Opel Kadett Parked 33 Years, Will it Run? - "The Garage" Episode 2/4

[@Mikeattempts]

Check out the entire playlist here: kzbin.info/aero/PLtclIrV-1euDVVMprAV8BYiKBj0AKx6TD

[@ironpony42]

Sorry about your dad. I LOVE the Opel. My first car was a 1972 Opel Kadett 2-door wagon. 4-speed, with a 1.9 out of a GT, and a Weber carb. I had so much fun with it, I learned to slide it around our field before I had a license. That would have been 1991. In '92, I was on the open road in it. My family had Opels. I was born in '75, and came home from the hostpital in a green 1900 Wagon mom drove. Dad had several Manta "A" cars. They just had 1900's, Kadetts, and Mantas, never a GT. (Dad was too tall for them, they were tiny cars.) But the trick to running an Opel as a daily, is you must own 3 of them. Parts were difficult, and it was the 80's - Dad got into fast VW Rabbits, and mom got her new for '84 Plymouth Voyager. Then it was time for my first car, and of course, Dad found an Opel. I sadly didn't keep it too long, had it maybe a year and a half. I moved on to Dodge Darts, and late 60's big block boat Mercurys. We had a shop, and I changed cars like socks. I'm now closing in on 50 and have had over 40 vehicles. But if I ever find another copper metallic 2-door Kadett wagon, I'll buy it.

[@Mikeattempts]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I was in my dad's garage a ton growing up and I always remember the Opal sitting there. However, I knew almost nothing about it until I started working on it for this video. My mom was the last to use it as her work car and I couldn't get a definitive answer as to why it hadn't run in so long. A guy recently bought it with plans for a full restoration. He said he'd keep us updated with the progress. I was really happy to see it go to someone who appreciates the brand. Thanks for the comment.

[@winstonelston5743]

I remember the parts issues. Even when new and under warranty my Dad's '70 two-door sedan came out of the dealer with chome resonator and tailpipe when the original and unobtrusive parts had rusted out. Had a hell of a time finding a replacement oil-bath filter for the dual carb set-up on the 1.1-liter. Pop joked that the new clutch cable had to come over the Alps by Saint Bernard.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@winstonelston5743 Yeah, that's what I was wondering about the guy who's restoring this one. It'll probably take a while to source any parts he'll need.

[@MrYaatri]

Sorry to hear about your dad. My first car was a 1970 Opel Kadette Wagon (bought in 1979)and the second car was a 1973 (bought in Aug 1981)OPel Kadette Wagon. I loved them both. It's interesting to see that your driver's side rrear wheel was locked. My 1970 opel had that issue too. When you engaged the parking brake, the shows would not always retract. I would have to remove the drum and get the shoes to retract. I tried to not to use the parking brake. It was funny how you did not notice the ring that you pull up to put it in reverse. GM used that ring many of it's brands, including the Daewoo I bought in 2002. I would love to own anther Opel.

[@Mikeattempts]

Hahaha, yeah, I felt like an idiot once I realized that ring existed. All of my vehicles have had a manual transmission since I got my driver's license but that was the first time I've seen a reverse lockout. Oh well, now I know! :) Thanks for the comment.

[@jow1328]

Great job, and great car! I drive the Opel Kadett 1900 station wagon last 20 years. Except for a few details, your car is in very original unmodified condition - very cool, exactly the configuration and style I like most 🙂

[@Mikeattempts]

Thanks! What year is your Kadett wagon? Are you able to still find parts easily? Thanks for watching!

[@jow1328]

@@Mikeattempts Its also from 1970 - this is why I like yours so much. Yes, spare parts are all available, at least anything to keep them running, not even expensive. Some body, exterior or interior parts might be harder to find.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@jow1328 That's great there are still parts available for a 52-year-old vehicle. I've heard they're pretty reliable and get good fuel economy too.

[@jow1328]

@@Mikeattempts Opel produced the engine from 1965 to 200x. I've restored a couple of Kadetts and drive them since 30 years. Yes, super reliable (provided properly maintained)! Fuel economy is relative. For a 1900 I think it could be better. Depends a lot on the carburettor. And your driving style 🙂

[@ChaChiVooDoo]

Thats a Kadett Rallye pretty rare car. I had a 69 Kadett wagon years ago. Would love to find another

[@Mikeattempts]

Yep, luckily it was purchased by a collector that is currently in the middle of a full restoration.

[@cheaptricked]

Got the optional 1.9; sweet. My mother drove a wagon in the late 60s, bought it from a dealer we went to church with.

[@Mikeattempts]

Yeah, my mom said it was a good little car and got great gas mileage. Thanks for watching!

[@Charles-z8t]

I bought a1970 rallye new back then. Loved the car. Another viewer called yours a rallye, it is not. It would have a flat black hood and rallye plaques. Would have 3:67 gears. I think yours would the the 3:08 gear set. Be careful with the car ad parts are difficult to find. Also, that engine has solid tappets and require adjusting fairly often. Keep the points shiny and dwell set at 50 degrees . Your very lucky!

[@Mikeattempts]

I'm pretty sure it was a Rallye. The glove box said Rallye on the outside, the air filter cover says Super 1900, and I think there were even some body plaques inside the glove box. You seem to know what you're talking about though so who knows?! :) My mom ended up selling it to a collector who is currently in the middle of a complete restoration. I was happy to see it go to someone who would treat it well. Thanks for watching!

[@Charles-z8t]

if there was a gage cluster down by the shifter amps,temp,clock then it was a rallye for sure

[@Mikeattempts]

@@Charles-z8t Yeah, there was a bracket for the cluster, but the gauges were missing. The guy who bought it was asking about them and he found a bunch of Opel parts in the garage when he came to pick up the car but I'm not sure if he ever found the original gauge cluster.

[@winstonelston5743]

My Dad had a '70 two-door sedan with the 1.1-liter engine. It had dual carbs and dual exhausts brand new from the dealer in June, 1970. It was as de-contented as a car could be that year. It did have a heater, but didn't even have a dome light.

[@Mikeattempts]

Did he like it? My dad had 2 and both him and my mom used them as work cars.

[@winstonelston5743]

@@Mikeattempts I wouldn't exactly say he liked it. It was the cheapest possible transpotrtation available when his eleven-year-old Studebaker crapped out. It was his first brand-new car, bought from Tom Mitchell Buick at the intersection of Piedmont and Peachtree in Atlanta. Like it? More like tolerated it, learned to chuckle about its shortcomings. It was a convenient size and surprisingly roomy little car that he jokingly called his _motorized wheelchair._ and he had it for more than fifteen years until the left frame rail cracked through and the unit-body buckled when he opened the driver's door, when he traded what was left for a new '85 Dodge Omni.. The Opel had its quirks, including no optional equipment, not even a dome light. The rear-seat windows were sealed in place with rubber gaskets. Flip-out rear windows were optional. The 1.1-liter engine had dual carbs and a weird dual exhaust system that was quite rust prone. At one point he needed a muffler and a resonator under warranty and the dealer denied that this was a US spec car. "There's the car and that's your dealer placard on the ass-end of it. Now fix it!" The replacement was an Rallye Kadett spec chrome trip, Pop called "a lace collar on a pig." When the weather was cold, the engine didn't have enough torque to pull the transmission over in neutral at idle, and it took some complicated feathering of the choke to keeo it running if the temperature was at or below 45F. Pop would mask the radiator off with a file folder to keep the engine warm enough to run in the cold season (anytime between the end of August and the middle of May in the car's opinion). It had an oil-bath air filter. Clutches would last a little over 30,000 miles, no, Pop wasn't hard on clutches, they just were inadequate for the engine power and torque and the car's weight (about 1700 pounds curb weight if I remember right). I remember the controls to be light and easy to operate on the occasions when I drove it, in comparison to my six-cylinder-stick manual steering '74 Dodge Coronet.

[@winstonelston5743]

Oh! The two recalls. One for insufficient clips to hold the windshield in, Pop's response that he would rather go out behind the windshield than through it, and the other because the taillight retainer screws had sharp tips and could puncture the gas tank. Pop wedged a scrap of 2x4 lumber in the gap.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@winstonelston5743 Hahahaha, damn, you Pop sounds like he was a pretty funny and resourceful guy! :)

[@winstonelston5743]

@@Mikeattempts That he was. He was a sanity-challenged scientist (never got his PhD so he never achieved the full honorific of _Mad_ , though he sometimes bordered on ill-tempered) in the Georgia Tech Experiment Station's Biomass Assimilation Research Facility where he was in charge of the Specialized Highly Innovative Technology. He was a certifiable genius, though, predicting and proving experimentally a single reaction with iodine in three different valence states simultaneously, iodyl tri-iodate, I think it was. One day he came home and commented he's had to qualify on the firing range to work on a defense contract. When pressed as to his score, he replied "Sharpshooter right-handed, Expert left-handed with a .45 caliber sidearm." [AWE]

[@garysullivan2144]

Great video. Car is in amazing condition.

[@Mikeattempts]

Thanks, I appreciate it! :)

[@garysullivan2144]

@@Mikeattempts I've now been glancing at some of your work and you have quite the range of postings that I find very useful and interesting. Unlike a lot of postings, these seem extraordinarily thoughtful and grounded. I'm certain these are well received by many many more than just myself. I've only just begun to look at them, but thank you.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@garysullivan2144 Thank you very much for the kind words! Messages like this are extremely helpful and encouraging. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. :)

[@ferrochinabisleri1587]

13:17 Opel's reverse works like this At least from the Kadett B (1965) to the actual ones.

[@Mikeattempts]

Yeah, I felt pretty silly once I figured it out. :)

[@LucasRichardStephens]

Excelent!

[@Mikeattempts]

Thanks for watching!

[@LucasRichardStephens]

@@Mikeattempts I have three poorly cars all 2002 or older, I had the idea, watching this film that I could sell all three as they are and get one car that is much older, since I actually think I might be able to fix and maintain a car as simple as this opel.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@LucasRichardStephens Yeah, I'm definitely no expert but it's pretty safe to say that the older engines are easier to repair and maintain. They are much less complex, and you don't have to worry about computers and lots of electronics.

[@mrirrigationllc]

I have a 1971 opel kadett notchback that hasn't run in over 25 years. I bought it six months ago. I haven't gotten it running yet as I have six bmw Z3s that need attention and a 1974 ford capri that are ahead of it. Great job on yours and congratulations on making it drivable!!!!!

[@Mikeattempts]

@@mrirrigationllc Thanks, good luck with all of those vehicles! ;)

[@theworldsnewsplainview952]

If you ever want to sell the 1970 Opal please let me know.

[@Mikeattempts]

My mom already sold it to a guy who's currently in the process of a full restoration.

[@kurtsavela3650]

Please consider passing it along to someone who knows how to take care of Opels.

[@Mikeattempts]

That's the plan. My mom has joined an Opel forum in hopes of finding the right buyer. Thanks for watching!

[@Jimbrand6756]

My parents had 2 kadetts 1 each back in mid 70s

[@Mikeattempts]

My mom was the last to drive this one, before it was parked, and she said it was a good little work car.

[@darrinrentruc6614]

Is this car for sale?

[@Mikeattempts]

It has already been sold to a nice guy that's currently working on a full restoration.

[@darrinrentruc6614]

@@Mikeattempts Thank you for the reply, These are way harder to find then the GTs. My old man had one when I was a kid and have been looking for one for years.

[@trendydwarf3747]

@@darrinrentruc6614this is an Olympia yeah?

[@darrinrentruc6614]

@@trendydwarf3747 This one here is the Opel Kadett.

[@sasquatchsmith9980]

Where is the elephant 🐘?

[@Mikeattempts]

Hahaha, you mean the sound it was making when I was trying to get it started? Yeah, that was pretty guttural. :)

[@winstonelston5743]

@@Mikeattempts I haven't been able to find the period TV ads on KZbin, but the big joke in the Opel Kadett commercials in the late sixties and early seventies compared the Opel Kadett "Mini-Brute" against a "Maxi-Brute" Indian elephant, usually including some form of performance competition which the Maxi-Brute almost always won. A memorable point of comparison [video showed the Kadett Rallye console shifter] "The Mini-Brute has four on the floor." [video pans to the elephant's feet} "The Maxi-Brute has four on the floor". After several similar gut-wrenching puns, the competition begins, memorably a sand-pit tug-of war the elephant won by virtue of superior traction. The sales catalog for 1970 included various models of Mini-Brutes against elephants kitted out for corresponding activities: the career-girls mini-brute was a plain-jane two-door sedan compared with the career-girl's Maxi-Brute, an elephant decked out for a circus performance with a sequined-costumed model who "loves her Maxi-Brute!" Great ads similar to the period VW ads.

[@Mikeattempts]

@@winstonelston5743 Ooohhh, so that's what @sasquatchsmith9980 meant by "where is the elephant?", hahaha, thanks for enlightening me! :)

[@winstonelston5743]

@@Mikeattempts I found some of the Minibrute commercials from 1969 are on youtube.

[@tomcat11513]

Instead of pouring one gallon of gas down the carb, just pour 2 gallons, not like you will hydro lock it or anything,...GOOD LAWWWWD!!! Washed them cylinders out good!!!

[@Mikeattempts]

I added some oil to the fuel to help with lubrication since the engine had been sitting for so long. Thanks for watching!

[@whatliesbeneathurbanexplor1631]

Same reverse gear most vw car

[@Mikeattempts]

Yeah, I felt pretty silly after I found that ring. :)

[@whatliesbeneathurbanexplor1631]

@@Mikeattempts not silly at all mate it took me awhile to find reverse on my vw t5. I still to this day get mixed up with first and reverse 😆

[@Mikeattempts]

@@whatliesbeneathurbanexplor1631 True, the silver lining is that I learned something new. :)