There are now relatively few copies of the once so popular Opel Kadett. Techzle reader Bokke-Jan Boersma submitted two photos of this two-door Opel Kadett B, which appears to be in beautiful condition, complete with bicycle carrier. Additional information from owner Marc de Vette shows that the Opel can actually be called unique.
The Opel Kadett has a long history. The origins of the Kadett go back to just before the Second World War with the Kadett I and II. Seventeen years after the end of the war, Opel breathed new life into the Kadett in 1962 with the Kadett A. The manufacturer focused its sights on one specific competitor with the Kadett: the Volkswagen Beetle. The Kadett A, however, was short-lived, because in 1965 Opel already came up with the Kadett B. The B had grown slightly in size compared to the A. You can also recognize the Kadett B by the modified grille. and the placement of the headlights. The headlights of the Kadett B are neatly in line with the grille, while those of the A are placed slightly higher.
Where the available body styles on the Kadett A were still limited, the buyer was spoiled for choice with the Kadett B. You could choose from no less than eight different variants! This is mainly due to the varying number of doors. Marc’s Kadett in the pictures is a two-door sedan, also known as a ‘coach’. It dates from 1971 and is therefore a copy from the last construction years of the Kadett B. Of the 60 hp 1.2 S, the power source in question, a total of around 95,000 copies were produced. The block was ultimately delivered in the base until 1993 (!) In the Corsa and Kadett (E). In that same year, Opel definitely pushed the name Kadett aside and the Astra took its place.
This specimen still looks fine in the photos. It looks beautiful in its light blue paint and the chrome shines towards you. With the bicycle carrier on the back, it almost seems as if the photos were taken in 1971, the Kadett seems to be almost brand new. Given the mileage, that is not surprising: Marc explains that his Kadett B has only covered 37,000 kilometers in 50 years. He is the third owner; before that, the car was owned by his uncle from 1995 to 2017. According to Marc, his Kadett is still completely original: it is unwelded and not restored. Despite the relatively virgin mileage, he just drives it. The photos in Friesland are proof of this, but Marc says that he also drove his Opel to France. A classic the way you like it!