Opel has been producing automobiles for 125 years. 125 years in which the brand has made millions of people mobile and inspired them with many innovations. Opel is celebrating this on Saturday, June 8th, with an open day at its headquarters in Rüsselsheim. In keeping with the anniversary motto “Forever forward since 1899”, customers, employees and the general public as well as guests of honor from politics and Stellantis can discover automotive milestones in Opel’s history and celebrate online on Facebook.
On site, visitors take a look behind the scenes on the factory tour, for example, or experience the Opel feeling up close on a motorsport test drive. The “125 years of automobile manufacturing at Opel” is not the only anniversary being celebrated these days: in 1964 – exactly 60 years ago – the “Opel Design Studio” began its work as the first design center of a manufacturer in Europe. And so on Saturday, visitors can also admire icons of automotive design from six decades.
“We want to celebrate with our visitors and show how Opel has helped shape change in the automotive industry and positioned itself for the future.”
– Opel CEO Florian Huettl –
Icon: Created in the Opel design studio, the Experimental GT celebrated its premiere in 1965.
Bold vision: The GT X Experimental from 2018 – source of inspiration for the Mokka.
The best of both worlds: The style icon Manta as a locally emission-free neoclassic.
During the official ceremony with invited guests in the Adam Opel Haus, the manufacturer will open its doors to the public from 10:30 a.m. Then visitors can take a first look at the design exhibition in building N10. The foray through the design decades extends from the 1965 Experimental GT to groundbreaking Opel studies from the 1980s to innovative concepts of the recent past such as the GT X Experimental, the emission-free neoclassic Manta GSe and the visionary Opel Experimental.
Experience two premieres at once
The pop-up exhibition, immersed in different color worlds, opens at 11.30 a.m. in the N50. Here, visitors can take a look at exhibits from the first Opel – the Opel patented motor car System Lutzmann – to bestsellers and legends such as the Opel Kapitan, GT, Manta and Calibra to electric models such as the Opel Ampera. On factory tours starting at 1 p.m., which start behind the Adam Opel Haus throughout the afternoon, Opel will present the current Astra production at the Rüsselsheim site. In addition, the general public can experience the completely newly developed Opel Frontera and Opel Grandland up close for the first time.
Premiere I: After it was presented to the world public in Istanbul a few days ago, visitors can experience the new Frontera live on Saturday.
Premiere II: The new Grandland SUV flagship can also be explored up close for the first time by a broad audience at the “Open Day”.
The first: The Opel Lutzmann is a star of the pop-up exhibition.
The youngest: Behind the wheel at 15? This is possible with the Rocks Electric.
The Rüsselsheimer: Experience Astra production at the headquarters.
Starting at lunchtime, the vehicles of the world’s first electric rally one-make cup will be making their rounds in the parking lot behind the Adam Opel Haus in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric. A limited number of motorsport fans can register for a ride. Young visitors aged 15 and over can experience for themselves what individual mobile freedom feels like just a few meters away from behind the wheel of an Opel Rocks Electric – Opel has also set up its own test drive route on this day. The basic requirement to be able to drive from the age of 15 is a class AM driving license.
Competition: Experience electrifying rally sport
We are giving away two rides in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric, the vehicle in the world’s first electric rally one-make cup, to all readers of the Opel Post on Saturday. It’s that easy: Write an email to opel.post@stellantis.com by Thursday, 3 p.m. with the subject “I would like to take a lap in the Opel Corsa Rally Electric”. The two winners will be drawn from all entries and will be informed by email on Friday.
The youngest visitors will find plenty of entertainment options in the “Kids Corner”, which is also located in the immediate vicinity of the large catering area behind the Adam Opel Haus. There are also numerous other offers for all visitors throughout the outdoor area.
Become part of the exhibition
As an additional attraction, an area reserved exclusively for Opel vintage cars opposite the Adam Opel House at Rugbyring enriches the anniversary celebration: visitors and guests who arrive with a historic Opel vehicle with an H license plate can park their automobile on this day in the “An the fire station” and thus turn the area into a temporary open-air pop-up exhibition of Opel classic cars.
June 2024
Photos: Opel