Opel Kadett

It comes out after the Olympia as a smaller brother and can temporarily at least hardly be distinguished on photographs. The wheelbase is marginally shorter, in length there are nearly 20 cm less. Important is the difference in the engine, while the older and smaller Kadett engine (from P4), with lateral standing valves compared to the now larger OHV engine of the Olympia is not so bad seen from performance.

The decisive point is, however, the price again reduced by RM 400, which again some middle-class strata leads to the car. Opel is thus strengthening its position as the largest supplier in Europe at that time. In driving performance the Kadett reasonably can match with the small Olympia and also it has a certain driving comfort. Nevertheless, it is not the best deal from Opel. This is the P4 with almost another half a thousand less.

In the confusion of pre-war period experienced the Kadett a changeful history. The above picture shows the four-door, first available in Germany from 1938. Here you have to count the trim strips on the radiator grille to be able to differ it from the 1938 Olympia. There is still a cheap version with rigid front axle and enough plans for further development. As far as it does not come, because at first September 1939 the Second World War begins and soon after only military equipment are produced. After the lost war, are passed still all existing tools and construction plans to the Russians which make therefrom the Moskwitch 400. This is probably the real reason why no Kadett is still produced until 1962. 05/08