Classic cars with history: We celebrate 50 years of the Opel Kadett B

It has been many years since we last saw a Opel Kadett, a historic model from the German brand that was replaced by the Opel Astra in 1991. For many years it was one of Opel’s most popular models, and from 1965 until the last day of its production it was the vehicle of thousands of families, who enjoyed its versatility. Before this date there was another Kadett, the so-called Kadett A, which was built in 1936. The one we are concerned with, which turns half a century old this year, is the Kadett B.

The Opel Kadett B grew compared to its predecessor, taking advantage of all the stylistic and technical advances that emerged after the war. It was 180 mm longer than the previous version of the Kadett and was sold in three body styles: a two- or four-door saloon, an estate, and a coupé. The latter drew its inspiration from the American Chevrolet Chevelle, although its most identifying feature was the three ventilation slots cut into the B-pillar.

The Opel Kadett B hit the market with a 1.1-litre engine producing 45 CV, 5 CV more than its predecessor. A higher-compression version, the S, offered 55 CV. In 1966 a new version arrived with an engine reaching 60 CV. The Rally version of the Opel Kadett B had an engine delivering up to 90 CV from 1.9 litres, a powerplant later fitted to the Opel Olympia, a more luxurious version of the Kadett B.

The Kadett B Rally reached a top speed of 170 km/h in 1967, once it was equipped with this engine. When it went on sale, the Opel Kadett B sold 150,000 units in its first year. By the time production of this model ended, Opel had sold 2.5 million units. From 1973 this iconic model was replaced by the next generation, the Kadett C, whose production ran until 1979.

Via | Carscoops