The Happy 60´s
The vast improvement in the economy in the 60´s gave a boost in the European car industry and Opel build a new plant in Bochum, in 1968 a component factory in Kaiserslautern and a test center in Dudenhofen. In 1961 came the stylish Opel Rekord Coupé with options like "sleeper" seats, reverse lights and two-tone horn. This model was only manufactured for two years and 33.000 were sold. In 1962 in the new Bochum plant, the new Opel Kadett was made and it immediately became a big success. Already in 1966, the one millionth Kadett left the factory in Bochum. 1963 was the best production year for Opel with 550.000 units made.
In 1964, Opel launched three luxury models: the Opel Kapitän, Opel Admiral and the Opel Diplomat V8. The top of the line model Opel Diplomat Coupé with the 5,4 ltr. and 230 bhp had a price tag of 17.000 Marks in its standard version. Opel made only 304 of these cars. The V8 engines and transmissions came directly from the Corvette division of Chevrolet.
In 1965 Opel presented the Opel GT on the IAA as a design study and in 1968 the production started. This car became a big success with 102.463 units sold. The GT was made with 2 engine variants, one from the Kadett - a 1,1 ltr engine with 60 bhp - that version was almost never sold, since the engine was too weak for a sporty looking car. The other engine was the 1,9 ltr 90 bhp unit that gave the car a top speed 185 km/h. At the same time in 1965 came the Rekord B, which was a modified model A with longer wheelbase, new engines and a few cosmetic changes. The B model was taken over by the C model as early as 1966.
The Opel Commodore A Coupé was launched in 1967 and it was equipped with a 6 cyl. inline engine. This was a nice everyday driver with lots of power (European standards). Opel still had a line of commercial vehicles, and from 1960 Opel introduced the Opel Blitz 1,9 ton truck and 44.000 units where made until its successor came in 1965.