Exactly 50 years ago, the Opel Commodore appeared as a new flagship with the 2.2 and the 2,5-liter engine. In both cases it concerned a six cylinder in line power source, with which Rüsselsheim brought out a new trump in the Sonder class. Opel is now celebrating its fiftieth anniversary by releasing four copies of the Opel Commodore types A, B and C in the 20ste Silvretta Classic (6-8 July).
Brand ambassador and winner of the Le Mans 24 hour, Joachim Winkelhock, will lead the Opel Classic team in this classic rally through Montafon. He is at the wheel of an Opel Commodore B GS / E (Grand Sport / Einspritzung) with 1972 hp originating from 190. A new Insignia Grand Sport accompanies the historic Commodores. The new top model from Opel puts the illustrious GS name back on the map. It gives the Opel rally an extra touch.
Rally in Partenen
The start and finish of all three stages of the rally is in Partenen. The route of a total of 600 kilometers leads through the Austrian Alps. Some highlights for visitors and participants are the Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse, the 2.037 meter high Bieler Höhe; the descent to the Piller Höhe on day two (with lunch stop from 12.00 hours at Hotel Weißseespitze); the Furkajoch with a stop at Hotel Waliser Stuben (8 July, 12.00 hours); and finally the "Grosser Preis von Vandans" as a spectacular final on Saturday from 14.00 hour.
Debut: fifty years ago
The first Opel Commodore was launched in 1967 as an upgrade of sister model Opel Rekord C. In the first years it was available with three engine variants. The 2.2 and 2.5 S made their appearance in the Commodore front. The range was soon expanded with the 2.5H engine with two carburettors, the high-lying camshaft and 130 HP. In all cases it concerned six cylinder engines. The sporty GS version with double carburettor, wood trim in the interior and a rev counter was paired with the latter power unit and became the top of the range. The GS / E, with an electronic fuel injection system from Bosch, appeared in 1970 and got a chassis including gas-filled shock absorbers, rear disc brakes and a modified cardan shaft. From April 1970, the limited GS / 2.8 was also available, and this Sonderedition was made until September 1971.
Commodore developments
The Opel Commodore A was available as a sedan with two and four doors and as a coupé. Karmann built a convertible study model and the station wagon (Voyage) did not pass the stage of a pilot project. From 1968 the GM-Strasbourg fully automatic three-speed gearbox was optionally available to the buyer.
Built in three generations
The first generation Opel Commodore was built up to 1972. He was succeeded by the B-generation, who knew the Rekord D as a basis and was again only available with six-cylinder engines. For many, the holy grail is still the GS / E with 2.8 engine, a model of performance in the seventies. The Opel Commodore C, the sister model of the Rekord E, was planned for model year 1978. It became the last generation of the Opel Commodore. It was built up to and including the summer of 1982.
