When it comes to 125-year-old automotive technology, proven experts have to work: Opel Classic employee Jens Cooper turns the knob of the battery ignition, opens the fuel tap, the carburettor is flooded, while colleague Werner Bachmann gets ready to turn the crank with his sleeves rolled up. All parameters must be correct in order to overcome the starting resistance. To set the piston in motion in the single cylinder. Three powerful attempts later, the 3.5 horsepower comes to life. The delicate motor vehicle rushes past the visitors. Beaming faces, smartphones pulled out. It is the star of the day: the – still roadworthy – Opel patent motor car System Lutzmann, with which automobile production began in Rüsselsheim in 1899.
Happy birthday through the classic workshop
At the start of the anniversary year “125 Years of Automobile Manufacturing”, 125 employees and 125 relatives enjoyed exclusive tours of the Opel classic workshop. In the place where the fascinating history of technology and culture is gathered. A team from Opel Classic and Internal Communications guided visitors through the “holy halls” with exciting anecdotes. From the lantern to the matrix light, from the self-supporting body and the first assembly line production in Germany to the modern electrified vehicle platforms – everywhere you can feel what Opel has stood for since the beginning like no other car manufacturer: the democratization of technologies.
“When it starts, you have both hands busy.”
– Jens Cooper about driving with the Opel System Lutzmann –
“There were many carriage builders at the end of the 19th century, but only a few engine builders,” Opel communications manager Roland Korioth tells visitors about the beginnings. When the Opel family concluded a contract with the Dessau court locksmith Friedrich Lutzmann to purchase his motor vehicle factory on January 21, 1899, the Rüsselsheim company was suddenly a member of the exclusive ranks of automobile manufacturers. The second order book with the orders for the Lutzmann is displayed behind a display case, which – unlike the first book – survived the big fire in the Opel factory in 1911 with minor burn marks.
Collection brings back memories
“How do I act like a Mafioso?” Dirk Ringena sat down with his son Tom in the Moonlight Roadster with the chrome radiator grille standing steeply in the wind and curved fenders. He was particularly fond of the 1.8 liter Sport Roadster, built in 1933. “A few years ago I discovered a copy of the Moonlight Roadster at an Opel dealer – it was supposed to cost 60,000 euros,” he says. That went beyond his budget, “which makes it even nicer that I can get behind the wheel today.”
“There wasn’t much more in the trunk than our five swimming trunks.”
– Lothar Christ’s memories of a summer vacation with the Kadett A Coupé –
When Christoph Heyne saw the advertisement for the exclusive tours, he jumped at the chance: “I really wanted to show my girlfriend the fascinating classic collection.”
60 years ago, Lothar Christ set off on a summer vacation with the whole family in one of these Kadett A Coupés – 1,800 kilometers to Spain.
“Everyone in our family drives an Opel,” says IT expert Michael Guchlerner, who visited the classic workshop with his wife Anna.
Prominent owner: This Kadett GSi in metallic black belonged to the former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt.
“I would take it straight away!” Jana Pruefer loves the emission-free Manta neoclassic.
“The colleagues had some trouble getting rid of the smell of cigarettes in the interior.”
– Uwe Deller about the Kadett GSi of the former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt –
Lothar Christ looks wistfully through the windshield of the Kadett A Coupé: “It must have been 1965, I was sitting in the passenger seat, had a road map on my lap and showed my father the way – all the way to Tarragona.” It took two days Family of five on the way to the Spanish holiday resort. “There wasn’t much more in the trunk than our five pairs of swimming trunks, my little sister napped in a basket on the parcel shelf during the journey – those were just different times,” says the former accountant with a laugh.
Infected with the Opel virus
The exhibits of motorsport history also arouse pure emotions. When he sees the black and white Opel Calibra, Rainer Pruefer thinks back to the day on which he was infected with the Opel virus: “It was October 13, 1996. I was standing on the track in Hockenheim,” Manuel Reuter cheered on his victory drive.” At the end of the season, Reuter won the International Touring Car World Championship and the “Cliff” Calibra entered the collective memory of European racing fans. Jens Cooper tells visitors how much meticulousness went into this triumph: “The technicians even lowered the windshield wiper motor to achieve the lowest possible center of gravity.”
Carriage car with 3.5 hp: The Opel patent car system Lutzmann in 1899 was extremely popular as a photo opportunity.
Touring car with 500 hp: Your favorite Opel? Clearly the “Cliff” Calibra! Jörg Geimer and his son Julius with the 1996 ITC champion.
As a farewell, all visitors received two historical books about Friedrich Lutzmann and Adam Opel.
The fascination of rallying: In order to beat the all-wheel drive competition, reliable Opel technology with rear-wheel drive was needed – and the exceptional driver Walter Röhrl.
The future needs origins: the battery-electric Astra and the Lutzmann system combined.
“My father has a huge Opel model car collection at home – seeing the vehicles here live is even cooler,” says Jana Pruefer as she explores the Manta GSe, the electric neoclassic that bridges tradition a sustainable future. “I would take him straight away!” For Emil, who came to the classic workshop with his father Kai Kaufmann, one thing is certain: “I will one day work at Opel.” Just like his great-grandfather, grandfather and father. “I want to build a car like this one with a battery,” he says when he sees the RAK-e Concept two-seater. He knows: Mobility at Opel is now electric.
Shining eyes, beaming faces
“Experience the Opel DNA up close in the classic workshop is always a very special experience,” says Jörg Geimer. There is an exciting story behind every single exhibit. At least. Like the one behind the Astra GSi in metallic black: “The car belonged to the former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt,” says Opel communicator Uwe Deller. The car, which Schmidt and his wife Loki drove for five years, is in impeccable condition – “although the Classic colleagues had some trouble getting rid of the smell of cigarettes inside.”
Bright eyes, beaming faces and lots of conversations with exciting personal stories about the classic cars – it was a successful start to the anniversary year. At the same time, Hessischer Rundfunk filmed the last episode of its highly acclaimed Opel saga on location. The program was shown in the Hessenschau and is still available in the media library.
January 2024
Text: Tina Henze, photos: Opel/Andreas Liebschner