In the Rearview Mirror: Opel Takes a Swung at It
Just one year after the B, Opel unveiled the completely redesigned Rekord C in August 1966. From the very beginning, this mid-size model was available in a wide range of body styles. The Rüsselsheim-built car was available as a two- and four-door sedan in standard and luxury trim, as well as a three- and five-door station wagon and a delivery van. Just a few months after its debut, Opel followed up with the fastback coupe. The range of powertrains was also quite extensive.
Under the hood of the Rekord were four- and six-cylinder CIH engines—which were state-of-the-art for their time—featuring a camshaft mounted in the cylinder head. The lineup included eight engines, ranging from 1.5-liter to 2.2-liter units and delivering power outputs from 58 PS (43 kW) to 106 PS (78 kW). “The driving force behind this tremendous variety,” as Opel officials stated at the time, “is solely the goal of satisfying the individual wishes of everyone from the budget-conscious buyer to the very discerning customer.”
Even the entry-level models stood out with technically advanced equipment and safety features that were anything but standard at the time. These included the Rekord C’s modern suspension: at the front, the track width was increased from 1,325 to 1,400 millimeters compared to the previous model, and improved damping enhanced both ride comfort and safety. The major changes, however, were found at the rear. Leaf springs were no longer used on the rear axle; instead, coil springs were employed, guided by double wishbones and a Panhard rod. This made the Rekord C the first Opel with coil springs on the rear axle. Stabilizer bars, which were standard on the front, were available as an option on the rear.
Attractive Coupé
The Rekord C was also the only vehicle in its class in which all variants were equipped as standard with a dual-circuit braking system, and a power brake booster facilitated rapid deceleration of the vehicle. In addition to the increased length and width of the interior, features such as the new heating system—which made it possible to “unheated or heated fresh air, as well as mixed air—that is, temperature-controlled fresh air—to be directed into the car. The airflow from driving draws the stale interior air out through the rear air vents.” This was a very advanced solution by the standards of the time.
While delivery vans and caravans ensured that—according to the contemporary advertising brochure— “bulky equipment and even Grandma’s garden furniture” fit into the spacious rear compartment, the fastback-style coupé—introduced in the spring of 1967—in particular provided a dynamic design. According to the design department, the top-of-the-line model in the series at the time was “not simply a Rekord sedan with a sloping rear roof, but a sporty, sleek automobile with a character all its own.” The absence of the side B-pillars created an airy, spacious feel. In addition, the Rekord’s signature “Coke bottle” silhouette complemented the coupé particularly well and lent its dynamic appearance an extra touch of elegance.
That same year, Opel pulled out all the stops with the Rekord Sprint: Featuring rally stripes and auxiliary headlights, the two-door model with its 106 PS (78 kW) 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine made it clear from the outside what it was capable of: It sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.5 seconds, leaving most vehicles in its class at the time far behind.
The “Black Widow”
The only car more powerful was the “Black Widow,” which remains legendary to this day. This was a Group 5 special touring car based on the Rekord 1900 S, which motorsports enthusiast and Opel designer Anatol Lapine built in 1968 with a few colleagues—without the official knowledge of Opel’s executive board. The technicians tuned the four-cylinder engine of the glossy black two-door car to 180 PS (132 kW) using two twin carburetors—double the power of the production model. They also reinforced the powertrain and optimized the suspension. As early as its second race appearance in 1968 at the Hockenheimring, the car—with Erich Bitter at the wheel—set the fastest lap time against strong Porsche competition. The Rekord C was also successfully deployed in rally racing, for example by Swedish ace Lille-Bror Nasenius, who finished as runner-up in the European Rally Championship during the 1967 season.
The wide range of production models was complemented by the exclusive four-seat Rekord Sport Cabriolet, which was built by the Cologne-based body shop Karl Deutsch. In addition, the Rekord C also served as the basis for the Opel Commodore A, which raised the bar for sporty sedans even higher starting in 1967. It bridged the gap between the Rekord and the brand’s flagship models, the Kapitän and Admiral.
The Rekord C proved to be a huge success. By the time production ended in December 1971, more than 1.25 million units had rolled off the assembly line. It was the brand’s first model to break the one-million mark.
To celebrate the production of the ten-millionth Opel in September 1971—55 years ago—in Rüsselsheim, the company presented a Rekord C to representatives of the German states of Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate—on one condition: Each state government was to donate its vehicle to an organization in its region. North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Secretary Heinz Truschkowski donated the car to the Workers’ Welfare Association. Hesse’s Minister President Albert Osswald made the Rekord C Caravan available to the German Red Cross—as did his counterpart in Rhineland-Palatinate, a certain Helmut Kohl.
And the Rekord C is also part of German music history. Die Toten Hosen helped bring it special recognition: a Rekord C Caravan can already be seen on the cover of their 1983 debut album, “Opel Gang.” Even 43 years later, it was clear to the cult-status punk rockers: True to the motto “A car like this,” it also graces the cover of this year’s and final regular studio album, “Trink aus! Wir müssen gehen.” (aum)
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