*/
]]>
—–
The Opel 4 PS was the first car of a German manufacturer, which was produced in large quantities on the assembly line.
—–
Under the partially glazed roof of the old factory building, the vintage cars are lined up in the dim light. They cool off from the morning efforts. Each car is at least 90 years old. And this was one of the rare opportunities to return to Ruesselsheim for reunification.
The first Opel 4 PS, which was given the nickname “tree frog” because of its dark green body, was produced in spring 1924 in Rüsselsheim. It was the first car of a German manufacturer, which was produced in large quantities on the assembly line. Opel built until the end of production in 1931 about 120,000 pieces of 4 hp. Today, he is a sought-after collector’s item among classic car fans.
Currently, there are about 100 roadworthy specimens throughout Europe, which are cared for by their proud owners with dedication. 29 of these Opel oldies from Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland were able to withstand the hot temperatures of 17 August and drove to the Rüsselsheim Altwerk for the 2018 meeting of the Opel 4 PS type group.
Diversity from the assembly line
*/
]]>
Magnificent views In the “Altwerk” assemble different Opel 4 PS models.
The meeting was Joachim Busshardt, safety engineer at Opel, organized with the support of his colleagues Andrew Leuchtmann and Christian deity. “The members of the 4 hp type group are part of the Alt-Opel community of interests,” explains Busshardt, whose own Opel 4 hp from 1928 is currently being retreaded. “Every year we meet in a different place to share our love for the 4 hp. We have decided that the 15th anniversary of the 4 hp group should take place in the historic cradle of the birth of the car. “
Historic cradle
In addition to the “pilgrimage” to the Altwerk, a tour of the classic car collection of the Opel Classic workshop and some “gasoline scraps” at Schnitzel with mushroom sauce and Äppelwoi, the visit of the Opel racetrack was another highlight of the three-day event program.
↑ Video: The 4 hp meeting of the Old Opel type group in Rüsselsheim
Key position The Opel 4 PS is a milestone in the history of the German automotive industry.
The racetrack was built by Opel in 1919. The track, with its steep-wall curves that allowed top speeds of up to 140 km / h, was the fastest in Europe in the twenties. Famous racers from this era like Rudolf Caracciola started here.
Fastest racetrack in Europe
Heinz Zettl welcomed the 4 hp group on the racetrack and explained the special significance of the track for the history of the tree frog. Zettl is a former Opel PR manager and founder of the Opel Classic workshop – nobody knows more about the history of the company and the Opel family. In addition, he is the main responsible behind the event “F40 Las Brisas Meets Classic Cars”, which has become a Mecca for regular vintage car meeting at the same restaurant in Rüsselsheim.
Dynamic Trio The return of the Opel 4PS to Rüsselsheim was organized by the Opel engineers Christian Gottheit, Andrew Leuchtmann and Joachim Busshardt (from left).
The Opel racetrack 1925 Opel presents the daily production of the Opel 4/12 hp.
“Today, the racetrack is a technical cultural monument, and only a few remnants are still visible,” said Zettl. “During a race in 1925, a daily production of more than 100 4 hp in front of thousands of spectators in the grandstands accompanied by the Opel factory orchestra drove over the course.”
Through the Hessian Riedund over the Rhine
After a drive through the Hessian Ried and a ferry crossing the Rhine, followed by a guided tour of the mysterious Oppenheimer cellar labyrinth, the Opel 4 PS meeting reached its destination on the evening of 18 August in Trebur. Jean-Marc Bach, speaker of the “4 hp type group” and proud owner of the 1927 4 hp, who amazed the old-timer community by crossing the Alps in 2004, explained the meeting in 2018 to a resounding success.
In several ways connected with Rüsselsheim Lutz Maier-Rehm at the wheel of his Opel 4 PS. Maier-Rehm’s grandfather was an Opel employee in Rüsselsheim at the time the car was produced. In 1925 he moved to Eisenach, where he became a successful Opel dealer.
“Tree Frog” The (not always) green body gave the Opel 4 PS its lovable nickname.
Despite heat: mega-weekend For the “tree frog”
“It was a fantastic weekend,” said Bach, whose passion for Opel began with his childlike enthusiasm for the 1966 Cadet C Coupé. “The highlights were, of course, the visit to Rüsselsheim, the racetrack and the Classic Workshop. We covered about 120 kilometers in our classic cars and had only one small breakdown. And that despite the high temperatures! A big thank you to Joachim Busshardt, Andrew Leuchtmann, Christian deity and their families for the top organization! “
September 2018
Text: Andrew Marshall, Photos: Andreas Liebschner