Opel Olympia

The Opel Olympia was the first mass-produced German car with a self-supporting, entirely built of steel body. As a successor to the Opel 1.3 liter, which remained until October 1935 at the Opel program, he was named in reference to the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin and Garmisch -Partenkirchen.

History and technical design

The Olympia was presented in February 1935 at the International Automobile Exhibition in Berlin and was available in the same year at a price of 2,500 Reichsmark. (equivalent to over 10,000 Euro )

The self-supporting all-steel body brought some advantages over the conventional design with a separate chassis with it: better aerodynamics, reduced weight ( 835 kg ) and the first time a breaking point in the region of the front fork profile; a forerunner of today's crumple zones. For the independent suspension of the front axle the beginning of 1934 1.3 liter / 6 Opel introduced in the models " synchronous suspension " ( Dubonnet suspension ) was used. Back was installed a rigid axle with leaf springs.

The car was available in several variants, a convertible sedan or two-door sedan. In the first two years had the Olympics or mechanical ( cable ) drum brakes; from 1937 these were hydraulically operated ( " oil pressure brake" ). There was the car with two completely different water-cooled four-cylinder engines: up to 1937 with the SV engine of the previous model Opel 1.3 liters and 24 hp (later 29 hp ) as well as from the end of 1937 a 1.5 -liter all-new OHV engine with 37 hp. This engine was also used as drive for the NSU Kettenkrad.

The 1.3-liter Olympia reached a top speed of 95 km / h and had a consumption of nine liters of petrol per 100 km; the 1.5-liter car was highway-capable 112 km / h fast.

Up in October 1940 by order of the Imperial Government the production of civilian vehicles had to be stopped at Opel Olympia 168 875 cars had been built.

After the end of the 2nd World War, the production of a revised Olympic model was resumed in December 1947. The car was provided, inter alia, with the front axle of the pre-war captain (without synchronous suspension) and cost 1948 after the currency reform of 6785 DM; for that time a fortune and after today's purchasing power of 20,000 euros. In the 1950 model, there was also a body with a modernized delivery or van, which was rebuilt by coachbuilders such as Autenrieth, Meanies, Rappold, Dello, inter alia, to the combi.

Opel Olympia Rekord

Main article: Opel Olympia Rekord

In 1953, came the new Olympic record with pontoon body on the market. Also in 1957 featured Opel Rekord P1 the name Olympia reappeared on, in the name combination Opel Olympia Rekord for simpler, two-door models.

From the Opel Rekord derived, economical equipped models called "Olympia" there was until 1967, both from the Opel Rekord A and by the Opel Rekord B. These models were all two-door sedans with three-speed gearbox, which is operated by steering wheel gearshift. One of the few ever optierbaren extras was the heater, which was not yet in the series included in those years at Opel. Who wanted a four-door, a station wagon or a more powerful engine, which had to purchase the more expensive corresponding Opel Rekord.

From 1967, the Opel Olympia were then no more stripped-down record, but visually upgraded Opel Kadett B models.

Opel Olympia A

Main article: Opel Olympia A

From 1967 to 1970, visually upgraded versions of the Opel Kadett B, mostly offered with the strongest regional engines available, under the name Opel Olympia.

Source

• Schneider, Hans -Jürgen: 125 years Opel - cars and technology. Weilerswist: Publisher Schneider Repschläger 1987 ( no ISBN )