1964 Opel Kadett Sports Coupe: Humble And Proud
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- čas přidán 3. 09. 2018
- Joseph DeBattista came to the United States in 1974 with $600 to his name. Hard work and the right attitude allowed him to start a family and a car collection later on, and while he drove E-Types and the like in the interim it was the unexpected addition of an unassuming Lapis Blue Opel Kadett that built the strongest bond between him and his son Joey, who first cut his restoration chops as a rubber mallet-wielding toddler making a few dents in Dad’s MGB GT project. The DeBattista’s Opel was received in trade for Joey’s Volkswagen (the company that GM was targeting when they revived the Opel name in the early 1960s), and the subsequent restoration process kicked off an odyssey of a restoration project that’s paid off handsomely in ways that money can never measure.
See the photoshoot and read more here: petro.li/KadettGallery
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OLIVER!!!!
I said the same thing soon as i seen it
No!...I mean "I love my car"...
LMFAO was about to comment that as well.
I was expecting this to be the first comment!! Love it!! :D
Exactly the first thing I said when I saw the car!
All I can think of is the top gear Africa special. Oliver!.. OLIVER!!!
Wow, an old Opel on Petrolicious! As a proud owner of a Manta B and Ascona A (Opel 1900 in the States), I wouldn't mind seeing more of them. The story was great too, and the owner's anecdotes of him getting in and out of the car made me laugh.
Mikko Kukkonen I am a Porsche/BMW guy because I grew up in a Porsche/BMW family. Because of my love of those two marques I've done a fair share of reading on the overall history of the German automobile industry. However Opel is the one brand I know the least about. In fact I've probably read more about DKW and Auto Union than I have Opel (something I'm hoping to change.)
But I have a question and it seems like you might be the guy to answer it. I had a friend in high school (25 years ago!) who had an Opel GT. I always thought that car looked like a miniature 70's Corvette. It looked a lot faster than it actually was i.e. it had a very dceiving exterior. It was in fact very, very slow. Does the Opel GT share the same drivetrain and chassis as the Kadett Sports Coupe we see here? I find it hard to believe that a company the size of Opel would have developed an entirely different chassis and motor for the GT, especially in the 1970's (when it was hard for anybody to develop anything with all the economic factors, trade restrictions, emissions laws etc)
As a guy who owns a couple different Opels, I thought you might be the guy to know about this stuff. I appreciate any info you have. Thanks kindly. Cheers mate!
The GT shares the chassis and drivetrain from the Kadett of the same period.
Yes however the Opel GT never saw the 1.0L it was a 1.1L which was the same motor just with more displacement. And later they both saw 1900s too.
Joe DeBattista thanks guys, good info. And thanks Joe for sharing your story. As I said before often simple, low HP cars are just as interesting as more expensive, big HP cars, especially when there's a great father/son story to go with it. I have an '63 Porsche 356SC that used to belong to my grandfather. I often get offers from people wanting to buy it but I have far too many memories from my early childhood to ever sell it. To me it's part of the family.
BTW, did your dad happen to leave the "T-Fal" imprint from the toaster on the piece he used on the car? (It'd be awesome if he did!) Thanks again Joe!
Eric, nice of you to ask. Although I'm not an expert in the GT in particular. I see that more knowledgeable people have already answered your questions, but I have to say that personally, I've never seen a GT with the 1.1 OHV engine. We have quite a few GTs here in Finland, but every one I've come across have left the factory with the 1.9 CIH engine. Could the 1.1 OHV (in a GT) have been for the US market only?
You mentioned about growing up in a Porsche/BMW family. My father rallied Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts when I was young, but he always wanted to race in an Opel. It's just that they were much more expensive than Fords back then. Later on, we had Opels as family cars and they just felt right to me. Although I'd still love to have a Mk1/Mk2 Escort, my first love besides them was the Manta B. They have never been sold in the US market, but we had plenty of them in Scandinavia.
My first "hobby car" (as we call them here) was a '72 Ascona A (Opel 1900 in America), followed by a couple of B Mantas and a '67 Coupe Rekord. After the Opels, I had a string of 60s to 70s American cars, before I got back into Opels. I did a ground up restoration on the Manta B I have now, and just recently bought a basket case '75 Ascona A that I have been welding a lot lately.
Opel is a bit weird one compared to a lot of other European marques. A lot of them, including BMW, Porsche, Ford (Europe), Mercedes Benz, Fiat, Alfa Romeo etc. all have a rich history in motorsports. Opel was always a bit reluctant to get head on into motor racing, and I think it shows in how well the marque is known around the world. I guess, Opel being kind of left field in that regard is what makes it so interasting to me (and hard to find parts for!).
I have never been fixated on just Opels, but they've always been around in some way and like I said, have felt right to me. Besides I've gotten in so deep with them, I don't see the point to jump into something totally different anymore. There are a lot of old BMWs and Porsches that I'd like to own, but you can't have everything!
Sorry about the long and rambling story, which had nothing to do with your questions. Anyway, I recommend reading up on the history of Opel, there's a lot of interesting stuff and like I said, it's a bit more unconventional compared to other car makers of the time. These days, I think all cars are beginning to be the same.
ALMOST got an Opel Kadett when I was just turning 15. Neighbors had the car and it was in the woods on an abandoned paper road. A paper road exists only on the borough map, hence the paper road.
Anyway, the guy wanted only 125.00 for the car (1976 dollars US). It was a 1964 Opel, green with a white painted top (hardtop 2 door) and a standard shift, a 4 speed?
How I wanted that car! We had a big family and that car just wasn't going to be mine. I don't know what happened to the car, but I always think of it as it holds a special place in my heart to this day!
the smile on Joe's face as he cruises down the road says it all...
It's always amazed me how cars that are known around the world are not welcomed in the United States. Here in Canada, until they came up with the Auto Pact, European cars were the norm, I can remember neighbours who drove Mercedes, Hillmans and Peugeot, one neighbour even had a 1939 Lagonda Rapide, complete with a Roots supercharger that screamed in first gear, it was my alarm clock. Cars like the Kadett show the difference in thinking between GM North America and GM Europe at the time.
I remember back when I was in the Canadian Military and posted to CFB Lahr, West Germany, there was a local German man who had a 1973 or 74 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. He had a garage under his house that he had to have modified because the Eldorado was too big to fit in, he was quite well off, and he only drove the car on the weekends, he had to take it to Karlsruhe to get it serviced because it wouldn't fit in the shop of the local Opel dealer and he had to wash it after just about every drive because some yahoos would throw eggs or beer on it, they just hated a land yacht like that. They were really fast on the Autobahn though, I work at the Local Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, GMC dealer in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada before I joined the military. Plus as I remember it, your car insurance was rated by the power of your car in kilowatts, the more kilowatts, the higher your insurance, so Europeans usually went for lower powered street cars.
I used to race slot cars with agerman guy in his 60's... one day i asked him : "What's your favourite German car ? " I banked on a Mercedes or Porsche, he said : "Opel" and told me stories of going to the F-1 races in Europe in an Opel. When I came to Europe, I needed a cheap car, so I bought a Corsa, 1.0 lt. 58 hp... still have it... I love it.
This is a fantastic father/son car story-Petrolicious at it's best! Using any and everything to get the job done is classic garage restoration ingenuity! And this Opel goes to show you don't need a super popular or extremely rare, high HP, big money car to be a Petrolhead! Plus, if this is the "S" or "Sport" model, I wonder what the regular, non-Sport model looks like. I'll bet you could roll up to almost any C&C in the country and you'd be the only one there with an Opel. This is as much of a conversation starter as any other car from the era. Thanks Petrolicious!,
I bought a new 1964 Opel Kadett Sport Coupe while serving with the Canadian Armored Corps in West Germany. It was a great car. Very reiable
Lucky man, not only having such a great experience with his father but for having his own Oliver. I'd love my own Oliver!
I sold my '54 VW Oval window and bought my '65 Kadett A later that day. I've been dailying this shockingly rusted beauty, with and without its hood, and never fail to get at least two thumbs up as I thunder around the rural roads of Texas. I understand the smile on this man's face, I have the same smile when I'm driving.
In Europe that was a normal car back in the days...it's a beautifull car. Brings me back..
My grandfather owned one of these back in the day, one of the only cars in our town and then he owned many more Kadetts, the chain driven engine is awesome.
In the Netherlands there is a great community around kadett. I own a c kadett coupe. Bought it when i wash 18. Driven it daily. That was a journey🙈 now he is on pension. Bought a wrx 2006 as my daily en kept de kadett for summer drives to the beach. Great car!!
Awesome :)
In Europe, this car is so rare, I can't imagine in the USA, it seems to be the last one over there.
So beautiful and what a pleasure to see a father and his son who are real enthusiasts cars !
IROCMAN666 there are 3 total, I have the other 2 also hahaha
I had a '68 Opel Kadett 1.9L and loved that car! It was reliable and lovable. At one point in time everybody in my family had an Opel because of my '68 Kadett!
my favourite kind of car - the unusual. It doesn't have to be fast, it doesn't have to be exotic...but give me something eclectic and different from the norm. Every time. :-)
Opel is a very underrated german car
Hardocore well now it’s basically just Buick. But back then, they were so cool back then. But then again, almost everything was cool back then!
Opel used to be very great. But somewhere during 80s-90s they started to get boring
yeah after the end of ascona and kadett in the late 80's
Now it's owned by the French though 😊
Yeah hopefully Peugeout will put them back on track. I'm an Italian car guy, but I've always been fond of Opel, they were making great cars. I still remember neighbour's V6 Calibra, she was a star in our part of the city.
My Dad had a 1989 Opel Monza 1.8 , back when we lived in South Africa , Great Family car
Chapeau Petrolicious! Thanks for another wonderful story . “ Oliver !! “ sorry , couldn’t resist !
My dad had a sedan version in the same colour as his first car and I still have the Dinky Toy. Thanks being nice to this little Opel.
Great story... great father and son car project. This is how it supposed to be. Love the blue color. My aunt had 67 opel record. With rectangle head lights in a same blue color. Such an amazing ride.
It's a strange feeling for me as I moved to Germany from the States in 1965 and my first car was a an Opel Kadett. I've owned and personally restored a number of interesting cars from MGs, a Jaguar XK120MC, VWs, Volvo P544 and Alfas. The one car I really do not like to remember is the Opel. I know that is not what people want to hear on a Petrolicious video so I won't say any more about it, but it stuns me to see a video dedicated to this car.
May i ask why you moved to Germany? It's an interesting choice for a person your age!
Another fantastic father/son video and man Opel Kadett. My father had one when I was growing up in Greece, I remember being 6 years old and the old man would seat me in his lap and I would drive while he changed gears. Thanks for the memories Petrolicious and Joseph.
So envious but yet so happy to see a father/son project car...you guys are awesome.
The first car I ever purchased myself was a red 5 year old 1971 Opel Super Kadett, it had the coupe body with the GT 1.9 engine and suspension. Living at the time in SW Ohio in 1977 we had a severe cold spell with temps. way below zero, got up one day early to start the car for work and it was the only car on my section of neighborhood that started that morning. I wish I still had that car.
I also suffer from Opelitis. Beautiful car and great idea with the steering wheel!
I think this is one of my fav Petro stories, because it's so underdog, and authentic, true blue through!!
i LOVE that the story of this Opel comes up the week after a Ferrari Dino. Petrolicious, thank you for this! I wish I had the knowledge and skill to restore our '74 Manta. Maybe one day, she'll proudly cruise PCH again.
My father owned an Opel Kadet when we lived in Germany in the early 70s, I remember it being a very peppy and fun car to be in.
That little car is elegant, something I don't think we can say about today's small cars. The steering wheel is fantastic.
Stunning car!! Maltese tastes!!
Great story. Love the sincerity of the owners. Nicely done.
THIS is what the channel is all about, not sneaking in products that NOONE worth their salt uses, thank you for doing what you do best Petrolicious...human stories that come out due to the love of cars!
I had a 64 Opel Kadett in Pa.back in the 70s. Frozen gas lines and clutch cables breaking were a hassle. Wish I still had it!
I remember as a kid growing up in the mid '60s watching the Opel Kadett commercials on TV which featured an elephant, and I loved elephants so I remembered. I wonder if anyone else does.
I used to love those mini Corvette Opel GT too. They were not uncommon here in Hawai'i growing up.
Wonderful - the Opel Kadett A Coupé, the family history and the video👍
I had a 1973 Opel Manta out of High School . In fact I painted it in auto body shop class my senior year for my senior year project ( 1984 ) . It was bout the same color as this Kadet but a tad darker.
It was a great car , i loved it and had it for about three years untill a drunk guy on a Harley crossed over into my lane and hit me head on. Totaled my little Manta.
PS The guy on the Harley survived with a broken arm and leg but did go to jail.
This is one of the most endearing things ever.
My Dad's car died, so he inherited my Mom's Studebaker Lark and Mom got an Opel Kadett 1000 Caravan (wagon).
When I remember that car, I think about band car pools (two of us played tuba, 3/4 size Miraphone F-tubas for elementary school kids, one fellow with a trumpet, one flautist, and a bass trombone, and all the kids managed to fit in. Long trips in the hottest Georgia and Alabama summers, Sub-zero winters, it was a fun little car.
Very nice car! Great story! Enjoy the fruits of your loving labor for a forgotten car! I absolutely love it when someone brings back these lost gems to the road for everyone to enjoy!
Awesome, finally an Opel. I own two Opel Kadett D and an Astra F.
Oil bath air cleaner, wow. I love that sky blue? paint job. Fabulous.
It's baby blue. Sky blue has nine or so variations, one of which looks like baby blue. Don't know why they call it lapis blue at 0:32.
I love that Opel! Beautiful many thanks
One of my favourites
I love opel an especially models like the kadett...build in my hometown Bochum!!!
I grew up in Holland with these cars but now I'm living in the US I never see them anymore so it's a big surprise to see an US Kadett here on Petrolicious , great vid 👍
This video is exactly what most of car enthusiasts are after! Stories of inclination which end in a love declaration to an underdog car, which in its own rights is as interesting as the period super cars... but this opel being for the normal humans! Great father&son story adds to it!!! Great job petrolicious... !
Today, an hour ago I checked petrolicious' yt to look for a new video and to my surprise they upload this beautiful cinematic craftsmanship of a story!
beautiful!
Great little Film by petrolicious again! Me and my dad also own a Kadett-A. Its a '65 Sedan with the 1.0 N engine an 65k original kilometers on it. Wonderful cars. And they are the models that Made Opel known for reliability. Those things never fail.
6.30 "it's the rare old weird cars that i really love and enjoy"
Is it just me or does it sound like a bicycle? Cool little piece of history.
Great car.....we had a Kadett in the 70s.....
Good times....
👌👌👌
Just - Damn - Perfect
Lovely little Opel, the British version was the Vauxhall Viva HA 90 (54hp) which was sold in Canada as the Envoy Epic to compete with the Beetle.
This car certainly caught my attention, for me to watch certain videos the video has to display something unique and this Opel is very unique, great video and car.
Absolutely amazing. I still don't see why Petrolicious isn't as popular as it should be
Because it has class.
Great story, love the car.
A smile on his face all the time...
That's neat, simply elegant design. :)
I've owned a couple Opel's myself! A 1969 Opel GT and a '70 Kadett Rally, the one with flat black part of the hood and the 1.9L and 4 speed, extra gauges. One thing in common with both was at around 60ish the steering would shake. Never could get rid of that.Loved the GT, and the Kadett was fun. Wanted to pick up a manta as those were D-jetronic injected and cooler looking, but damn if there's any left around!
I check autotempest pretty much daily for Opels ever since I sold my 75 1900 (Ascona) with the D-jet injection. I do find more mantas than the Asconas, but the vast majority are GT's.
Great story, great car.
I learn to drive in an Opel, i took my driver´s license in an Opel, my first car was an Opel and now i´got 2 Opel.
Simply love this video. Great job Petrolicious. Cheers from Portugal!
Really nice car. I'm from Belgium and these cars are not popular to restore. There value is not so much here for a full restoration. They where everywhere in the time. Now there are enough cars left, but the nice ones like your car are rare. Beautiful build and I hope you enjoy it a long time. Nice to see that people caring for this car.
I did not expect to like this video, but I'm glad I clicked. Chapeau, Messrs DeBattista!
EastStandManc thanks
My Opel is about to go to the paintshop to get it's roof and rear wheelpanels painted. I am a Opel fan myself and I love driving in mine and working on the car with my dad.
My first car was a 68 Kadett... GREAT story! Thanks for sharing!!!
I LOVE the car!
This car is a gem, and so is the father and son story that goes with it
My Mom had an Opel Cadet before I was born, says she loved that little car, and although she can't remember the exact year, from the photo I saw it was much more rounded and bubble shaped than the car in this vid....she said it popped out of second gear any time it chose to, never really ran correctly, and every time it rained, you could hear the car rust, just like every other Garbage Motors product.......but she misses it to this day for some odd reason..
Learn to drive on a 71' ( I think ) Opel Kadett B Coupe. Was the only reason that I was willing to go with my dad when he took my younger sister to soccer practice. He would let me drive it around the parking lot. Had to hold it in 2nd gear because the syncro was out. Always wanted a B series Rallye after that.
I noticed what I assumed were ventilation controls on the front of the dash board. They look very similar to some same controls in late 1950 to early 60's Mercedes. Thank you. Narragansett Bay
Very enjoyable video, thanks for sharing and I would love to own a car like that.
Owned a 1900 sedan and a Manta coupe, both great cars.
What a cool car and nice story!
What a great story and peculiar car.
Another week, another masterpiece.
OLIVER
wow. Always loved those Opels. Thanks.
The road is always empty in front of this car. Lovely!
Beautiful! I love 50's,60's and 70's classic cars Opel. Great video, thanks.
Awesome job, gents!!
*Even after WWII the Opel rolled out cars named Kadett, Kapitän and Admiral. Only OPEL Führer missing. Bangkok-Johnny CarSanook Media Thailand. Kamera, Schnitt und Ton. Super. Thanks for the video*
Another great film!
dad had an opel kadet wagon, have never seen another. loved that car
Love it! Love the team, the process, the story, the passion. Never would have looked twice at that car until now...
Such a fantastic Kadett!
Brilliant post
@petrolicious
„Vintage cars tell their own story and I think the story is as important as the car itself“
man, that phrase gave me goosebumps. I‘m always excited when a new video from Petrolicious comes up in my feed. It really doesn’t matter what car it is about, those unique stories and beautiful pictures just drive a tear or two of joy into my eye everytime.
For me this is art, and I think every other fellow car enthusiast shares my opinion. Since my Dad passed last year I really grew deeper into the love for cars, much more as I‘ve already been - all because of him and his love for old cars and motorsport. I just bought my eighth car, a beautiful BMW E34 and I really hope I can have that special bond between a father and his child someday, sharing the same passion and always learning new things about it.
Please keep up with your great content and thank you!
Opel Kadett A has the most well designed body for a small car :)
My first car was 1967 Opel kadett sedan. Nice memories.
Very well done folks... never ceases to amaze me... Bravo!!
Wonderful story about a special car.
Awesome thanks
Beautiful
We had a few of the Vauxhall HA Vivas here in Barbados in the Caribbean. The cousin from the U.K.
I grew up driving a 68 kadett rallye. Wish I could find one to restore. It would be a head turner.
Hehe it does look like a mini Chevy II. My dad had a '63 Chevy II and I had an Opel Manta A.
Your dad id definitely Maltese...not just from the surname,his English/American accent is Maltese!
Beautiful car with a more beautiful story! True romance
I look forward to Tuesday mornings. Another upload from petro. My editingnis nowhere near but the interviews is what ibspired my channel. Thanka petro👍
Hey Guys, the car is produced in my Hometown BOCHUM in Nordrhein Westphelia!!!!
Look at the advetisment at the beginning, the car on the PHoto has BO.license plate for BOCHUM....
2 years ago the shut down the plant after 50 years and dismantled it........
OPEL der zuverlässige was the term they used for it in the 70´s.....
Now i still own a German Opel( made in East Germny) called ADAM S with 150 HP......