , whose displacement has been increased to 1897 cm³.
In 1980 he debuted the first in the company's history model with front-wheel drive - the Opel the D the Kadett . Four years later he was replaced by streamlined the Opel the Kadett e , which is the first car of Opel, awarded the prize "Car of the Year".
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1965. Opel shows promising prototype of the first in its range sports car, identified as GT, whose chassis is identical to that of the Opel the Kadett . The serial version of the model was launched in August 1968 with two types of engines from 1078 and 1897 cm³, the majority of it is sold in the United States.
In 1966 it was taken another more significant upgrade model the Opel the Record , which receives a range of modern 4-cylinder engines of 1.5, 1.7 and 1.9 L with overhead camshaft, whose power is respectively 66, 75 and 90 hp.In 1972, this particular model for the first time in the company's history began to be sold with a diesel engine (2067 cm³, 60 hp), but in 1974 due to tax considerations, the working volume of the diesel version is reduced to 1998 cm³.The latest upgrade of Opel Record was made in 1979 and basically limited to inserting a new 1979 cc engine.
1967 in parallel with Opel Record is produced and relatively similar in concept model of the Opel the Commodore , which has a 6-cylinder engine of 2490 cm³. It manifests itself successfully in many automobile races and enjoys a good reputation among customers.Modernised subsequently Holden Commodore has been produced in the Australian subsidiary of GM.
In 1970, Opel launches its new model Opel the Ascona , which replaces veteran Opel Kapitän , as his base was developed and sporty coupe Opel The Manta . Both models are available with 4-cylinder engines with a displacement of 1196, 1584 and 1897 cm³, five years after its debut are basically modernized, and after 1980 Opel Ascona is totally reworked and began to produce front-wheel drive. In the years of its manufacture the Opel The Manta is particularly sought after model for his entire career is circulated to over one million.
In 1978 elite Opel Admiral and Opel Diplomat been replaced by the Opel the Senator , which was launched in two 6-cylinder versions (2784 and 2969 cm³ power and respectively 140 and 180 hp), it can be ordered with a three-step automatic version. Based on the utility of both modifications is designed and sporty coupe Opel Monza, whose front is almost identical to that of the Opel the Senator , but the rear ends in style hatchback.
In 1988 the site of Opel Ascona is occupied by new the Opel the Vectra , whose production shortly after the unification of Germany was transferred to the former factory of Wartburg in Eisenach. After 1989, based on the Opel Vectra is produced and sports coupe the Opel the Calibra , which comes in place of the Opel Manta and boasts excellent aerodynamics (Cx = 0.26).
Production of the new family begins in 1982 with the model Opel Corsa at the Spanish plant of the company. In January 1993 came the second generation Opel Corsa and sports coupe the Opel the Tigra , based on the same model, in the autumn of 2000 it took after a serious renewal of the compact hit. An interesting novelty in this upgraded version is the availability of a combined semi-automatic gearbox Easytronic, with any available 1199-cc versions of the model. In 2001, it appears universal version of the Opel The Corsa , which is called Combo features the same engine.
In 1986, veteran Opel Record was replaced by elegant the Opel the Omega , which is available in sedan and wagon, and later the same year he received the prestigious title of "Car of the Year".
A year after the premiere of the model is launched and its more upscale version called the Opel the Senator , that used 6-cylinder engine of 2594 cm³ (150 hp) and automatic transmission.
At the end of 1993 he debuted the second generation of the Opel the Omega , which comes with several 4- and 6-cylinder engine, whose displacement is moving from 1998 to 3175 cm³.
In the summer of 1991 the site of Opel Kadett was taken by the new model the Opel the Astra the F , a license to produce on the Opel Kadett E was sold to a Korean company Daewoo. The next generation Opel Astra G was introduced in 1999 as its base began to produce universal and vans the Opel the Zafira . Astra G is the longest produced model cars in the world for the past 50 years - from 1998 to 2009
In 2001 he was presented the development of Bertone - coupe on Astra G, Astra Coupe Bertone. A year later it was released and a convertible version of the model.
In 2004 e presented Astra H, and sporty three-door version of GTC (Grand Touring Coupe). It is produced in parallel with Astra G, which is renamed the Astra Classic. Three-door version developed by OPC has a 2 L turbo engine with 240 hp and acceleration of 6,4 s from 0 to 100 km / h.
In 1998 created Opel Performance Center (OPC) in Rüsselsheim, center dedicated entirely to the development of sports versions of models of Opel. The first development is the Astra G OPC with a 2-liter naturally aspirated engine with 160 hp followed Astra G OPC II (turbo with 200 hp) as well as developments on the Vectra C (280hp), Zfira B (240hp), Meriva (180 hp), Corsa C ( 175hp) and Corsa D (192hp). Opel engineers keep all vehicles in the range OPC undergo severe tests lasting 10,000 km in 20,8 km long Nordschleife called as the "Green Hell" by legendary race car driver Jackie Stewart. 12 days, 27,000 gear shifts, 35,551 curves and 487 laps of the heaviest track on the planet are tests that each development center tuning must pass to be approved.
In 1991 the production program of the Opel enriched and the first in the company's history vsedohod - Opel the Frontera , which actually is a German analogue of Isuzu Amigo, but unlike external similarity, in this case used the original engine of Opel. Not long after again in cooperation with the Japanese company has developed and model the Opel the Monterey .
The second generation Opel Vectra debut in 1996, and the next - in the spring of 2002 at the Geneva Motor Show. For the first time in an Opel production program has been implemented continuously variable transmission in 2003 based on the new Opel Vectra is created and gear hatchback Opel Vectra the GTS , equipped with a 3175 cc engine V6, thanks to which the power of the model reaches 218 hp. OPC version uses 2.8 V6 Turbo with 280 hp, which accelerates heavy sedan from 0 to 100 km / h in 6,3 s.
In the summer of 2000, the company subsidiary in Poland started production of minivans Opel The Agila , which is an analogue of the Japanese the Suzuki Wagon the R + , but equipped with three-cylinder engine from Opel's 973 cm³.
Since the autumn of 2001 and began as a relatively limited edition production of the two-seater Opel Speedster bodied barrow and located within the base 4-cylinder naturally aspirated engine of 2193 cm³, and more powerful two-liter turbo engine with 200 hp, it speedster accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in only 4,7 s and travels 400 m to 13,5 s, ranking among the much more powerful competitors from brands such as Porsche, BMW m, Bently, Ferari and others.
In 2003 the range is complemented by a completely new model Opel the Meriva , based on the Opel The Corsa , whose production is absorbed by the Opel plant in Brazil and Spain.Later that year in Rüsselsheim began production of a sports twin of the Vectra the Opel the Signum .
In 2009, Opel introduces the successor to the Vectra - Insignia. A radically new concept of the brand. The car becomes "Car of the Year" for Europe. Available with petrol engines from 115 to 325 hp (OPC development on 2.8 V6 TURBO) and diesel common rail 110 hp to top 2.0 CDTI engine turbo with 190 hp Insignia offers innovations worldwide as a system for recognizing signs and markings' Opel Eye 'and combined FlexRide chassis with three modes of driving dynamics.
Currently the company Adam Opel AG has five factories in Germany that produce about 650 thousand. Cars a year. The other factories of the German giant are located in the UK, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, India, Thailand, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Australia
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