25 Opel cars that make our mouths water

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

July 11, 2024

These German classics have star (burst) quality
© Stellantis
Readers of a certain age will remember a time when Opels were sold alongside Vauxhalls in the UK. Forgive us, Vauxhall fans, but the Opel Ascona sounded more exotic than the Vauxhall Cavalier, while many of us lusted after a Manta or Monza. Here, we’ve created a list of our favourite retro and classic Opel models from the 1960s onwards. We’re not saying they’re the best Opels, but they’re the ones that make our mouths water. Click or swipe to see our favourites
Opel GT
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The original GT is arguably the most beautiful car to ever wear an Opel badge. It was based on the humble Opel Kadett and featured a body built by a French company. It’s no coincidence that it looks a little like a Corvette, because Opel was heavily influenced by its American GM parents. Highlights include the manually-operated pop-up headlights, which rotated counterclockwise from inside the car.
Opel Manta A
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Like the GT, the original Manta was based on humble underpinnings – this time the Ascona – but it actually emerged in 1970, before its more practical sibling. This was a year after the Capri, as Ford and Opel capitalised on the increasing appetite for pretty two-door coupes. Just shy of 500,000 Manta As were built between 1970 and 1975, but they are a rare sight in the UK.
Opel Ascona B 400
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The Opel Ascona 400 was a homologation special built to make it eligible for world rallying. Its most famous driver was a certain Walter Röhrl, who drove the Ascona to victory in the 1982 World Rally Championship, making him the last driver to win the WRC in a rear-wheel-drive car. Lancia won the constructors’ title in 1983, but Hannu Mikkola secured the drivers’ championship in a four-wheel-drive Audi.
Opel Kadett B Coupe Rallye
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While Vauxhall was dishing out the Viva, Opel was serving up veritable treats with the Kadett B. Available in various guises, the best of the lot was arguably the Coupe Rallye. It was Opel’s first works rally car and featured a matt black bonnet and side stripes, an extra pair of driving lights and a 1.9-litre twin-carb engine.
Opel Speedster
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Although we’re focusing on Opel cars that shared little in common with Vauxhall cars of the same period, we’re prepared to make an exception for the Speedster. It made its debut as a concept at the 1999 Geneva Motor Show and was initially powered by a 2.2-litre Ecotec engine lifted from the Astra. Like its Vauxhall VX220 sibling, it was built at the Lotus factory in Hethel and a 200hp turbocharged version would arrive later.
Opel Lotus Omega
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The Opel Lotus Omega was a bit of a rebel. Unlike many performance cars of the era, its top speed wasn’t limited to 155mph, so this thing could really stretch its legs on a derestricted autobahn. It therefore comes as no surprise to discover that the Opel version outsold its Vauxhall equivalent by 630 cars to 320. In Germany, nobody would blink at a 176mph ‘autobahnstormer’.
Opel Monza
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For a child growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, the Opel Monza sounded so much more exotic than the Vauxhall Royale coupe equivalent. It may have been based on the Senator saloon, but this stylish two-door coupe was a performance hero, especially in 3.0-litre form. The super-desirable Monza GSE arrived in 1982 and was available after the Royale had been dropped.
Opel Manta B GTE
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What is it about the Opel badge in the 1980s? Kids growing up in this decade may not have given Vauxhalls a second glance, but somehow, the Opel name seemed more alluring. The Manta GSI (GTE in the UK) was the Ford Capri’s chief rival and it lived on until 1988. It may have been cool over here, but back home in Germany, its image was similar to that of the Capri in the UK. In other words: not great.
Opel Commodore A Coupe
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The Opel Commodore was Lionel Richie’s favourite German car. Probably. It was an upmarket version of the Opel Rekord – the Vauxhall Victor in the UK – with more powerful engines, including a 2.8-litre straight-six. The fuel-injected GS/E arrived in 1970 and is arguably the Commodore of choice for those easy Sunday morning drives.
Opel Calibra V6 ITC
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There were many formidable Calibra race cars in Germany, but the Calibra V6 of 1996 took Opel to new heights. The so-called ‘Cliff Calibra’ won the International Touring Car Championship (ITC). Its 2.5-litre V6 engine produced a seriously impressive 500hp at a dizzying 11,500rpm.
Opel Kadett C GTE
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Yes, that is Walter Röhrl. The German rallying legend drove an Opel Kadett GT/E in the 1975, 1976 and 1977 WRC seasons, although he didn’t manage to amass any points. Launched in 1975, the Kadett GT/E actually beat the Golf GTI to market by one year, a car with which it shared its fuel injection system. Early cars were known for their distinctive yellow and black paintwork.
Opel Commodore B GSE
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The second-generation Commodore was based on humble Rekord underpinnings and, much like its predecessor, it deserves more respect than it gets. The fuel-injected GS/E was the all-singing, all-dancing model, with the potential to give a thoroughbred BMW or Mercedes a run for its money on the autobahn. The coupe was super-stylish and the four-door saloon a proper wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Opel Eco Speedster
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In 2002, Opel created the Eco Speedster, based on the mid-engined sports car of the same name, but featuring a 1.3-litre turbodiesel engine. As its name suggests, it was built with efficiency in mind and everything was stripped out to save weight and the car was lowered to maximise aerodynamics. During a 24-hour run, it set 17 world records, including an average speed of 141mph and fuel consumption of 111.2mpg.
Opel Ascona A SR
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Earlier, we mentioned the elegant Manta A coupe, which was based on the Opel Ascona of 1970. Nearly 700,000 of these saloon and estate cars were built between 1970 and 1975 and it sat between the Kadett and Rekord models. The 1.9-litre Ascona SR is a thing of beauty.
Opel Kadett Aero
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Happiness came as standard in the Opel Kadett Aero, as demonstrated by this pair from the 1970s. It featured a targa roll bar, a removable roof insert and a foldaway rear window, but a high price meant sales were limited. Shame, as this was a pretty and innovative convertible.
Opel Manta B 400
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The Manta 400 was a homologation special built to enable Opel to go rallying. It was sold in either white or silver, with rally decals, twin headlights, a boot spoiler and a heavy-duty gearbox among the various options. All cars featured a 2.4-litre engine and a total of 245 units were produced between 1981 and 1984.
Opel Diplomat V8
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The imposing Diplomat V8 could have become a Cadillac, but the project was canned due to the excessive cost of reengineering the car for the American market. Its 5.4-litre engine did, however, go on to power the Bitter CD sports car, while the Diplomat itself spawned long-wheelbase and landaulette versions.
Opel Senator 3.0
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Yes, we know the Opel Senator/Vauxhall Senator is no stranger to these shores, but it’s worth remembering its origins. Despite being a favourite with British police forces of the time, the Senator was built in Germany and was little more than a long-wheelbase Omega. But the sum was greater than the parts, with the 3.0-litre CD becoming a performance legend.
Opel GT
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There were rumours that this would replace the Vauxhall VX220 in the UK, but the plans never came to fruition. However, in the rest of Europe, the Opel GT did succeed the Speedster. It was based on the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky, with just over 7,500 sold between 2007 and 2010.
Broadspeed Turbo Manta
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The UK didn’t get many special editions of the Manta A, but the Broadspeed was one of its own. It was the result of a collaboration between D.O.T (Dealer Opel Team) and the tuner Broadspeed, with a Holset turbocharger helping to deliver a 75 per cent increase in power. It could sprint to 60mph in 7.6 seconds before hitting a top speed in excess of 125mph. Other upgrades included a front spoiler, modified carb, wider and lighter wheels, and a heavy-duty clutch. Sadly, only 28 were built.
Opel Kadett A
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OLIVER! Once upon a time, the Opel Kadett A would have been significant in the UK merely for the fact that it shared its platform with the Vauxhall Viva A. But thanks to a certain Top Gear special, it is more associated with Richard Hammond. He loved ‘Oliver’ so much, he had it (or should that be him?) shipped to the UK.
Opel Manta Swinger
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Needless to say, ‘Swinger’ meant something different in Germany, so this special edition didn’t come with a packet of pampas grass seeds and a glass bowl for your car keys. The Manta Swinger arrived in 1975 and was sold alongside similar special editions of the Kadett and Ascona. Drive one of these special editions along a high street in 2024 and you’ll most likely be the oldest Swinger in town…
Opel Diplomat A Coupe
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This is the Opel Diplomat A Coupe: a limited edition coupe built by Karmann in Germany. It was powered by a 227hp Chevy small-block V8 engine and cost a cool 25,000 Deutschmarks, the equivalent of seven VW Beetles. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a mere 347 were built between 1965 and 1967.
Opel Commodore A Steinmetz
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Not all Opel Commodores are created equal, as this Steinmetz special ably demonstrates. As if the wide body, plastic bonnet and rear window, safety roll bar and bucket seats weren’t enough, Steinmetz added three Weber twin-choke carburettors, a Koni racing chassis and ventilated brakes from the Diplomat. The Steinmetz could develop between 280hp and 300hp.
Opel Rekord C ‘Black Widow’
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‘Black Widow’ is a wonderfully apt name for this hard-as-nails touring car special from the late 1960s. Its yellow and black livery led to it being dubbed ‘The Taxi’ and its Swedish-developed engine could produce 175hp. Thanks to its low weight (935kg), it could reach a top speed well in excess of 120mph.