Classic debut for Niklas Kaul
Debut in an Opel classic: Niklas Kaul, the world and European decathlon champion, has been associated with the company as a campaign ambassador for years.
Opel Classic boss Leif Rohwedder remembers one thing above all from the start of the season in May at the 10th Bodensee Klassik: the enthusiastic face of decathlete Niklas Kaul. The Mainz European and world champion drove to Lake Constance in his Opel Astra GSe and climbed into a Kadett C GT/E for the 600-kilometer endurance ride in the border triangle. “Niklas was completely thrilled,” remembers Rohwedder. “I think it was the first time he ever drove a classic car.” Being able to use the latest Opel technology is without a doubt great, but such a 50-year-old Kadett treasure offers a very unique driving experience. And because the Kadett C was celebrating its 50th birthday this year, there was a second model at the start: Le Mans winner Joachim “Jockel” Winkelhock skillfully drove a Kadett GT/E from the 1000 series.
Contemporary meets classic: The sporty spearhead of the Opel compact class, the Astra GSe, was there as a support vehicle for the organizers.
Season opener in May: In addition to the two Kadett GT/E models, the Kadett 1.6 S Aero (left) from the Opel Classic collection was also at the start.
“As soon as I sit in a sporty Opel classic, the adrenaline increases.” Jockel Winkelhock drove a Kadett GT/E together with Boris Schmidt.
The athletically demanding one
Picturesque villages, picturesque landscapes and classic automobiles right in the middle: the “Paul Pietsch Classic” is one of the Opel Classic team’s annual must-do events.
In June, the Opel Classic team set off for the Black Forest: the 10th Paul Pietsch Classic, a rally in honor of the racing driver and publisher, was on the program. At the start this time: an Opel Commodore GS/E Coupé “Rallye Monte Carlo 1973” – “a homage to Walter Röhrl’s debut 50 years ago at the Rallye Monte Carlo,” says Leif Rohwedder. Opel head of communications Harald Hamprecht drove a matching color Opel GT from 1969. “For us, the Black Forest Rally represents the most demanding sporting challenge every year,” said the Opel Classic boss. “The special stages are really tough. There is a fight for every hundredth of a second.” On a test track, there are even two steep curves that have to be negotiated. The finish in Offenburg makes up for all the hardships: “No other rally will give us such a reception – this is a real folk festival!”
Folk festival atmosphere at the finish: The top model of the Astra series led the field on both days of the rally as the leading vehicle.
Another Opel classic at the start: The Corsa GSi is a maneuverable, lively small car made for drifting through tight corners.
Homage to Walter Röhrl: The rally ace made his debut at the Monte Carlo Rally 50 years ago with such a Commodore GS/E Coupé.
Athletes on the move in athletes
At the 27th edition of the ADAC Oldtimerfahrt Hesse-Thuringia in June, Opel revived the “Golden 1960s and 1970s” – with timeless lightning beauties such as the Opel GT, Diplomat B, Rekord C Cabrio and the sporty Opel Commodore B GS/ E Coupe. In the latter, four-time Olympic bobsleigh champion André Lange drove through the “triangle” of Hesse, Thuringia and Lower Saxony as a prominent Opel driver. And even the Thuringian local hero had to admit afterwards that this rally had taken him to places he had never been before. Leif Rohwedder was also amazed by a young couple who had won a rally start in an Opel GT in an MDR competition: Tim Rapp and Kim Kaltenpoth. “The two of them assured me that they had taken part in another rally – and immediately became the strongest Opel team. Hats off!”
Four-time Olympic bobsleigh champion André Lange was at the start in a Commodore GS/E Coupé. “As an athlete, it’s particularly fun for me to climb into such an icon.”
A real rarity: The Rekord C Cabriolet, converted in 1967 by the Cologne coachbuilder Karl Deutsch, was the oldest model in the Opel Classic field.
“On the Road again”: This Diplomat V8 with 230 hp from 1975 also covered the total distance of more than 500 kilometers without any problems.
A well-coordinated team: the Thuringian athlete André Lange mastered 17 uniformity tests at the wheel of the Commodore GS/E.
Hot on white in the Taunus
Opel Classic brought a “white fleet” with them to the 7th Klassik Tour Kronberg in September. The legendary classics included the Kadett Aero, the Admiral V8 and the Monza 3.0. Prominent Opel drivers included actress Gesine Cukrowski and TV star Timur Ülker. From the prologue to the finish line, the actress traveled in a 1978 Kadett Aero in bright, beautiful late summer weather. “Folding top up, fresh air in – numerous passers-by celebrated our Targa convertible with black-and-red Pepita seats as the highlight of the rally,” said Gesine Cukrowski enthusiastically after crossing the finish line. Meanwhile, TV star Timur Ülker took a seat in an Admiral V8 together with Opel communications director Harald Hamprecht. The team showed how casually the luxury sedan with 190 hp still takes corners today. “This is automotive beauty paired with power. “The sound alone makes you look forward to it,” said the singer and influencer Ülker.
Automotive beauty paired with power: TV star Timur Ülker (right) and Opel communications director Harald Hamprecht were at the start with an Admiral V8.
“The Klassik Tour Kronberg was twice as much fun!”: Actress Gesine Cukrowski felt completely at home in the 1978 Kadett Aero.
The destination of the third and final stage was Oberursel: The Klassik Tour Kronberg is the most important regularity and reliability ride in Hesse. It took place for the seventh time this year.
570 kilometers of driving fun and exciting special stages: The Opel Monza 3.0 E with its three-liter six-cylinder engine has proven that sporty luxury still appeals today.
Summer, sun, “white fleet”: In addition to the classics from Rüsselsheim, there was also an Astra Electric. The organizers of the rally were on the road with it on the three days of the event.
Exquisite things from days gone by
Opel Classic boss Leif Rohwedder accepted the first award for the Opel 10/18 Tourer from 1908: it was one of the three most beautiful vehicles built between 1905 and 1918.
Baroque sculptures in lush green, the palace garden, a masterpiece of European garden art – this is how you can say goodbye in style: the Opel Classic team celebrated the end of this year’s season in September at the 19th Classic Gala Schwetzingen in Baden-Württemberg. Visitors were able to marvel at over 160 historical vehicles. And at the ECOmobil gala just a few steps away, Opel showed with the Astra Sports Tourer GSe and Grandland GSe what contemporary driving fun with responsibility means. The fact that no classics had to be moved at the event, but were just displayed in an incomparably stylish ambience, didn’t come as a surprise to Leif Rohwedder and his team: “Our classics aren’t getting any younger either.” The Classic boss was allowed to do this two of his oldies that he had brought with him won prizes – a worthy end to a classic season that was successful in many respects.
A classic on the way to the end of the season: The 2.8-liter six-cylinder in the Captain B accelerates effortlessly to 175 km/h.
Excellent: The Classic Gala at Schwetzingen Castle was a worthy conclusion to the successful 2023 Classic season.
A car like a picture: The “keyhole” captain from 1958 was named among the top 3 nominees for the “Prix Superieur”.
November 2023
Text: Eric Scherer, photos: Opel