Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Opel Kadett shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Opel Kadett offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Opel Kadett at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Opel Kadett? Wrong! If the Opel Kadett is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Opel Kadett then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Opel Kadett? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Opel Kadett and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Opel Kadett wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Opel Kadett then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Opel Kadett site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Opel Kadett, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Opel Kadett, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
{{Infobox Automobile|image=|name=Opel Kadett|manufacturer=Opel|class=[Small family car produced by the [Germany automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.
Delta Motor Corporation in South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999.
First generation (1937–1940)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett| production =1937–1940| engine =| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =|related=Moskvitch 400/420-->In 1929, Adam Opel AG of
Rüsselsheim, Germany, was acquired by General Motors. The Opel brand was maintained in various markets.
In 1937, the first Opel Kadett was added to the Opel range. Production was interrupted by World War II.
Production facilities of the Kadett were transported to Russia after the war, and thus this early Kadett formed the basis for the
Moskvitch 400/420.
Kadett A (1962–1965)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett A| production =1962–1965| engine =1.0 l 40 hp
straight-41.0 l 48 hp straight-4| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->The first Opel Kadett after the war appeared in October 1962; 649,512 cars were built until July 1965. It was later called the Kadett A. In addition to the
sedan there was an L (luxury model), a
coupé, and a
station wagon (called Caravan). The new Opel OHV engine was available as 1.0 with 40 hp (30 kW) and as 1.0 S with 48 hp (36 kW).
Variations
{| class="wikitable" align=center!Model Type!Engine!Fuel!Body Style!Production!Transmission|-|Kadett||4 cyl 993cc||Petrol||2-door Saloon
3-door Estate||1962–1965
1963–1965||Manual|-|Kadett L||4 cyl 993cc||Petrol||2-door Saloon
2-door Coupé||1963–1965
1963–1965||Manual|-|}
Kadett B (1965–1973)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett B| production =1966–1973| engine =| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->The Opel Kadett B was sold from 1966 to 1973, with two- and four-door sedans (the latter in notchback and, from 1967, also in fastback form), a three-door station wagon, and two coupés (regular and fastback, or Coupé F). There was a sporting Opel Kadett Rallye, with a 1.9 L engine. Additionally, the two-seat Opel GT was heavily based on Kadett B components, its body made by a France contractor,
Brissonneau & Lotz.
A "luxury" derivative of the Kadett B was sold as the
Opel Olympia.
The Kadett was sold in the United States through Buick dealers from 1967 till 1972 as the
Buick Opel#1974. US Kadetts were later granted the front end and trim of the new Opel Olympia, introduced in 1966 as an upscale-version of the Kadett. Kadett A and B were technically simple cars whose task was to compete with the market leader, VW's Beetle. This lack of sophistication caused the US car magazine
Car and Driver to publish an annihilating test of the Kadett in 1968 featuring photos of the car in a car junkyard. Reportedly, GM withdrew any ads from that magazine for several months as a consequence.
One also appears in The Long Blondes video for Once and Never Again.
Variations
{| class="wikitable" align=center!Model Type!Body Style!Engine!Transmission!Production|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|2-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|4-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|3-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|5-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|2-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|4-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|3-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|5-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett Fastback LS||rowspan=7|2-door Fastback||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett Fastback LS||rowspan=7|4-door Fastback||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=4|Kadett Rallye||rowspan=4|2-door Coupé||1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|}
Kadett C (1973–1979)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image = | name =Kadett C| production =1973–1979| engine =1.2 1.9 2.0| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->
The Kadett C appeared in 1973, and was Opel's version of
General Motors T-car, also built in Japan by Isuzu and sold as the Isuzu Gemini in Asian markets and Australia and many other names. In South Korea,
GM Daewoo built a version known as the
Daewoo Maepsy.The Kadett C formed the basis of the British Vauxhall Chevette, which had a restyled front end, and used a 1256cc OHV (over head valve) Vauxhall engine rather than the 1196cc OHV Opel engine. It was notable for the inclusion of a hatchback version named City-Kadett, based on the UK
Vauxhall Chevette hatchback, which was a first for Opel. Although Kadett C production ended in 1979, the Chevette was produced until January 1984. Interestingly, the Vauxhall Chevette was imported to Germany starting in 1979 to satisfy the needs of the rear wheel drive traditionalists and was quite a success for a year or two.
The Kadett C today is a cult car in Germany, especially in fastback Coupe form. The most sought after versions of the Kadett C Coupe are the Rallye and GT/E models. These models were built first with the
Robert Bosch GmbH fuel injected 1897 cc CIH (cam in head) Opel engine and followed by the updated 1998 cc CIH engine. Right hand drive (UK) versions of these sports models are now rarely seen.
A very rare version was the Aero-Kadett, an open-top Kadett with targa roll bar, detachable roof insert and a separate convertible top aft of the roll bar (like the contemporary Lancia Beta Spider (Lancia Zagato in the US). This car was built in very limited numbers by
Karosserie Baur in Stuttgart.
The Kadett C reached America as the
Buick–Opel. In reality, however, this was an
Isuzu Gemini; an updated version of this car was marketed in the USA as the Isuzu I-Mark in the early Eighties.
In
Brazil, the Kadett C was released six months before its European release as Chevrolet Chevette, and it was available with three gasoline engines, a 1.4 L, a 1.6 L and a 1.0 L (available only for 1992 and 1993 model year) and the 1.4 L and 1.6 L were also available on ethanol. This Chevette went through several redesigns - first a front and rear fascia similar to the Opel version, then a look similar to the Vauxhall Chevette/
Chevrolet Chevette Chevette, and finally a design reminescent of the updated American version. It was available in several different bodies: Hatchback (1979-1987), Station Wagon (called
Chevrolet Marajó, 1980-1989), Pickup (Chevy 500, 1984-1995) and Sedan (1973-1993). The Chevette sold over 1.6 million units in Brazil, being replaced by the Chevrolet Corsa.
==Kadett D (1979–1984)=={{Infobox Automobile generation] Mark 1, and was launched in April 1980, though the Opel version had gone on sale in Britain on 14 November
1979. All models were designed as three or five door
hatchbacks and estates or station wagons. There were also two and four-door sedans, which used the same bodyshells as the hatchbacks, but these were soon dropped. That means that this car came in 2-3-4 or 5 door versions.
Technologically, the Kadett D was a major departure, as it was Opel and Vauxhall's first front wheel drive car. It also introduced the
GM Family II engine engine design with an
single overhead camshaft,
aluminium alloy cylinder head,
hydraulic valve lifters, with capacities of 1300 and 1600 cc, and had a unique transaxle design which allowed the clutch to be replaced without removing the transmission unit. Later, an 1800 cc version was introduced for the Kadett/Astra GTE model. This range of engines was also used for later models of the
General Motors Corsa, and the mid-sized
Vauxhall Cavalier. The Kadett D was also equipped with a 1600 cc diesel engine that was possible to drive as cheap as 3.4 L/100 km.
==Kadett E=={{Infobox Automobile generation], and was voted
Car of the Year in
1985, largely due to its advanced
aerodynamic body styling. The 1984 model was also developed into a more conventional "three box" design with a boot (trunk), badged as the
Vauxhall Belmont in the
UK and the
Opel Monza in South Africa. A convertible version was also available, for the first time in
1987, built by Bertone of Torino/Italy. For the
1988 model, capacities were raised to 1400, 1800 and a new 2000 cc engine, again used on the GSi and Vauxhall Astra GTE. In
1988, a 16-valve twin-cam version was developed for a high performance GSi/GTE model, yielding 156 hp (115 kW) in manufactured form.
The Kadett E has been seen as a grey import in the UK, however it is not as popular as the Vauxhall Astra. It was never officially sold in Britain, and by 1989
General Motors was only marketing the Vauxhall brand in the UK, however the Opel brand is sold in Ireland.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, South African Kadett GSis were nicknamed the Superboss, equipped with a more powerful 2 L engine developing 125 kW, and were successful in touring car competitions in that country.
The Kadett E was introduced in
Brazil as the
Chevrolet Kadett, but the three-door station wagon was called the
Chevrolet Ipanema.
It formed the basis of the
GM Daewoo Le Mans (later known as the
Daewoo Cielo,
:de:Daewoo Racer and
Daewoo Nexia) in South Korea, and also as
Heaven in Chile (
Nexia being the HB version), which was sold in the
United States and
New Zealand as the Pontiac LeMans, and in Canada (initially) as the Passport Optima. LeMans sales ended in
1993. The Nexia is still being produced at UzDaewoo plant in Asaka,
Uzbekistan. The Cielo was last being produced at a semi-independent (from GM) plant in Craiova,
Romania (the license expired in fall 2005).
Kadett F
In 1992, GM Europe decided to standardize model names across its two brands, and Opel adopted sister company Vauxhall Motors's name for the Kadett, Opel Astra, for the replacement car which débuted that year, for Europe. Only in South Africa did the Kadett name continue on the first Opel Astra hatchback, until 1999, when all models took the Astra name. Famous engine the 1600ccm3 was developed with Porsche.
External links
- Kadett history in Portuguese
- French Opel Kadett B site
- Kadett E tuning
- The Classic Opel Community
- German Opel Kadett A site
- Dutch Opel Kadett C Club
- Russian Daewoo Nexia Club
- Russian Opel Kadett Club
- Vauxhall Astra Mark 2 Owners Club
{{Infobox Automobile|image=|name=Opel Kadett|manufacturer=
Opel|class=[Small family car produced by the [Germany automaker Opel between 1937 and 1940, then from 1962 to 1992.
Delta Motor Corporation in
South Africa used the Opel Kadett name until 1999.
First generation (1937–1940)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett| production =1937–1940| engine =| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =|related=Moskvitch 400/420-->In 1929, Adam Opel AG of Rüsselsheim, Germany, was acquired by
General Motors. The Opel brand was maintained in various markets.
In 1937, the first Opel Kadett was added to the Opel range. Production was interrupted by
World War II.
Production facilities of the Kadett were transported to
Russia after the war, and thus this early Kadett formed the basis for the
Moskvitch 400/420.
Kadett A (1962–1965)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett A| production =1962–1965| engine =1.0 l 40 hp
straight-41.0 l 48 hp straight-4| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->The first Opel Kadett after the war appeared in October 1962; 649,512 cars were built until July 1965. It was later called the Kadett A. In addition to the
sedan there was an L (luxury model), a
coupé, and a
station wagon (called Caravan). The new Opel OHV engine was available as 1.0 with 40 hp (30 kW) and as 1.0 S with 48 hp (36 kW).
Variations
{| class="wikitable" align=center!Model Type!Engine!Fuel!Body Style!Production!Transmission|-|Kadett||4 cyl 993cc||Petrol||2-door Saloon
3-door Estate||1962–1965
1963–1965||Manual|-|Kadett L||4 cyl 993cc||Petrol||2-door Saloon
2-door Coupé||1963–1965
1963–1965||Manual|-|}
Kadett B (1965–1973)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image =| name =Kadett B| production =1966–1973| engine =| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->The Opel Kadett B was sold from 1966 to 1973, with two- and four-door sedans (the latter in notchback and, from 1967, also in fastback form), a three-door station wagon, and two coupés (regular and fastback, or Coupé F). There was a sporting Opel Kadett Rallye, with a 1.9 L engine. Additionally, the two-seat Opel GT was heavily based on Kadett B components, its body made by a France contractor, Brissonneau & Lotz.
A "luxury" derivative of the Kadett B was sold as the
Opel Olympia.
The Kadett was sold in the United States through
Buick dealers from 1967 till 1972 as the Buick Opel#1974. US Kadetts were later granted the front end and trim of the new Opel Olympia, introduced in 1966 as an upscale-version of the Kadett. Kadett A and B were technically simple cars whose task was to compete with the market leader, VW's Beetle. This lack of sophistication caused the US car magazine
Car and Driver to publish an annihilating test of the Kadett in 1968 featuring photos of the car in a car junkyard. Reportedly, GM withdrew any ads from that magazine for several months as a consequence.
One also appears in
The Long Blondes video for Once and Never Again.
Variations
{| class="wikitable" align=center!Model Type!Body Style!Engine!Transmission!Production|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|2-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|4-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|3-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett||rowspan=7|5-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|2-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|4-door Saloon||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|3-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett L||rowspan=7|5-door Estate||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett Fastback LS||rowspan=7|2-door Fastback||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=7|Kadett Fastback LS||rowspan=7|4-door Fastback||rowspan=2|1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|Automatic||1965–1973|-|rowspan=2|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|rowspan=2|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|Automatic||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|rowspan=4|Kadett Rallye||rowspan=4|2-door Coupé||1100||Manual||1965–1973|-|1500||Manual||1967–1973|-|1700||Manual||1967–1973|-|1900||Manual||1967–1973|-|}
Kadett C (1973–1979)
{{Infobox Automobile generation| image = | name =Kadett C| production =1973–1979| engine =1.2 1.9 2.0| transmission =| length =| width =| height =| weight =| wheelbase =| fuel economy =-->
The Kadett C appeared in 1973, and was Opel's version of
General Motors T-car, also built in Japan by Isuzu and sold as the Isuzu Gemini in Asian markets and Australia and many other names. In
South Korea,
GM Daewoo built a version known as the
Daewoo Maepsy.The Kadett C formed the basis of the British
Vauxhall Chevette, which had a restyled front end, and used a 1256cc OHV (over head valve) Vauxhall engine rather than the 1196cc OHV Opel engine. It was notable for the inclusion of a hatchback version named City-Kadett, based on the UK Vauxhall Chevette hatchback, which was a first for Opel. Although Kadett C production ended in
1979, the Chevette was produced until January 1984. Interestingly, the Vauxhall Chevette was imported to Germany starting in 1979 to satisfy the needs of the rear wheel drive traditionalists and was quite a success for a year or two.
The Kadett C today is a cult car in Germany, especially in fastback Coupe form. The most sought after versions of the Kadett C Coupe are the Rallye and GT/E models. These models were built first with the Robert Bosch GmbH fuel injected 1897 cc CIH (cam in head) Opel engine and followed by the updated 1998 cc CIH engine. Right hand drive (UK) versions of these sports models are now rarely seen.
A very rare version was the Aero-Kadett, an open-top Kadett with targa roll bar, detachable roof insert and a separate convertible top aft of the roll bar (like the contemporary Lancia Beta Spider (Lancia Zagato in the US). This car was built in very limited numbers by
Karosserie Baur in Stuttgart.
The Kadett C reached America as the
Buick–Opel. In reality, however, this was an Isuzu Gemini; an updated version of this car was marketed in the USA as the Isuzu I-Mark in the early Eighties.
In Brazil, the Kadett C was released six months before its European release as Chevrolet Chevette, and it was available with three gasoline engines, a 1.4 L, a 1.6 L and a 1.0 L (available only for 1992 and 1993 model year) and the 1.4 L and 1.6 L were also available on ethanol. This Chevette went through several redesigns - first a front and rear fascia similar to the Opel version, then a look similar to the Vauxhall Chevette/
Chevrolet Chevette Chevette, and finally a design reminescent of the updated American version. It was available in several different bodies: Hatchback (1979-1987), Station Wagon (called
Chevrolet Marajó, 1980-1989), Pickup (Chevy 500, 1984-1995) and Sedan (1973-1993). The Chevette sold over 1.6 million units in Brazil, being replaced by the Chevrolet Corsa.
==Kadett D (1979–1984)=={{Infobox Automobile generation] Mark 1, and was launched in April 1980, though the Opel version had gone on sale in Britain on 14 November 1979. All models were designed as three or five door hatchbacks and estates or
station wagons. There were also two and four-door sedans, which used the same bodyshells as the hatchbacks, but these were soon dropped. That means that this car came in 2-3-4 or 5 door versions.
Technologically, the Kadett D was a major departure, as it was Opel and Vauxhall's first front wheel drive car. It also introduced the
GM Family II engine engine design with an
single overhead camshaft, aluminium
alloy cylinder head,
hydraulic valve lifters, with capacities of 1300 and 1600 cc, and had a unique transaxle design which allowed the clutch to be replaced without removing the transmission unit. Later, an 1800 cc version was introduced for the Kadett/Astra GTE model. This range of engines was also used for later models of the General Motors Corsa, and the mid-sized Vauxhall Cavalier. The Kadett D was also equipped with a 1600 cc diesel engine that was possible to drive as cheap as 3.4 L/100 km.
==Kadett E=={{Infobox Automobile generation], and was voted Car of the Year in 1985, largely due to its advanced
aerodynamic body styling. The 1984 model was also developed into a more conventional "three box" design with a boot (trunk), badged as the
Vauxhall Belmont in the
UK and the
Opel Monza in South Africa. A convertible version was also available, for the first time in 1987, built by Bertone of Torino/Italy. For the 1988 model, capacities were raised to 1400, 1800 and a new 2000 cc engine, again used on the GSi and Vauxhall Astra GTE. In 1988, a 16-valve twin-cam version was developed for a high performance GSi/GTE model, yielding 156 hp (115 kW) in manufactured form.
The Kadett E has been seen as a grey import in the UK, however it is not as popular as the
Vauxhall Astra. It was never officially sold in Britain, and by
1989 General Motors was only marketing the
Vauxhall brand in the UK, however the Opel brand is sold in Ireland.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, South African Kadett GSis were nicknamed the Superboss, equipped with a more powerful 2 L engine developing 125 kW, and were successful in touring car competitions in that country.
The Kadett E was introduced in Brazil as the
Chevrolet Kadett, but the three-door station wagon was called the
Chevrolet Ipanema.
It formed the basis of the
GM Daewoo Le Mans (later known as the
Daewoo Cielo,
:de:Daewoo Racer and
Daewoo Nexia) in
South Korea, and also as
Heaven in Chile (
Nexia being the HB version), which was sold in the
United States and New Zealand as the
Pontiac LeMans, and in Canada (initially) as the Passport Optima. LeMans sales ended in
1993. The Nexia is still being produced at
UzDaewoo plant in Asaka, Uzbekistan. The Cielo was last being produced at a semi-independent (from GM) plant in Craiova,
Romania (the license expired in fall 2005).
Kadett F
In
1992, GM Europe decided to standardize model names across its two brands, and Opel adopted sister company
Vauxhall Motors's name for the Kadett,
Opel Astra, for the replacement car which débuted that year, for Europe. Only in South Africa did the Kadett name continue on the first Opel Astra hatchback, until 1999, when all models took the Astra name. Famous engine the 1600ccm3 was developed with Porsche.
External links
- Kadett history in Portuguese
- French Opel Kadett B site
- Kadett E tuning
- The Classic Opel Community
- German Opel Kadett A site
- Dutch Opel Kadett C Club
- Russian Daewoo Nexia Club
- Russian Opel Kadett Club
- Vauxhall Astra Mark 2 Owners Club
