Opel has something to celebrate this year. The German manufacturer is one hundred and sixty years old. You would almost forget that sixty years ago a pre-war model name returned to Opel. During the autumn of 1962, a new compact model saw the light of day. And for the newcomer of yesteryear, Opel built a brand new factory in Bochum. That's where the new model rolled off the line: the Opel Kadett A.
Opel calls the Kadett A the car that fueled the modern compact class. Fair is fair: they designed a car that fitted well with the now changed requirements that the aspiring car buyer within the reborn Europe set for a car in this class. It was realized that one had to come from a very good house to make it difficult for the VW Typ 1 (the Beetle). Opel developed an excellent compact family car, which also showed how the phenomena of weight saving and efficient construction were put into practice.
Lightweight construction
Opel put these concepts into practice with the Kadett A initially costing DM 5075. Take the weight. The notchback (two-door with classic trunk) weighed only 670 kilograms. The Car-A-Van (hereinafter: Caravan) introduced a few months after the launch of the two-door version weighed only 720 kg.
Simple construction, large luggage space
The engineers kept production as simple as possible. The construction consisted of only 12 main parts; the side panels were made from a single sheet of steel. In addition, the panels formed a body with a remarkably low waistline, which in turn made room for a large area of glass. And speaking of large: the luggage compartment was conveniently arranged and also offered a capacity of 400 liters. That was a nice value in this class. This applied to a lesser extent to the small fuel tank (capacity 33 litres). It was possible to fill this via an opening placed on the outside, within this class that was not always common at the time. The lack of grease nipples was also mentioned as a plus, it contributed to the maintenance-friendliness of the Opel.
Technique
The equally service-friendly engine was modern for its time, and in fact the patriarch of a whole series of long-produced Opel engines. Opel installed the new, water-cooled 993 cc short-stroke engine with a fairly high camshaft and chain drive in the new Kadett. The power source was good for 40 DIN horsepower. He enabled the Kadett to reach a top speed of 120 kilometers per hour. The chassis consisted at the front of independent wheels suspended on unequal wishbones (suspension and damping: transversely placed leaf springs serving as stabilisers, and telescopic shock absorbers). At the rear, the choice was made for the construction of, among other things, the rigid rear axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs in the longitudinal direction. The braking system consisted of four hydraulically operated drum brakes, the circuit was not separated.
New variants, new 1.0 S engine, new trim level
Opel continued to develop the Kadett A program. Because one platform was used, several body variants could be designed. A body with four doors never appeared on the Kadett A program, but in March 1963 Opel did present the Kadett A Caravan. In October 1963 the very beautiful Coupé followed. The arrival of this last version was accompanied by the introduction of the L-equipment, which was also available on the notchback. It was distinguished in appearance, for example, by headlamps housed in square housings, more luxurious, a modified grille, the logo on the hood and bumper rosettes. The Coupé was not available with the basic equipment, nor with the 1.0 N engine. It did get the new 1.0S engine, which generated 48 DIN horsepower thanks to an increased compression ratio, a different camshaft and a modified intake manifold. This engine was also available in the Caravan and the notchback.
Important in several ways
The first post-war Kadett A was quite a success, reaping the benefits of the reconstruction. He paved the way for the expanded Kadett B, which was introduced three years after the arrival of the Kadett A to strengthen its competitive position and bring it more in line with the GM design philosophy. It does not alter the fact that the historical position of the Kadett A is a solid one. Not only because it was built almost 650.000 times in just three years, but also because it made an important contribution to the reborn employment in and around Bochum, where Opel/GM opened the new factory in 1962.
This article reminds me of my childhood, when my uncle had bought a brand new Opel c cadet and I was allowed to drive with it. I will never forget that red skai leather interior.