- Opel’s “Big Three”: Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat display ‘60s style
- Pioneer: Opel 4/8 PS “Doktorwagen” of 1909 paved way for motorised mobility for all
- Unique ambience: Baroque garden of Schloss Schwetzingen hosts 180 classic cars
- Electrified: New Astra plug-in hybrid at accompanying “ECOmobil Gala”
The array of historic cars in Schwetzingen will be complemented by the “7. ECOmobil-Gala”, a gathering of sustainable mobility concepts under the motto “Future meets Classic”. Opel will be taking part with the plug-in hybrid version of the new Astra Sports Tourer (WLTP combined fuel consumption1: 1.2-1.1 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 26-24 g/km).
“The charming setting and the beautiful cars make the Classic Gala Schwetzingen a unique experience for exhibitors and visitors”, said Opel Classic Manager, Leif Rohwedder. “There could hardly be a better occasion to admire Opel’s luxury line-up from the 1960s, cars that stood out with their straightforward design, and offered the highest comfort for their time.”
“KAD”: The “Big Three” from Rüsselsheim
Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat – aka “KAD” or “Big Three” – represented the Opel luxury class in the 1960s and ‘70s. All three were fully equipped, extremely roomy and influenced by the contemporary American styling. With a length of 4.95 metres and a width of 1.90 m, the Opel luxury class also reached new dimensions.
While the Kapitän became the best-selling German six-cylinder passenger car and the Admiral built on the success of the pre-war model with the same name, the Diplomat represented the top of the line. Opel – which has always stood for the democratisation of innovation – was the only German manufacturer to offer a complete product range at the time; from Kadett and Rekord, to Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat, Opel had a car for everyone.
At this year's Classic Gala Schwetzingen, Opel will be showing the 1966 Diplomat V8 Coupé as well as the Admiral V8 from 1965. The Diplomat's 169 kW/230 hp 5.4-litre V8 powered the four-seater from zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds while the top speed exceeded 200 km/h. Hardly any other German-made car was faster.
The Admiral with its range-topping 140 kW/190 hp engine was also notable for its two-speed “Powerglide” automatic transmission. Made from 1964 to 1968, a total of 55,876 Admiral A left the factory, of which only 623 featured eight-cylinder engines. This makes the Admiral V8 a rare collector's item today. The KAD trio in Schwetzingen is completed by a Kapitän from a private collector.
4/8 PS “Doktorwagen”: Opel made early automobility affordable
Visitors to the Classic Gala can also admire an early automobile that made motorised mobility possible for all: the Opel 4/8 PS. In advertising, Opel proclaimed the car as ideal for “Doctors, veterinarians and lawyers”, which earned it the nickname “Doktorwagen” (doctor’s car). The pioneering vehicle was available for a low price of only 3,950 marks, paving the way for a broader section of the population to own their own car for the first time. The technical highlight was the four-cylinder “mono-block” engine cast in one piece.
The Schwetzingen Palace park will open its gates to Classic Gala visitors from Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Further information is available here.
[1] The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned comply with the WLTP homologation (regulation EU 2017/948). The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on specific equipment, options and format of tires.
