Closing date July issue -> May 19
Opel Kadett E GSi (1990): rare appearance for Yde
In the thirties, Opel managed to build an affordable car: the Kadett. This type name was then used for many years and was synonymous with the car of the ordinary family man and his family. The Opel van Yde is the last to be given the name Kadett-E. But this is no ordinary Kadett, but a rare version with a powerful engine under the hood. This sporty car is an original Opel Kadett E GSi, and those are magic letters for Opel fans.
German elegance
The Opel Kadett E GSi is from 1990 and will no longer be given classic status by law; the Minister of Finance wants to collect the full amount of tax now and in the future. Even though it will not be given the designation 'classic' or 'oldtimer' by law, it is more than worth it to keep the car.
Car enthusiast
Yde is a true car enthusiast. In addition to this beautiful Opel Kadett E GSi, there is another project in his garage, and his Opel group of friends includes several classic gems, such as the Kadett-type C and the Coupé variants. The Kadett GSi fits Yde perfectly: it is emotion, passion, identity: as soon as the key is turned, the engine roars with pleasure!
Little history
Yde: “I bought the Opel Kadett E GSi as a running car, but it was certainly not spotless. The scrap heap was not yet beckoning, but there was a lot of rust on the wheel rims and the welding machine had to be ready to replace the sills. I soon noticed that the supply of parts was no longer optimal, but I still went for the satisfaction of restoring it. It gives you so much energy! It took more than a year and a half before the Opel got its new life. It is now a desirable car: a beautiful leather interior, special rims and the technology under the bonnet is optimal again. It is simply a fantastic car and an experience to drive.”
Yde's rule of thumb
"If you really want to enjoy a special car, you simply have to drive it - of course as a hobby car, on days off or at the weekends. The thought that such a beautiful car has to spend its days in a garage is unpalatable for me and my Opel friends."
The rule of thumb of Auto Motor Klassiek
“Do you have a 'car heart' and do you want to enjoy nice stories about special cars and motorcycles? Then a Subscription highly recommended. The price is so low (€49,50) that you can't remain insensitive to it, right?”
(The photos continue below.)
Once I got a gray GSi from Germany for a friend of mine.
His first European car, before that he had only driven Japanese cars, never again after the Kadett GSi.
Better, faster, more economical and more reliable than marketing giant VW (GTI) I've had them all!
That E GSi is a beautiful car. For its time it was simply fast. A ton heavy with 116 hp is of course no small feat. A few years later the power standard of 116 horses from a 2L 'naturally aspirated' engine had already been raised considerably thanks to all kinds of cleverness such as a variable intake channel and variable valve timing. VW made the 2.0 FSi and it delivered no less than 150 hp. Due to its weight of over 1250 kg its acceleration was not much better but still the Kadett 2.0 GSi was no match for it anymore, as I was able to experience with my 2.0 FSi at the time. The character of that Kadett GSi remains great however. I continue to think it is a great car, both technically and visually.