The story of the Opel Calibra, an iconic sports coupe, begins with an article in Opel Classic, written by editor-in-chief Harry Vos. It describes the impact the car had when it was introduced:
“Opel caused a sensation at the IAA, the Frankfurt International Motor Show, in 1989. It was the world premiere of a new coupé that was supposed to continue the success of the legendary Opel GT, the Manta and the Monza. With its progressive design and innovative technology, the Calibra was far ahead of its time. This earned Opel the Golden Steering Wheel, Germany's most prestigious automotive award, in 1990.”
The history of the Opel Calibra
The Opel Calibra was introduced in 1989 as a successor to the Opel Manta and was produced until 1997. The model was developed to bridge the gap between traditional coupés and the new generation of sports cars with more aerodynamic properties. One of the most striking features of the Calibra was its low drag coefficient (Cx) of only 0,26, making it the most aerodynamic production car in the world at the time. This innovative design made the Calibra not only special in appearance, but also efficient in fuel consumption and performance.
The base Calibra model was equipped with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, while more powerful versions, such as the Calibra Turbo and the V6, further reinforced Opel's sporting aspirations. The Calibra Turbo, equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, produced 204 hp and featured four-wheel drive, making it a favorite among driving enthusiasts.
In original glory
It is understandable if you can hardly believe the story below. The previous owner of this now exclusive appearance, now 93 years old, was the first owner of this sporty coupé and decided to transfer it in almost new condition to Renze for his unique private collection. The counter is at only 90.000 km, which means that the car has been used very little. This explains the truly fantastic condition of the car, which has even spent its entire "car life" in a heated garage.
A small chance
Renze: “You hardly ever see the Opel Calibra in traffic anymore. It is not known how many still have a valid MOT. There will certainly still be a few stored in garages or private collections; then they only exist on paper. That is why the chance that you can spot one 'in the wild' is small.”
The precious steel
Renze is a great fan of German brands (Audi, Porsche and Opel), with a preference for the sporty models. For him, sporty driving is first and foremost about the pleasure of driving. This certainly also includes taking other road users into account; it has to do with “fair play” in busy traffic. Renze reserves the word “sporty” for controlled and correct driving behaviour.
Renze: a car enthusiast through and through
A passionate hobbyist and technician, Renze is a man who has been getting the most out of his car hobby for years. His drive takes him to unexpected car adventures, such as the purchase of this (almost) new car from the first owner. His character traits – work ethic, technical ingenuity and perseverance – make all this possible. This beautifully designed coupé gave Renze a feeling of being in love at a glance, one that you can just talk about at home! He is completely ready for enthusiastic looks and comments from fellow enthusiasts, which considerably increases the ownership and the pleasure. We would like to add an appreciated wink to that.
Elle is superb! This car is so great!
It is always indispensable because the Calibra is not suitable for the climatization. Celle-ci l'a. You really had to take the sunroof as an option when the Calibra didn't have air conditioning. This one's got it.
Also with the 115hp two-liter more than powerful enough to move the Calibra smoothly... two neighbors in Schiedam both had exactly such a red two-liter with 15" rims that suited the car much better than the standard 14" hoops. Unfortunately rust got the upper hand on the lion's share of these beautiful cars because technically they were built to last. Keep it this beautiful please.