International Underdogs
General Motors ownedOpel from 1929 to 2017, and in 1958, Opels were brought over from Europe to compete in the burgeoning import market. They were sold here through Buick dealerships.
Opel platforms are still used to support Buick and other GM models and have been for decades, including Vauxhalls and the Cadillac Catera, too. The two separate generations of Opels—1970 and 1976—best show the Buick-marketed Opel's purpose and evolution before and after the first energy crisis.
My brother's best friend growing up was a bit of a hellion, and his family owned two cars. One was a white 1965 Plymouth Fury station wagon they kept for years: I remember his mother driving it as late as 1978, and it was always in beautiful condition. The other car was a light blue, two-door 1970 Opel Kadett Sport Sedan his father drove to work and maintained diligently, while also letting his three teenagers drive it. One day in 1977, my brother's friend was messing around with the Opel and dropped the transmission around the corner from our house. He revved it very high in first and quickly released the clutch, thus killing the transmission on a seven-year-old car with almost 100,000 miles on it. I am sure his father was not too happy that the car he used for work was rendered inoperable by teenage shenanigans. I remind you that it survived two teenagers before this incident.
I'm telling you this story for a reason. People tend to declare certain cars crap, and usually those cars are what were considered cheap "throwaways." Quite often those offering an opinion never actually owned one. Those who did own them often leave out the abuse these cars suffered yet survived. I'll get an email from someone telling me a car I featured was his first car, which had 250,000 miles on when he bought it for $200. He'll then tell me what a piece of crap it was and how he drove it on the beach, through the woods and into a pool and continued to drive it until he graduated from college. That car wasn't crap. It was a tank.
The cheaper the car, the less likely it was treated with care. Yes, there are exceptions. Every once in a while, a cherry Chevette, owned by someone's grandmother, will show up for sale, looking like it just came off the showroom floor. Luckily for you, Grandma never let her grandkids get ahold of her car.
Before 1973, inexpensive, small economy cars were sought after by people who wanted a second car or basic transportation, and the 1970 Opel fit the bill. "The Mini- Brute" offered five models: Rallye Kadett, Deluxe wagon, Super Deluxe sport sedan, two-door sport sedan, and the cheapest model, a two-door sedan.
The base engine generated 63 hp with 8.2:1 compression. The standard Rallye engine was a 1.1-liter OHV four-cylinder producing 67 hp at 6,000 rpm with 9.2:1 compression, fed through two one-barrel carburetors. An optional engine for all but the two-door sedan was a single two-barrel-carbureted 1.9-liter OHC four-cylinder that generated 102 hp at 5,400 rpm and drank premium fuel. The standard transmission was a fully synchronized four-speed manual, and there was an optional three-speed automatic. Combined gas mileage averaged between 25 and 30 mpg, and Opels rode on a coil suspension.
The attractive styling was very Chevrolet Nova-like in miniature, and the wagon could be quite handy. The Rallye Kadett would compete directly with Ford's soonto- be-introduced Capri. They sold well, and I remember seeing a lot of Kadetts back in the day. Now, let's jump ahead to 1976, in a totally different world.
The Kadett name had been dropped, and the cars now called Opels in America were actually built by Isuzu of Japan. Styling was evolutionary and gave them a more substantial, if not a little mundane, appearance. Models included the sport coupe, four-door sedan, Deluxe coupe, and standard coupe, but no wagon. Still rear-wheel drive, the engine was now a 1.8-liter OHC, generating 60 hp (80 hp optional). Transmission choices were a four-speed manual or an automatic. The most desirable today, if you could find one, would probably be the Buick-Opel Sport Coupe with plastic covered bumpers, black-out trim, and "SC" decals.
Now, are they still around? While the Opel Mantas andGTs are aplenty, they are not underdogs nor priced as such. I did find a few Opel Kadetts for no more than $1,000, and all of them were in rough shape. Maybe this is an opportunity for those of you who have always wanted to create a hot rod but needed a cheap car for a base. They are the same size as a Henry J and look just as cool, but cost a lot less. Think about it.
FAQs
Yes and No. Yes a lot of Buicks current models are based on what Opel and Vauxhall sell and design for Europe, but that hasn't always been the case. The Vauxhall/Opel Omega became the Cadillac Catera for the American market, the Vauxhall/Opel Astra became the Saturn Astra.
Did Buick make the Opal? ›
Buick used to import German Opel's back in the 60's and 70's. The cars were sold for a few years under the Opel name, but it was deemed unsuccessful. There may have been a bit of “not invented here” syndrome since the small Kadett sold 480,000 in the US, the Manta sold fairly well too.
What is Opel called in the USA? ›
Opel builds vehicles that are also sold in other parts of the world under a variety of names. For example, its cars are sold under the Buick nameplate in North America and China, whereas it is called Holden in Australia.
Who made the car called Opal? ›
Opel traces its roots to a sewing machine manufacturer founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main. The company began manufacturing bicycles in 1886 and produced its first automobile in 1899.
Are Buicks better than Chevy? ›
Is a Buick a Chevy product or vice versa? General Motors manufactures both automotive brands, but the truth is, Buick and Chevrolet are very different in many ways. While their CPO program advantages are comparable, new Buicks offer more extended warranties and vehicles that outshine their Chevy competitors.
Do Buicks last a long time? ›
Buicks and Longevity
In fact, they generally last 200,000 miles, or about 13 years, which placed them third overall (and first among luxury brands) in J.D. Power's 2020 vehicle dependability survey. Of course, preventive maintenance and driving habits have a lot to do with a car's longevity.
Are Opel cars any good? ›
In addition, according to the 2022 ADAC breakdown statistics, Opel models in various market segments, from Grandland and Crossland to ADAM, stand out as reliable used cars. Opel engineers are also focused on further improving long-term quality. To this end, cooperation with suppliers has been intensified.
Do Opel cars still exist? ›
Headquartered in Rüsselsheim, the company has 10 plants and four development and test centers in six European countries. Opel employs around 35,600 people in Europe, with more than 18,250 in Germany. Opel and Vauxhall are present in over 50 countries.
Is Chevrolet the same as Opel? ›
Due to local content laws the cars usually received different engines than in their home markets. However, these were replaced by Opel models like the Rekord, Commodore, and Senator, and in 1982 the Chevrolet brand name was dropped in favour of Opel.
Why did GM sell Opel? ›
There were other factors that hampered the automaker in the region, such as the financial crisis as well as an ever tightening regulatory regime around emissions and fuel economy. So the automaker sold the business to PSA Group, the French automaker that owns the Peugeot and Citroen brands.
There hasn't been a car sold in the U.S. wearing an Opel badge since the 1975 Manta, but that doesn't mean Opel's vehicles have been absent from American streets.
What does opal stand for? ›
The opal is also a representative of justice and harmony, and is a protective stone in dangerous places. Opal has always been associated with love and passion, as well as desire and eroticism. It is a seductive stone that intensifies emotional states and releases inhibitions. It can also act as an emotional stabilizer.
Is the Buick Verano an Opel? ›
The Verano, the Buick Excelle GT, which was developed for the Chinese market, and the Opel Astra/Vauxhall Astra sedan share General Motors' Delta II platform with the Chevrolet Cruze, Chevrolet Orlando, and Opel/Vauxhall Zafira Tourer. In the US, it was manufactured by General Motors from 2012 to 2017.
What car brand is Buick under? ›
Buick is owned by General Motors (GM), who also owns GMC, Cadillac, and Chevrolet. Unlike most automakers, Buick is something of a legend with a history dating back over 100 years. Learn more about Buick, where Buick models are made, and more with Haggerty Buick GMC today to learn more about your favorite models.
Is Buick a German car? ›
Buick is an American automaker, but the locations of Buick's manufacturing plants are fairly widespread. Buick cars are manufactured at different production locations throughout the United States, as well as Canada, China, South Korea, and Germany.
Is a Buick a Cadillac? ›
Buick is positioned as a premium automobile brand, selling luxury vehicles positioned above Chevrolet, while priced below the flagship luxury Cadillac division. In North America, Buick vehicles are almost always sold alongside GMC (another premium brand) vehicles at multi-brand dealerships.
