Opel: a model line of the legendary German car

The founder of the German automobile concern Opel was the businessman Adam Opel (1837-1895 gg.). Production began in the city of Rüsselheim with the production of sewing machines and bicycles. Automobile production was established three years after the death of Adam Opel, in 1898 his sons.

The birth of the concern

Charles, Wilhelm and Heinrich, the sons of Adam, signed a contract with automotive designer Friedrich Lutzmann from the city of Dessau. The first cars were named Opel-Lutzmann and were produced in small batches. The brothers were not satisfied with the pace of production, so they soon broke up with Lutzmann and signed a contract with one of the French firms, which immediately offered a ready-made two-cylinder engine and chassis. The new Opel car was introduced at the 1902 auto show in Hamburg. The machine was equipped with a two-cylinder engine with water cooling, a capacity of 12 liters. With., Which allowed to develop a speed of up to 45 km / h. It was the first model of the "Opel-10/12 PS".

Post-war development

By 1914, Opel had become one of the largest car manufacturers, Opel's plants were intensively developed. The crisis in the 30s forced the German concern to unite with the American GM (General Motors). When the Second World War began, it was necessary to put an end to the production of cars, military trucks began to descend from factory conveyors. During the war, many factory shops suffered from bombing raids by Russian aviation, they had to be rebuilt. Since 1948, the concern has reached its maximum capacity. Design offices developed one model after another. The model range of cars "Opel" quickly replenished. A high degree of unification of units and aggregates made it possible to produce machines in a significant range. The first cars of the post-war years were "Olympia", "Cadet", a powerful Kapitan, "Record" and coupe-sport Opel GT. The latter model was not in demand due to the high price, and in addition, the buyers of cars in the postwar years were, in the main, elderly people, and post-war youth had not yet grown. Production of sports models had to be suspended.

Caring for consumers

On these cars, in fact, and based on the world-famous brand "Opel", the model range of which today has about 30 models, as well as several dozen modifications. In 1987, the Opel lineup was replenished with a new Omega car; next year a new Vectra model was added to the lineup; in 1989 another vehicle was added to the Opel family - the sports Opel Calibra.

In 1991, Opel, whose lineup was continued by the stylish Astra, launched the production of family cars. Following Astra in a number of new models stood Frontera and Monterey. And worthy finished 1994 is a small, but powerful Opel Tigra. The concern "Opel", whose model range evenly distributes seats between family cars and dynamic sports cars, tried to provide all consumers.

Auto-giant Opel today

Currently, the Corsa model is already in the third generation, Astra adheres to the parameters of the second-generation car, and Vectra, like Corsa, is the third. Continuity is provided by observance of the basic technical characteristics with simultaneous modernization of interior and an exterior of the car. Of the completely new cars that replenished the Opel range in 2014, we can name the modification of the minivan Zafira, microvan Agila, off-road car Frontera, sports Opel Coupe and supersport Opel Speedster. Also, a brand new concept car Meriva has recently appeared and is characterized by the novelty of the technical solutions Signum. The auto giant Opel, whose model range is expanding every year, is now preparing several micro cars for city trips designed for housewives.