In the beginning there was the penny-farthing
On a trip to Paris in 1884, Adam Opel became acquainted with the penny-farthing – in the French capital, wheels were already a natural means of transportation. The entrepreneur spontaneously decided to buy such a device. However, it was still several months before the company’s first own model left the factory in Rüsselsheim in 1886 after a thorough study of French and English wheels. The important chapter in the company’s history officially begins in the fall of 1887 with an illustrated price list.
World’s largest producer
The first dedicated factory hall was built as early as 1888. In 1890, 2,200 two-wheelers can already be sold. The five Opel sons played a large part in this development. They are enthusiastic about the bicycle early on, recognize its sales potential and ultimately make the company the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer of the 1920s. The enthusiasm of Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Fritz and Ludwig for the bike is particularly evident in the numerous race victories. The sporting successes are also excellent advertising for your own products.
The Opel brothers in 1884: Heinrich, Ludwig, Carl, Wilhelm and Fritz (from left).
In three steps: The drawings illustrate everyday cyclists in the 1880s.
For the benefit of the customers
The principle of customer orientation has been a top priority at Opel right from the start. In 1888, the penny-farthing that started bicycle construction in Rüsselsheim was replaced by the modern low-wheeler. It is easier to use and therefore much safer. His name: “Lightning”. Non-tilting tricycles of the “Fortuna” type also find their way into the range. In addition, Adam Opel has a “riding hall” built on the factory premises, where Opel customers can practice cycling undisturbed. Wife Sophie occasionally honors her role as an instructor.
Velodromes arise
Similar velodromes will later be built all over Germany. The Opel family also founded a cyclists’ club. In this way, cyclists who did not have a lobby at the beginning of the boom can better represent their interests. Opel also supports club foundations outside of Rüsselsheim. While the driving halls are long history, the “Radfahrer-Verein Opel 1888 Rüsselsheim e. V.” today.
Increased comfort: Opel is the general agent for Michelin Pneumatics.
Tricycle race in Frankfurt am Main: Carl Opel can be seen on the far left in his famous “CO” jersey.
Modern low-wheeler: An Opel “safety two-wheeler” from 1892.
Advantage through competence
In bicycle production, Opel almost exclusively employs specialists who previously worked in their own sewing machine production. Whether sewing machine or two-wheeler – both production processes have in common the principle of interchangeable individual parts. This gives Opel a competence advantage over its competitors right from the start. Furthermore, Opel combines a feel for what is technically feasible with a vision for what tomorrow’s customers will want. Examples of this are the early standard use of ball bearings and pneumatic tires, but also the rather quick discontinuation of the delicate penny farthings in 1892.
What customers want
Another pillar of the Rüsselsheim success is the large variety of models, which takes all wishes into account. The first examples of this are low and tricycles, because they meet the safety needs of customers. Racing bikes, cargo bikes and tandems will be added soon. In 1894, Opel presented its first model for women, the “Flora”. All of this contributes to bicycle sales more than doubling from 1893 to 1898: from 6,002 to 13,575 units. Opel is so successful that suppliers can no longer keep up with material deliveries. This is how Opel becomes an accessory and chain manufacturer that even supplies its competitors.
Employees in the late 1880s: the penny farthing is not included in the picture, instead the first pneumatic tires are presented.
1891: 17 models from 160 to 700 marks are on offer.
Accessories are welcome: Saddles are also available.
The Opel factory at the end of the 19th century: One new building after the next builds to keep up with the constant growth.
ideas and innovations
18911888 John Boyd Dunlop invents the pneumatic tire. It’s a huge gain in convenience. The coveted “pneumatics” are available from Opel just three years later – already from several well-known manufacturers.
1930Balloon tires have not only been a trend since the modern “balloon bikes”. Opel already had them in its range in the 1930s.
1898Opel is the first German manufacturer to offer chainless drives for women’s and men’s bikes.
Opel — fine brand
The Opel family recognized early on that not only the technical advantages are decisive for sales success, but also their appealing presentation to the public. The company presents its bicycles and the multitude of its sporting successes and records on posters, flyers and in advertisements over five decades.
space for women
With the increasing spread of the bicycle, even taboos are beginning to falter in Europe. So the wheel is a first significant step in the emancipation of the modern woman. Two-wheelers enable a previously unknown
freedom of movement. For practical reasons, women wear culottes or bloomers in the saddle – despite angry protests from the moral guardians. Opel focused on the female target group early on and staged self-confident protagonists.
From victory to victory…
Masterful: the five Opel brothers on the quintuplet.
… drive the Opel cyclists, led by the five sons of the house. The record of their victories is still impressive today: Carl wins a total of 60 first prizes, Wilhelm 70, Heinrich 150 and Ludwig more than 100. But Fritz in particular is one of the world’s most successful cyclists with over 180 first places. Among other things, he won the important long-distance Basel-Cleve journey in 1894. Many other well-known athletes also start with Rüsselsheim sports equipment. 1889 was a particularly successful year: 240 victories, including 13 championships, were won with Opel products. Willy Arend can repeat August Lehr’s triumph at the 1888 World Championships in London. In 1897 in Glasgow he became the second Opel driver to become world champion. In 1908, colleague Hans Ludwig made positive headlines. He wins the Vienna-Berlin, a prestigious race that Josef Fischer had already won for Opel 15 years earlier. The sporting successes give a strong boost to sales.
The most successful of the five brothers: Fritz Opel poses here after winning the 620-kilometer Basel-Cleve long-distance journey in September 1894.
The motor bike: elegant, clean, fast
In 1911 a major fire raged in the Opel factory. With the reconstruction, the decision was made to end sewing machine production. Opel is fully committed to mobility. In addition to bicycles and automobiles, motorcycles are also to be offered, which was already the case between 1901 and 1907. Because of the First World War, it was not until 1919 that the first model could come out: the motor-bicycle. It’s lightweight and affordable, so fits in well with the times.
modern times
“Largest production in the world”: These are the words used in this advertisement in 1927. 4,000 wheels are produced every day – twenty times more than with the old methods. 40 tons of material are now used every day, including 25 kilometers of pipe.
In 1923 Germany was on the ground. The state is broke, inflation is exploding – a belated consequence of the First World War. Currency depreciation and a lack of raw materials force Opel to interrupt production. But the four brothers (Ludwig died in 1917) made clever use of this forced break. For many years they have been observing progressive industrial companies beyond the borders of their homeland. There is a lot to learn, especially in the USA. And so in the fall of 1923 Opel revolutionized its production with a tremendous effort and within a few months established “series production” based on the American model. Through the introduction of the assembly line, clever layout of the production rooms and standardized processes, the products can be significantly reduced in price with increased quality and thus open up new, broader groups of buyers. The bike promises fewer teething problems due to its less complex construction and so the transition process starts here first. In 1924, the first automobile follows with the small 4/12 hp. The plans work: Just three years later, Opel is the largest car manufacturer in Germany and the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world.
Bestseller: The millionth Opel bicycle rolls off the assembly line on July 21, 1926. It has a special frame and is still owned by the company today. The 4/12 hp “Laubfrosch”: It is the first mass-produced car in Germany.
Modern production: In addition to the systems for producing oxygen and acetylene in-house, the fully automatic electroplating and paint shop are key areas after the changeover.
The self-constructed painting line is 130 meters long and replaces 300 workers who then work in the wheel spinning mill, for example…
… or can be used for rail loading. Up to 50 wagons loaded with wheels leave the factory every day.
The wheel of champions
After retiring from motorsport in 1926, Opel concentrated on cycling. With 18 permanent German and foreign road drivers, Fritz von Opel put together the largest works team to date. This world-class team is supplemented by the great track drivers of the time: Robert Grassin, Jaap Meyer, Jean Rosellen, Walter Sawall and Jean Weiss. They all put their trust in the ZR III racing machine from Rüsselsheim. Wherever the team with the bright yellow jerseys appears, it clears top positions.
Yellow winning bike: The famous Opel ZR III racing bike (model 1933).
Intoxicated by speed
In the 1920s and 1930s, bicycle racing was as popular as soccer is today. The biggest spectacle for the public is offered by the so-called stayer races, in which the athletes reach high speeds in the slipstream of a motorcycle. Here, too, top drivers trust the ZR III. It made its greatest appearance on September 29, 1928 on the Montlhéry racetrack near Paris: the Belgian racing driver Léon Vanderstuyft covered 122.771 kilometers behind his pacemaker Lehmann in one hour, thereby setting a new world speed record. Other stars of the stayer races are the Frenchman Robert Grassin and the five-time German champion Erich Metze, who became world champion in Leipzig in 1934 in an Opel ZR III.
Track record:More than 2.5 million wheels
On February 15, 1937, Opel produces the last bicycle. It is a “blue and chrome” men’s bike and has the serial number 2,621,964. In the frame triangle, a round sign announces the end of an era: “The last bicycle – focus on motorization”. Effective immediately, Opel will devote itself entirely to the automotive business. The two-wheeler production facilities are sold to NSU. Opel wheels with the brand name NSU-Opel will continue to be manufactured there for around a year – after that only under the NSU name.
Successor: an NSU Opel prospectus title from 1937.
The last Opel bicycle: immortalized with a group photo on the assembly line.
The Opel works in 1937: Concentration on automobile production.
Unmistakably Opel: the NSU Opel models are initially produced unchanged in Neckarsulm – including the Opel Zeppelin on the mudguard. From 1938 onwards, all characteristics pointing to Opel disappeared.
Including Zeppelin: a 1936 Opel bicycle.
Innovation meets tradition
58 years after the end of production, Opel is returning to its two-wheeler roots for the first time. Like its motorized big 4×4 brother, the classy dark green metallic Frontera bike is perfectly tailored to off-road use. The 2,265 copies are sold out within a short time. At the Vienna Auto Show 2010, Opel presented a cooperation with Austria’s largest bicycle manufacturer KTM. On the occasion of the “111 Years of Opel Automobile” anniversary, the “Opel ecoBike Edition 111” electric bicycle, limited to 111 units, was created. In 2012, the latest Opel wheel celebrated its public premiere at the Geneva Motor Show: the futuristic e-bike study RAD e.
Classy in dark green: the Frontera bike 1995.
Limited to 111 pieces: the Opel ecoBike from 2010.
Historical role model: The designers were inspired for the RAD e by the 1928 Opel Motoclub 500. As with the classic motorcycle, whose popularity also goes back to its flame-red tyres, pressed steel elements are used for the frame of the RAD e.
June 2022
Text and research: Leif Rohwedder, photos: Opel Archive