The Opel Kadett A Story (1962 - 1965) - The First Post-War Compact Car?

[@Rosteg2406]

I'm glad youtube is recommending smaller channels again, looking forward to see more videos from you

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@Rosteg2406 thank you for this huge compliment! More videos definitely coming soon and also watch my other videos as well! - Ralph

[@toddbonin6926]

I have never seen a Kadett A in person. The B series was very popular when I was a kid though. I just love the A series. It looks like a fun and simple car. Great video!!!

[@RalphTSMobiles]

Thanks for watching! I have seen a few in person, but mostly in museums! Don’t forget to watch my other videos as well! - Ralph

[@toddbonin6926]

@ I’ve been to a car museum in Belgium and one in Denmark … so many great cars I’d never seen before (I’m in the States). Your channel is awesome!!

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@toddbonin6926 thank you so much, it means a lot to me Todd! - Ralph

[@toddbonin6926]

@ you’ve got a great channel. I enjoy your videos very much!

[@marcpot3220]

Altijd een genot om te kijken en te luisteren. 👍

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@marcpot3220 heel erg bedankt! Snel weer een nieuwe video! - Ralph

[@Djeseret]

As is often the case with an Opel, the Kadett is more under the surface, than it appears to be. The appearance drew inspiration from GM's Mako Shark concept car, which was the model for the Corvette 1963, with sharp raised creases in the fenders and the longitudinal crease in the bonnet typical of Opel from now on. The folds in the raised fenders front and rear are suitable for making parking easier as you can see the four corners of the body. Already here you can see Opel's ability to make very small cars look bigger than they are, an art no one has mastered as well as Opel. Despite the practical and economical design, Kadett has both a certain elegance and a hint of beauty. The luxury model L execution with stylish two-tone upholstery that also included the doors with Opel emblems in the upholstery, extra chrome strips and more comprehensive equipment, actually makes the Kadett one of the most luxurious small cars of this time - small cars were usually extremely... simple at the time - further emphasized by the - in this class - almost unique Coupé which also had a more powerful engine. The Caravan was the first German station wagon in this size class, and for that matter, one of the first true station wagons of modern design in this size class worldwide. Coupén and L could get a small round side indicator on the front fender as extra equipment, Very rare in 1962. The body consisted of only 12 different parts, the entire side of the body consisted of a single piece without joints, the steering and front axle were a built-up integral unit, practically unique in 1962. The idea of ​​assembling a car by assembling a number of pre-assembled smaller units was completely new at this time. The new engine was 1.0 liters and 40 hp at 5,000 rpm, which was Opel's highest-revving engine to date. The 48 hp S engine produced max power at 5400 rpm. Low-lying side-mounted camshaft operating the valves with long pushrods to give the engine a low height and even smaller dimensions. Hydraulic self-adjusting chain tensioner. For its time, this was a highly lavish engine in terms of quality. The cylinder head consisted of a special alloy of chrome and cast iron, the pistons were in an aluminum alloy with cast-in steel details for greater strength and had chrome-plated piston rings. The exhaust valve seats were made of a very special chrome-nickel-titanium alloy. Titanium... Actually titanium was not easy to come by in 1962 during the cold war, when most of it was supplied from the Soviet Union, the US was forced to smuggle titanium to be able to build the spy plane SR-71 Black Bird. The intention of these advanced materials was to increase the engine's resistance to heat and material changes, the lower weight of the pistons also meant high efficiency. And they succeeded, this became one of the most durable and high-quality of Opel's engines and was produced until 1989. The range was discontinued in 1983 after disparaging comments from ignorant journalists who considered it musty and unfashionable, but customers demanded its return, so production resumed again in 1985. In 2007, a 1963 Kadett participates in the Top Gear during a tour through Africa in an endurance against a 1981 Lancia and a 1985 Mercedes 230 while crossing deserts, swamps and jungle areas, the Kadett proves to be completely superior due to its light construction and light weight which enabled it to drive without the slightest difficulty through soft ground where the other two heavy cars became standing sunk to the wheel axles. The most impressive display of the Kadett engine's unimaginable durability is when the Kadett sinks to the bottom of a river - twice... and most present judge it to be probably a total wreck and that it will never run again, but after a night of drying and disassembling the electrical components, it starts just as if nothing had happened, leaving those around speechless The 44-year-old Kadett then crosses the finish line completely untouched and without damage, while the Lancia and the Mercedes are total scrap held together with ropes, nails, boards and old cans. The Kadett weighed just 670 kg, 88 kg less than the 1937 Kadett and 90 kg less than the VW. In 1962, a Swedish Kadett participates in the Monte Carlo rally and enters third place in the smallest class 1000 cc. Saab enthusiasts tend to brag about what a masterpiece of lightweight construction the Saab 92 - 96 was, but it weighed 880 kg, 210 kg... more than the Kadett! The suspension at the front consisted of a transverse leaf spring which also functioned as an anti-roll bar. A design here predates the Chevrolet Corvette, which only used it in the rear from 1963, in the front Corvette didn't get it until 1984. The gearbox was new, four-speed with floor lever and connected to a drive shaft that ran inside a support tube to a new type of central rear axle mount in the form of a rubber-suspended link arm which was also the third engine mount and whose purpose was to prevent the drive shaft from moving under suspension, dampen noise and vibrations and relieve the leaf springs from having to absorb movements during acceleration and braking. But also enable the drive tunnel in the floor to be made low and narrow. Bushings in the chassis and steering were of a new type of maintenance-free rubber plastic. Another way to save weight was to forgo brake servos, instead a complete brake system from Rekord was fitted, which meant that it was oversized for a significantly heavier car and thus full braking effect could be achieved without servo assistance. From Rekord P2 are also collected Opel's ingenious interior lighting with built-in projector lens, which provides both general lighting and targeted reading lighting at the same time, The L luxury model also had an extra mechanism on the boot lid, with made it possible to open the lid so much that it tilted slightly forward over the rear window in the way that started to appear on cars in the 1990s... The Kadett turned out to have a strong and torsionally rigid body, which motor journalists especially noted in tests at the time. Opel was one of the first to start flipping and rolling cars in crash tests and after the Kadett flipped violently down a hill it only showed a slight sprain of one corner of the front fender and a corresponding one in the roof. The Caravan model that arrived in April 63 was available with a third row of seats for up to six people and Opel also introduced a child seat as one of the first in the world as an optional extra. The Kadett is, as expected, a success with waiting times of five months for delivery in the first year as demand far exceeds factory capacity. Between 1962 and 65, 649,512 Kadets were produced.

[@Djeseret]

Yes... it was a bit long, but I like this Opel theme and am happy to help with what I know.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

Thank you so much for all of this (mostly) new information! I’ve read it all! Please consider dropping a super thanks on this video or becoming a member of my channel! - Ralph

[@Michel-r6m]

Een vriend en collega's waren helemaal Opel. Ook makkelijk (zelf) te onderhouden.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@Michel-r6m zeker weten! Oudere auto’s zijn altijd vrij eenvoudig te onderhouden! - Ralph

[@MrBonnuus]

De eerste auto van mijn ouders in 1971, een witte met zwart dak. Leuke auto, maar best vaak pech mee gehad onderweg. De snelheidsmeter was groen tot 50, oranje tot 100, en dan rood. Bij inruil trok de dealer de mat omhoog en prikte zo een gat in de bodem, mijn vader kreeg er nog 250 gulden voor.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@MrBonnuus dat is heel erg spijtig! Auto’s toentertijd gingen helaas niet heel lang mee! - Ralph

[@hendrikbarboritsch7003]

thx

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@hendrikbarboritsch7003 thanks for watching! - Ralph

[@ermozandstra3420]

Leuk om naar de kijken.Ja de Kadett wie reed er niet in in die jaren.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@ermozandstra3420 inderdaad! Nederlands best verkochte auto! - Ralph

[@touraneindanke]

De verbijsterd korte tijd waarin de A serie geproduceerd is terwijl hij compleet is met coupé en station heb ik nooit begrepen. Het succes van de B serie bewees wel dat het management het bij het juiste eind had. Toen nog wel dus.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

Het waren beiden enorm bijzondere auto’s! Nu zou er nooit meer een model op de markt kunnen komen voor maar 3 jaar en zulke productienummers neerzetten! - Ralph

[@l4d1k06]

I first read the line "The Opel Kadett - a history..." and thought "Somehow the Karett looked a lot different in the US and what a land yacht for a compact car." 🤔 and a second later... 😅👍

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@l4d1k06 hahaha! I get the misconception! Don’t forget to watch my other history videos as well! - Ralph

[@arthurverheijen6682]

Smullennnnnnnn!! Helemaal top!

[@RalphTSMobiles]

Bedankt weer Arthur! - Ralph

[@waltertaljaard1488]

Typical European GM product. In the UK they made a very simular Vauxhall model. The Viva. However with the British standard 12 Volt electric system.

[@RalphTSMobiles]

@@waltertaljaard1488 indeed! Especially the Kadett C / Chevette! - Ralph

[@henrivinkeles8288]

De auto die hadden ze nooit moeten uitvinden

[@RalphTSMobiles]

Nee? Waarom vind je van niet? - Ralph

[@henrivinkeles8288]

@RalphTSMobiles ben 40 jaar schade monteur geweest, het zijn gewoon stinkende vieze dingen, vind paard en wagen veel mooier en beter voor de natuur