Opel Kadett Cabriolet GSI (Edition) – the dream car for Dirk Jan

What's the value of a youngtimer, classic, or vintage car? Is it the purchase price, the selling price, or perhaps the appraised value? No. True value lies in the bond that's formed, a bond that can't be measured in money. This story is about the bond between father and son, and about memories unimaginable without the car hobby. And the Opel Kadett Cabriolet GSI.

The love for Opel and the Opel Kadett Cabriolet

Dirk Jan: “My father always had a healthy dose of enthusiasm for Opel. It started with the purchase of an Ascona, followed a few years later by a Manta CC. On one of his visits to the Opel dealership, I was allowed to go along as an eight-year-old, and the showroom displayed an Opel Kadett Cabriolet in cream white. I couldn't stop looking at it with admiration. Even then, the value was expressed emotionally; it was simply a good feeling.”

The first love

My first car was, of course, an Opel: an Astra 1.6 16V, followed later in 2006 by a performance car: an Astra OPC Turbo with 200 hp. The strange thing is that all my friends had Volkswagens as hobby cars, and I drove my eye-catching Opel. We loved going to major classic car events together, like the Techno-Classica in Essen, the largest indoor classic car event in Europe.

There were plans to buy a hobby car with my father, and the Opel Monza caught my eye. However, I still longed for the Kadett Cabriolet. So, I embarked on a quest on the digital highway.

A great choice: Opel Kadett GSI Cabriolet

Dirk Jan: "A blue Opel Kadett Cabrio Edition was found in reasonable condition. When the deal closed, I was walking around feeling like a lucky duck. It had to be a complete restoration, meaning absolutely everything, down to the last screw, had to be taken apart and restored to mint condition.

I didn't want to limit myself and began a search for parts to restore the car, which had been delivered new in Germany, to its original, top-notch condition. To achieve this, I added luxury options: power windows, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, a trip computer, and a power hood, plus a matching Opel SC 303 radio from that era. And, as the icing on the cake, an Irmscher intake manifold.

The Opel Kadett E GSI Cabriolet was based on the Kadett E (built 1984-1991), with the convertible version being built by coachbuilder Bertone in Italy. The GSI version was available with the 2.0i 8-valve engine (C20NE) producing 115 hp or, in some markets, the 2.0i 16V (C20XE) producing 150 hp. This made it a serious open-top sports Opel in the C-segment at the time.

Does coincidence exist?

Dirk Jan: "A local dealer had a scrap car with a crusty bottom, beyond repair, that I could take over for €200. "Scrap" is actually a bad word, because this car had plenty of usable parts. Think of the electric roof and other luxury options I wanted to install in my GSI. In practice, it proved difficult to find the right parts, but thanks to the many tips from Opel enthusiasts, everything was eventually found."

The Opel Kadett GSI Cabriolet is a wise investment

Now that the Opel Kadett GSI Cabriolet is finished, after much time, energy, fun, and a considerable investment of money, the fun can begin. A car that's stylish and well-rounded, and makes driving a joy. It drives like it looks: fast, incredibly fast, thanks to the 2,0-liter injection engine that, back then, guaranteed smooth performance and a sporty character.

But there is more

Are you familiar with the saying: "If you see his man cave, you know the man?" The garage attic is Dirk Jan's exclusive domain. Display cases full of Opel models where you can follow the brand's development, and automotive magazines, including, of course, Auto Motor Klassiek and Opel club magazines, and cozy seating areas where friends gather for oil and gasoline conversations. That scent is perfume for the enthusiast.

Side effects of enthusiasm

Enthusiasm has its side effects. It deepens and strengthens the car hobby, is infectious – before you know it, you're in the thick of it yourself – and it forges a strong bond between father and son, but just as much among car enthusiasts.

You can also experience such a strong bond with a subscription to Auto Motor KlassiekWe deliberately give our readers space in the Classic Post section, where comments and contributions are given a platform every month. Pure classic love in printing ink, for €49,50 per year.

(More photos below.)