A bit of information about Opel Cars in the UK for petrolheads

macabethiel · 26-03-2020, 00:42

Back in the 1960' & 1970's much like Ford Germany remember the Taunus anybody ?
Opel as a brand had completely different models to Vauxhall and competed for the UK market separately.

Opels were imported at Harwich Docks where they were stored outside in huge car parks for distribution by the UK Dealer Distributors owned by General Motors of the USA.

The UK Opel Offices were believe it or not a shared facility with Frigidaire (also GM owned at that time) due to the relatively low number of Opels sold in the UK . The combined Head Office for Opel / Frigidaire was actually part of an old Army Camp in Edgware - the Opel Offices were a flat roofed building with steel Crittal windows - it looked like a glazed air raid shelter.lol

Just like Austin marketed the Nash V8 Metropolitan for American Troops based in the UK Opel imported the Opel 1900 GT in LHD only for the Yanks. As they were imported as LHD they were not delivered by Car Transporter but the Selling Dealership had to collect in person. I have fond memories as a 20 year old student having to go to Harwich and collect a couple of new Opel GT's. They were a stunning looking motor in 1968 but the handling did not match the looks as they were based on the old Opel Rallye Kadett A floor pan.

Today they are fast becoming a relatively expensive classic - we used to retail them for around £2500 - free of VAT for US Troops stationed here.

26-03-2020, 00:42	#1
macabethiel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Derby Vehicle: Freelander & Jeep GC 3.0 Posts: 4,415	A bit of information about Opel Cars in the UK for petrolheads Back in the 1960' & 1970's much like Ford Germany remember the Taunus anybody ? Opel as a brand had completely different models to Vauxhall and competed for the UK market separately. Opels were imported at Harwich Docks where they were stored outside in huge car parks for distribution by the UK Dealer Distributors owned by General Motors of the USA. The UK Opel Offices were believe it or not a shared facility with Frigidaire (also GM owned at that time) due to the relatively low number of Opels sold in the UK . The combined Head Office for Opel / Frigidaire was actually part of an old Army Camp in Edgware - the Opel Offices were a flat roofed building with steel Crittal windows - it looked like a glazed air raid shelter.lol Just like Austin marketed the Nash V8 Metropolitan for American Troops based in the UK Opel imported the Opel 1900 GT in LHD only for the Yanks. As they were imported as LHD they were not delivered by Car Transporter but the Selling Dealership had to collect in person. I have fond memories as a 20 year old student having to go to Harwich and collect a couple of new Opel GT's. They were a stunning looking motor in 1968 but the handling did not match the looks as they were based on the old Opel Rallye Kadett A floor pan. Today they are fast becoming a relatively expensive classic - we used to retail them for around £2500 - free of VAT for US Troops stationed here.