Opel Ascona: The last RWD Rally Champion car ever -

In this episode from Driving With Gloves, Cor had the opportunity to drive a Rally car from the early 1980's, thanks to Simon Car in Ago in Switzerland. www.simonscar.ch
Although in the middle of the winter and although in the early moning on still snowy streets, these conditions were simply perfect to drive this spartanic Opel Ascona 400 model.
It is the same model as the car which brought the famous Walter Röhrl to his 2nd World Champion Rally title in 1982. Therefor it was the last Rear Wheel Drive Rally car ever, which won this title. And this makes the car so special. Only 269 were built.
www.drivingwithgloves.info

[@johngillis6366]

Nice vid, the Ascona was definitely the last rwd car used to win the WRC Drivers Championship in '82, but the Lancia 037 was the last rwd car to win the WRC Makes Championship in '83 🙂

[@DrivingwithGloves]

You are absolutely right about that.

[@johngillis6366]

@@DrivingwithGloves Love the video, the Ascona 400 is in my top 3 rally cars of all time, after the Ford Escort RS and Porsche 911 SC 👍

[@DrivingwithGloves]

@@johngillis6366 i haven't driven a Ford Escort RS, but I used to own a Porsche 911 SC. After driving the Opel Ascona 400 I had a bit of a deja vu, although less horse power and the engine in the front, it was a bit like driving an old Porsche again.

[@johngillis6366]

@@DrivingwithGloves The old Group 4 cars had character, and were spectacular in competition. Today's WRC's car sadly lack both of those charateristics. I've subscribed to your channel, keep up the great work!

[@DrivingwithGloves]

@@johngillis6366 thank you very much!

[@losh330]

I absolutely love these. One day I will import one to the USA but it will be a while until then.

[@gunnarkvinlaug9079]

I had a 4 door 2.0S for 4 years, and I loved it!

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Great to hear that!

[@teogriff866]

Superb car but the last rwd world rally champions car was the lancia 037.

[@DrivingwithGloves]

You are right, but the last RWD World Rally Championship drivers' title was won in an Opel Ascona 400 by Walter Röhrl

[@teogriff866]

@@DrivingwithGloves aaahh ok pardon.

[@hscpme4098]

sorry, but that is a CIH engine, not a 400 engine.....

[@keeswajer205]

it is even not a ascona 400

[@christine4576]

Gratuliere dir! Das Video ist sehr gut geworden👌

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Vielen herzlichen Dank!

[@uh1200]

That engine in that car is the CIH 8V. Not the 2.4 16V CIH

[@DrivingwithGloves]

You are right.

[@fredmacdonald7752]

Nice job Cor! You look good in it!

[@DrivingwithGloves]

That is because it is an ugly car, so I look more handsome 🤣🤣🤣

[@rvandijk65]

Mooie video Cor. Helaas is de auto die je reed geen originele 400i maar een re-creatie. Zoals veel Ascona's later zijn omgebouwd. Onderstel met sper en carrosserie zijn op veel punten anders en minder sterk. De motor van 144pK en de dogleg bak zijn ook anders. De motor in jouw auto is geen 2,4l. Dit is te herkennen aan het kleppendeksel. De motor had ook een andere injectie. Ook heeft de auto nooit een schuifdak gehad. Bij 11:58 staat ook de rechter achterruit in beeld... 2.0SR 1976... YES!!!! that's more like it. Met die injectie misschien 120pK. Een echte 400i was een onrustig beest met 7,2 >100km/h en 220 km/h top afh bak en as-ratio en had dankzij de 45 liter tank een range van misschien 350km. Ik heb er voor team Bergsteijn het NL kampioenschap mee gereden tegen John Bosch. Groep N tegen A (later B). Kansloos tegen een 4x4 325i natuurlijk. Het plezier was er zichtbaar niet minder om. Had zelf een Ascona A Steinmetz 1972, gekocht in 82 voor fl. 500,= want geen motor. Verder zelfde verhaal. Met een door budget beperkte keuze was een 1,9 SR motor van 90pK al heel wat om te beginnen. Groeten, Ruud

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Sorry Ruud, ik heb nu pas je uitvoerige bericht gezien. Het spijt me voor de vertraagde reactie. Je hebt natuurlijk helemaal gelijk. Voor mij was het gewoon leuk, dat ik deze auto ter beschikking kreeg om hem te verfilmen. Temeer daar het 's nachts nog had gesneeuwd en er zomerbanden opzaten. Zodoende was de auto wat dat betreft snel genoeg op de normale weg. En het gaat natuurlijk om het verhaal.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

Cor, your views are really exploding on this one. Over 600 views. Well done! And I can't help but be jealous of your roads. Over here it is all farm fields. A big grid of squares. Endless 4-way stops in a '+' shape. No curves. You could go 100km without moving the wheel if your tire's alignment was good!

[@Jason-fp7vi]

Also Cor, was this example in your video an actual rally car? Or is it just a "replica"?

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Hi Jason, you are right, the curvy roads are delicious in Switzerland. Driving over the motorway on the other hand is quite dull over here.

[@Jason-fp7vi]

@@DrivingwithGloves well in any case excellent job on this video. This one was well worth the wait!! 👏👏👏

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Jason, it is one of these intended 400 roadcars for homoligation of which were only built 269. So it has the only 144 PS power output. But nonetheless it was a joy to drive. And there were no winter tires on it 😉

[@DrivingwithGloves]

@@Jason-fp7vi thank you very much!

[@simonelevada9923]

Super....

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Grazie Simone. Ma senza di te, il video non essisterà 😉

[@joechiodo5841]

Hello! Great videos! If you are interested to drive a Mercedes 350 SL 1972, with 160.000 original km's. Car is in perfect state. Would be happy to bring it to you in CH. Cheers, Joe

[@DrivingwithGloves]

Sorry Joe, I missed your message. That is very kind of you. I used to have two R107. Now it is getting winter, perhaps that would be an option for springtime.. Thanks a lot!

[@user-mc8ct6vu4z]

Not a real Ascona 400😉

[@DrivingwithGloves]

You are right. But the owner pretended to have a real Ascona 400. So I was prepared to film this video. Would you have cancelled to make the video? It was a fun drive after all in winterly conditions.