By Hans-Georg Schmitt
This posting has been adapted from articles originally published on mar.zeteo.com in order to preserve them after that site ceased to exist. Parts prior to #68 were reviewed in the printed Model Auto Review magazine, and parts 68 to 98 may be seen on this site at http://www.maronline.org.uk/eaglemoss-opel-collection-part-1. This collection finished in 2016.
98 Opel Blitz Panoramabus 1953-1956
In the early 1950s Opel Blitz trucks were superior to those of their competitors. Bodied for passenger service it had the highest sales of all German Buses in the 1950s. It had two main advantages. Firstly the widespread Opel service network and secondly its smooth running six-cylinder petrol engine.
A number of coachbuilders created buses on the Blitz chassis. The best known was Kässbohrer in Ulm, who also developed the classic “Setra”, buses with integral body and frame construction. This miniature is based upon a body built by Kässbohrer. An excellent restored example can be seen at the Opel Museum in Rüsselsheim.
Some collectors may be unhappy that this model is in 1:72 scale and not 1:43 scale like the rest of the collection. It is issued in green and ivory and not in blue and white as seen at the Opel Museum. This is probably because the bus has already been issued in blue and white in the Atlas Bus Collection. Given its small scale it is very well detailed. Interestingly both Atlas and Opel Collection models have the same German post-war registration plate from “American occupied Hessia”, 84 for the Offenbach area.
99 Opel Frontera A Feuerwehr 1991-1998
The Frontera was based on an Isuzu vehicle allowing Opel and Vauxhall to enter the SUV market with minimal investment. It was first shown to the public at the Geneva Motorshow in 1991 and went on sale at the end of that year. Its comparative cheapness, for a vehicle with four wheel drive, and the large chain of Opel dealers made it attractive to the public services. They were often bought by fire departments and this is the livery this model is finished in. The livery, and number plates, show this to represent a vehicle operated by the fire brigade of Offenbach, sister city to Frankfurt, both located on the river Main.
The authentically shaped body is painted in bright red, and has had the livery neatly printed. It is fitted with a blue light bar and antenna.
100 Opel Kadett C GT/E Coupe 1977-1979
The Kadett C-Type was introduced in the summer of 1973. With the emerging energy crisis this vehicle benefited from sales from motorists who looked to run medium sized vehicles to minimise fuel consumption. However, later in its life customers were less concerned with economy and were looking again for power and speed so the Kadett GT/E was created. The coupe was issued in a Rallye version and was available with two engines: 1.6 litre ‘S’ which developed 75 hp; and 2.0 litre ‘E’ engine which developed 110 hp with fuel injection. The model is accurately shaped and well detailed. A number of parts have been used fitted including the slightly oversized rear spoiler on the boot lid. The model is painted in signal-ochre and the interior is matt black. The wheel rims look authentic, and unusually for this range the baseplate is well detailed.
101 Opel Manta GT/E 1974-1975
This model was first shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September 1973. At this time this generation of the Manta was nearing the end of its run. To keep up interest and sales the Opel Manta GT/E was launched with a 1.9 litre fuel injection engine developing 105bhp. What made this model special was the matt black painted bonnet and rear panel together with a black stripe over the body. This is an excellent representation of this car painted in signal-yellow with matt black finish where authentic. The interior is also well detailed with the three additional instruments for the GT/E version seen on the dashboard.
102 Opel Senator A2 (Facelift) 1982 to 1986 “Notarzt”
This Senator was a top of the range Opel which was facelifted in December 1982 to made the car look lower and sleeker than before. In the United Kingdom this was sold as the Vauxhall Senator replacing the old Vauxhall Royale. Opel made the car available with special discounts to public bodies and it was commonly used in Germany by emergency doctors: ‘Notarz’. Today Notarz vehicles are more often vans because medics carry far more equipment than they did in 1982.
The miniature has an accurate shape and has many small parts added. It is painted in ivory. The interior looks very authentic. The model carries German registration plates “GG” , so the prototype modelled was a demonstrator owned by Opel.
103 Opel Commodore B GS/E Coupe 1972 to 1977
This casting has been seen before in this range. It is now released in metallic blue and without a vinyl covered roof. The interior appears again in matt black and the baseplate has little detail.
104 Opel Ascona C 1982 to 1988 “Feuerwehr”
The Ascona Type C was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1981. The Ascona was available asa Saloon and as a Hatchback. Both were used by public bodies, and appeared as both Police and Fire vehicles.
This model is of the Saloon in use as a fire chief´s car. The miniature captures the original shape well and is correctly presented in white and red. Unfortunately Ixo seem to have had printing problems and the red sections look a bit wavy. Addiitonal lights are well modelled as are the Alloy wheels whilst the baseplate is very plain. The model carries German registration plates from the “Märkischer Kreis”, in Sauerland.
105 Opel Kadett E Karavan 1984 to 1991
This type E was the last model to bear the name Kadett. The next generation was called an Astra whether it bore an Opel or Vauxhall badge. This estate replicates the original’s shape well and is neatly printed and finished. The body is painted in red and the interior is beige.
106 Opel Kapitan Saloon 1951-1953
The updated Kapitan appeared in March 1951 with a chromed radiator grille following the latest GM styling trends. The car was styled by the head of Opel design Charles “Chuck” M. Jordan. It was the most reasonably priced 6 cylinder engined saloon produced in the newly established Federal Republic of Germany.
The moulding has already been seen in this series and is now issued with the body painted in white. The shape is authentic and it has many parts added to give detail. The interior is well reproduced with the seats painted in red. The dashboard with instruments and switches moulded in is in body colour which is accurate to the original.
107 Chevrolet Opala saloon 1968-1969
The Opel Rekord C-Type was introduced in August 1966. Its design was to the taste of South American car buyers and in 1968 the Chevrolet “Opala” was launched in the Brazilian automobile market. It was successful and after the saloon was introduced the coupe and estate were also made in Brazil. The vehicle stayed in production in Brazil with some facelifts up until the 1990s.
This model is of the four-door saloon which has an accurate body in bright red. The interior is in white. Bumpers, radiator grille and hub caps are chrome plated, other mouldings are printed in silver.
This is an example of Ixo supplying the same casting to both German and Brazilian partwork markets.
108 Opel Kadett C-Type saloon 1973-1979
The Kadett was designed as a world car. It first appeared in April 1973 as Chevrolet Chevette in Brazil, then in August 1973 in Germany. It was produced in many versions up until 1979 in Germany, and as the Chevette in the UK with different front end styling. In Brazil the last version went out of production in 1994. This replica of the two door saloon is accurately shaped. The body is painted in yellow and the interior is in a typical light brown. The bumpers are chrome plated.
109 Chevrolet LUV 1988-2005
The Chevrolet LUV was a work horse. It first appeared in 1972 as the Isuzu KB Foster. The third generation which the model was based upon was launched in 1987. It was sold as Chevrolet LUV, and also as an Opel Campo in Germany and Vauxhall Brava in the United Kingdom.
The model is of the pickup with a single cab. The body is painted in white, and the cab interior is in light grey. The front bumper is chrome plated and the rear one is silver painted.
110 Opel Kapitan Saloon 1955-1958
The 1956 model year Kapitan was only in production for two and a half years. On 9th November 1957 one of them emerged from the assembly line as the two millionth Opel vehicle. This version of the Kapitan was fitted with a 2.5 litre 6 cylinder in-line engine. It had an integral body, independent front suspension, but retained a rigid rear axle on leaf springs.
The model is authentically shaped and painted in ruby red and black. There is a very well detailed interior in light beige. The grille, bumpers, and hub caps are chrome plated. Most mouldings are printed in silver.
111 Opel Omega A saloon 1986-1994
The Omega A was the first “cab forward” streamlined large Opel car. It was also sold in the UK as a Vauxhall Omega and in the US as a Cadillac Catera and formed the base of some Holdens too. The front and rear windscreen were bonded to the bodyshell and the side windows were flush fitted. With its low bonnet and raised rear end these aerodynamic features allowed it acheive a very low resistance value of 0.28 which was a world leading at the time.
The model is based upon the facelifted version introduced in 1991. The body is painted in mistral grey, with an interior in anthracite. The wheels are a replica of the alloy wheels some were fitted with.
112 Chevrolet Diplomata Caravan 1979-1992
This is another model which originally appeared in the DeAgostini Cars of Brazil series. The Opel Rekord C-Type had a second life in Brazil. In the 1950s to 1970s, it was usual for European automobile manufacturers to send manufacturing tools for outdated models to their overseas operations. Opel sent the Rekord to South America and it stayed in production for some time going through a series of facelifts. It was a best selling model in Brazil for many years.
This accurate miniature is painted metallic silver with a light grey interior. The black mouldings are printed. Bumpers, radiator grille, and roof rack are separately moulded components. There is minimal baseplate detail.
113 Opel Omega B saloon 1994-1998 “Feldjäger – Military Police”
The German Bundeswehr ordered a number of Omega B cars. They were used as staff cars for battalion and regimental commanders, and for the Feldjäger, the military police.
This well detailed miniature is painted in authentic RAL 6031 bronze-green. The interior is matt black. Military signs are neatly printed and the model is fitted with a light bar at the roof.
114 Chevrolet Corsa from 1993
Until the early 1990s the small car sector in Brazil was dominated by the Volkswagen Beetle. Then in 1993 General Motors started to produce the former Opel Corsa B in Brazil. Hideo Kodama’s design team from Russelheim’s work was a breathtaking success in the Brazilian market appearing practically unchnanged apart from the Chevrolet Cross replacing the Opel flash.
The model is of a three door version and is accurately shaped. The bodyshell is painted in bright red with an interior moulded in light grey. Mouldings and emblems are precisely printed and the wheels are authentic. Minimal baseplate detailing.
115 Daewoo Nexia 1994 to 1997
The Opel Kadett Model E was produced in Germany from 1984 to 1991. After that the tools were moved to Korea and Daewoo produced the Daewoo Nexia from them. In India, Eastern Europe, Iran and Australasia it was sold as the Cielo The cars were also imported to the USA under Buick and Pontiac brands. In summer 1996 the Nexia received a light facelift and was also offered in Europe. Daewoo experienced financial issues and GM bought a large share in the company and eventually rebaged Daewoo models as Chevrolets in many markets.
The model is authentic and represents the vehicle after the facelift of 1996. It is well detailed and finished. The body is painted in metallic silver and the interior is in two tone grey. Mouldings and emblems are neatly printed. Wheels are authentic. Again a minimal baseplate is provided.
116 Chevrolet Monza 1982 to 1990
The Brazilian GM plant is one of their oldest foreign plants. In 1925 the first Chevrolet cars were assembled there. In September 1981 Opel launched the Ascona Type C base of the GM J-car world car. This J-car also appeared also in Brazil as the Monza. In early 1983 the Monza notchback saloon was introduced with a design similar to the Ascona.
This model is the version made from 1983 as a four door saloon. The casting is very true to life. Painted bright red with a well detailed interior in light brown. Mouldings and emblems are well printed with authentic wheels. As usual the baseplate has minimal detail included.
117 Opel Omega B saloon 1994 to 1998 “Swiss Police”
The Omega B was introduced to the market in March 1994 as four door saloon and five door estate. The use of powerful Opel passenger cars for “Patrouillenwagen”, police patrol cars, has a long tradition in Switzerland and the Omega was widely used by Swiss police authorities. The model carries the emblems of the “Kantonspolizei Zurich”.
Already seen several times before in this range the body is an excellent replica of the original. It is painted in white with red stripes and emblems clearly printed. A detailed interior appears in light grey. The aluminium wheel rims are were not typically used for Police vehicles which tended to have plastic hub caps. Like other models in the range the baseplate is poorly detailed.
118 Chevrolet Chevette 1987-1993
The T-car platform was the first “world car” from General Motors. It appeared in Germany as Opel Kadett, in Brazil as the Chevrolet Chevette, in Japan as the Isuzu Gemini, and in Australia as Holden Gemini. The Brazilian T-car was in production the longest lasting until 1993 by which time more then 1.6 million cars had been built.
The model is of the Chevette notchback 4 door saloon from the 1980s. It is painted in metallic silver and fitted with a well detailed, light grey coloured interior. A number of smaller parts are moulded and inserted to add to realism. As is usual in this series the baseplate has only limited detail.
119 Opel Laubfrosch 4/12 HP 1924-1926
The Opel Laubfrosch “Treefrog” was the first Opel car manufactured on an assembly line. This production method saved money and boosted production so the car could sell at a competitive price. The Laubfrosch looked similar to the Citroen 5CV which was launched in 1921. This lead to lawsuits but these didn’t reach any firm conclusions. Initially all 4/12 cars were painted in green which is where the nickname Treefrog arose. By the end of production more body colours were offered.
This vehicle has already appeared in this series in the early green version with hood up. This release has the body painted in red and has the hood lowered. Lots of detailed parts are fitted and the radiator grille is chrome plated whilst other mouldings are printed in silver. Again the baseplate shows little detail.
The coverage of this series of models continues with further articles originally posted on this site after its launch.
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