Design has always been one of Opel’s core brand values, with the brand being the first European automaker to have its own dedicated design studio. The studio enabled Opel to produce Europe’s first-ever concept car, the Experimental GT, which was the first in a long line of stylish design studies from the German brand.
Later this month, Opel will celebrate their illustrious history in automotive design by bringing nine classic cars and the new Corsa hatchback to Techno Classica in Essen. The show, which is one of the world’s largest vintage and classis car shows, will feature the aforementioned Experimental GT, Diplomat A coupé, the Genève Concept and more. All of Opel’s vintage concepts will be on display at their 650 m2 booth in Hall 2 at the show.
While the main attractions at Techno Classica will almost certainly be the Experimental GT and Geneve Concept, the more modern Opel concepts are equally as important for the brand and will also be on display. This includes the GTC Concept from 2007, which ushered in the brand’s current styling era, summed up by the phrase ‘sculptural artistry meets German precision’. This motto is present in the new Corsa, and will be further applied to other new Opels going forward.
You can catch Opel at Techno Classic from April 15th-19th.
Comments
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I was a designer at Opel Design in 1971 when the mid-engine two rotor show car was done in Erhardt Schnells studio. The Opel GT was done there also and there were still remnants of that program present in the room. Opel Design was still very enamored with the DeTomaso Mangusta so if any other car was an influence it certainly was.
Dave Holls was the Design Director, coming from the US and Chevrolet some mid-engine Corvette ques also are evident. George Gallion was his assistant and had a lot of influence on the design. Unknown to us at Opel at the time another two rotor car was being done in the US Overseas Studio by Dick Finegan, Kip Wasenko and several other designers. It was a running car built on a Porsche 914 chassis while the Opel was an exterior fiberglass model only. Upon returning to the UD in December of 1971 I was very surprised to see the clay model, the body was being built I am quite sure at Pininfarina in Italy.
The Opel has a wonderful form language and a very elegant and sporty look. It is very small. We all knew it would never be built because of cost and the rotary engine program ultimately failed after GM had invested hundreds of millions in it. The new US government fuel economy and emissions regulations were unattainable without unsustainable expense.
I never saw the fiberglass as I left when it was still in clay.
DICK RUZZIN