SentiMETAL Ep 5: Sub Zero - South Africa's Opel Kadett Superboss
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- "Born on the racetrack" is an often-used term when it comes to high-performance cars, but few road machines can rightfully lay claim to that description. The Opel Kadett GSi 16V S, better known as the "Superboss" is just such a machine. Developed with the single purpose of annihilating the iconic BMW 325iS in local Group N racing, it has become an enduring South African legend.
For the 5fth episode of SentiMETAL, we travelled to Roodepoort to meet Werner Meyer, an ex-Porsche technician who now specialises in restoring Superbosses. In recent years interest in the Superboss has exploded, in line with increasing values for all South African specials.
"I searched for this car for 11 years," says Werner, "because I wanted this specific colour, the rare Estoril blue." When he discovered his Superboss in Kimberley it was in bad shape, but his expertise in restorations paid off, as years of hard work has resulted in this, quite possibly the cleanest Superboss in the country.
"A lot of people think the Superboss was just a small upgrade from the Big Boss," says Werner, "but I don't think so. Of course, the Superboss had a magnificent engine underneath the bonnet as a solid starting point - the famed "red-top" Opel 2.0L 16V engine was highly tuneable. In the Superboss the compression ratio was upped and 276-degree Schrick cams were added, among other additions and tweaks (including a Promotech control box).
Still, 125 kW may not raise an eyebrow these days, but the Superboss made the most of what it had, because Opel also stripped out a lot of luxuries, and then added a rarity for those days, a limited-slip differential developed by South African specialist Andre Verwey. The resultant power-to-weight ratio was excellent, and it put the power down very well, too.
Consequently, the Superboss was near-unbeatable on the track, particularly in the hands of the famed Mike Briggs. Although BMW introduced the 325iS to combat of the might of the Big Boss in 1991, Opel rolled out the black Alluette-wheeled Superboss to improve the odds in the yellow racing cars' favour and it duly won Class A of the South African Group N championship in the hands of Briggs in 1991 and 1992.
For Werner, his Superboss has become part of the family. "Even my family-in-law assisted with this car... friends too. It will stay part of the family."
Sit back, turn up the sound, and imagine the glory days of Superboss vs Gusheshe (325iS)!
0:00 Intro to Opel Kadett Superboss
2:13 Modifications of the Opel Kadett Superboss
3:46 Opel Kadett Big Boss and Opel Kadett Superboss comparison
4:10 Quest to find this Opel Kadett to modify
5:28 Outro
Featuring: Werner Meyer - Opel Super Boss
Directed By: Justin Pinto
Produced By: Sanchez Labs - www.sanchez.co.za/
Story and Research: Hannes Oosthuizen, Jenna Mervis
2nd camera and Gimabal Operator: Shaan Bester
Assistant : Riaan Fourie
Online: Sanchez Labs
Filmed on location in Johannesburg, South Africa - Auta a dopravní prostředky
In 1992 I was driving a Conquest RSI, till a mate blew me away with his "Superboss". I was an instant convert and a year later owned my first Superboss. It didn't stay standard for too long, ended up removing the schrick 276 cams and went onto imported Kent 300 cams (which were actually too wild for road use). It was stroked and bored and ended up being just shy of 2.1 liter. Lightened flywheel, larger throttle body and ram air induction completed the mods. The car was wicked, truly a giant killer (Mike Briggs actually help me set up the timing) Years later I have owned all sorts of hot hatches including GSI, GTI, RSI, Nissan Sentra 2.0 16V etc. More recently I have owned a Subaru STI, and to be honest, the only car that would ever have given my Subaru a run for its money on top end was my Superboss, the others wouldn't have come close. The standard features of the Superboss also included the 5 spoke anthracite rims, air vents (where there would have been spotlights on the standard GSI 2.0 16V) that were cooling ducts for the calipers, the head was actually designed by Cosworth specifically for the South African market to meet homologation specs. The other standard features were correct as per the video. Tks for the vid and the awesome memories. Brings a big lump to my throat.....
These engines were incredible (with help from Cosworth in design!) If you junked the standard injection for twin carbs you got 190bhp (this is up from the UK standard 156bhp, let alone the modded Super Boss) or fitted a aftermarket injection set up (a much better but obviously more expensive route) over 200bhp. In the UK they sold full tune kits along with the injection to produce 210/220 and I think up to approaching 300bhp! All naturally aspirated! Vauxhall/Opel 2.0 16 valve engines were so good that they were fitted to a bunch of kit cars (Caterham etc) and track cars. This was the best 16 valve engine for at least a decade!
Nice..! this reminds me alot of why i love my 1998 Honda Integra Type R, pure old skool NA driving goodness.
The production value of these videos just keep getting better and better!
How much are they worth these days?
incredible KADETT
Back when opel made great cars
This was my first car I bought when I started working. Loved it. Driven in anger every day. 1996 to 1999
I learned to drive in a Opal Kaddet in 1976. No one liked the car but my dad . It was an oldie maybe 1968 or so. It had a 4sd trans and he said " if you can drive a 4spd ...... then you can drive anything. " praise God and thank you dad. I can drive anything that comes my way
Brilliant intro with the historical footage showing on the car. Awesome!
What a great legendary car, I am a big fan of the GSI16V. The 20XE engine did indeed make it more fun to rallying and to fool around on normal roads.
Superb engine to tune and to have fun with. 25 real easy HP, by just removing the SFI/inlet manifold box, and replace them with some ITBS.
I have a Astra GSI myself and it's always a pleasure to drive it. You can beat down todays modern hatchback cars pretty easy, but it will even be more easy if you tune it, because the RED TOP/C20XE engine has alot of potential for tuning, it's just fantastic. =)
"Born on the racetrack"- Developed with the single purpose of annihilating the iconic BMW 325iS in local Group N racing.
Jobe done.
My two favourite car built by, the car manufacturer is Opel GTE 1800CC 8V 4 Doors Hatchback White and Opel Superboss 2L 16v DOHC 2 Door Hatchback White.. These two Opel cars made big impact to manufacturer Opel and, followed through great success in the Car Auto mobilitive Industry. In my opinion, Opel always built standard engine to rev at higher rpm up till today, with economic and performance at the acceleration.
I used to love the Kadette 200ts in mid 90s also. Was a limited supply and extremely fast
I always looked up to the Superboss with the my Corsa Lite, still do.
Awesome. I enjoyed the couple of seconds of back in the days motor racing and hearing my star driver name, Tony Vianna. That time I was a BMW fan but when the super boss of mike briggs pitch up, the races just got interesting. The super boss gave the bmw 325is a hard time. A really cool car.
Nice video guys and I'd certainly like to see more blasts from the past too, keep it up!
awesome...really liking these trips down memory lane.............i must admit they make me pretty damn homesick too!!
Awesome brother - well done and thanks for sharing your video 👍
I am very happy for this owner. Great work and restoration on this project, however I am most impressed with his passion.
I will have the same clocks in mine, with the 8K rev counter and 250km/h speedo. Mine is a five door though, and not even closely as original, but the 16v engine is what it is all about, and I know we're gonna enjoy it a lot when it is back on the road.
Cool video...and a beautiful restoration
Amazing content!
Great vid. I had a red 1990 model. My Vdub friends hated me after selling my Mk2 GTi 16v for this car ..he he he. Till today no other norminally aspirated 2.0 16v could achieve this cars 230Nm torque. The midrange was this cars strong point.
I love sentimental it really brings back good old memories
one of my dream cars to own
Very freaking cool, and i’m a kiwi. Great vid guys, love the special SA cars you guys were building
Drifty325i
I owned one of these in NZ! it's down in Christchurch now, miss it heaps
It is an super fine driving car , I had one with an c20 SEH engine the 8 valve version from 1988
In high school my friends uncle gave him a kaddett as a present hahaha boy did we drive that baby. What a legend
Owned a Ford Sierra XR8 in the 90's. Had a number of run-ins with the
Big Boss, as well as Superboss on the street on a few separate
occasions. Back when roads weren't so gridlocked as today and one still
had some space and distance to enjoy a short, friendly "dice". These
blighters would sneak up to my tailgate and just sit with me - I'd make
bit of a getaway on the straight, only to get pulled back on the
corners. Was great fun. If corners were longer they would have passed me! Kadett's power-to-weight ratio was excellent. I respect them today still. Looking back they were WAY ahead of their time!
Cinematography is on point
Y
Best car I ever owned. Super gangsta driving up and down voortrekker road in Pretoria. Lol
This is the first car I ever drove that my uncle taught me how to drive with when I was 17
Fantastic car in its day. Put V dubs to shame......
My friend still has his 1.4IS F shape sedan. It's a tiny Sohc 8v and all he did was a new freeflow exhaust/performance flat bed filter(Not a cone)/racing manifold. It runs up to 220kph and it only had 60KW out of factory, He now outruns cars like the VW TSFI 1.6. Even saw him win a race against a Corsa 1.8 hatchback. Opel makes some great engines, My favorite four cylinder opel engine is the C20LET makes around 220whp stock.
even by today's standards, its superb.
You guys need way more subscribers!
South Africa has lots of nice cars
Very cool. Love the older cars. So much better in every way compared to today's cars.
John Grytbakk Not a chance.
Wat ry jy? n Nuwe Tata Indica? Op geen planeet is dit beter as n nuwe kar nie. Great in sy tyd maar dis dit
John Grytbakk 1;#;£;=:
John Grytbakk swqqqwqq
Yup. I drive my 1.8 citigolf daily. It has big cam and full exhaust. No power steering or any luxuries like the opel. And I love it
Awesome
My dad has a mint red one....and trust me it's amazing..... And he's doesn't plan on selling it anytime soon..... It's such a nostalgic feeling.
The cinematics are second to none, excellent quality. Looking forward to more of these - kudos!
Had one of these regret selling it years ago!
My ex boss- fabulous car!
Music name?
Wish you would provide more specs into these shows....dont have any top speed, 0-100, qtr mile times, breaking distance etc....i think i heard the bloke say 125kw... i seen a turbo one of these at hyperama hill back in the 90s....obviously after market .....but it was quick
didn't the GSI had an elecktric dash? this one is pure analog?
Not the GSI superboss in South Africa.
When are we going to see a VW Mk3 VR6?
Macaylan Velayutham agree with you.
Great car but nothing compared to the Superboss.
Netjies Werner!
Stannic Group N CLASS C Uno Turbo Peter Lanz was beating some of the Class A cars
I thought all these including the Monza had returned to dust by now. They were very flimsy , but good to drive.
My first car was a Superboss, really loved it as the handling was perfect for the power and it weighed almost nothing. I drove it hard daily from 30 000km until my wife eventually killed it at 360 000km by driving it without oil for weeks. Bullet proof engine. After that first car everything seemed tame, so I saved up for a biturbo beast.
Please do some Toyota Twincam reviews as well
Opel gang!! To the bitter end !!
Werner what a boytjie!
Supie all the way one day is one day i will have me this CULT car best idle burble ever thanks to the 276 cams currently drive an Opel astra g 1.8 16v good car torque is king on this...OPEL-Over Powering Ever Lasting.
The term born on the race track is used by many but this car was born on the race track,developed to beat the bmw 325is and it did ✨️💪
I owned a boss 2 litre 8 valve.used to kill the evo 1 and 2 bmw 325 is .vr6. Gti. Cli 16 valve vw and Nissan sentra 20.litre16 valve . In Durban South Africa
Devan Govender Stock Devon?
2 litre opel record motor. With branches and free flow exhaust
How hard is it finding the bespoke engine parts like pistons / valves ect?
Easy
now we have the opc
I have an 1991opel monza GLS 1.6
125kw of power may not be eye popping but you can still show your tail lights to the polo tsi and the rest of the pretenders.
All about power to weight ratio.
jako p this. Cars weighed a lot less back then.
Exactly. 125kw in a little 900kg car is very good. Lots of fun. My 1.8 citigolf is 92kw and 820kg and its very very quick. I give a lot of people surprises
I had an Opel Kadett Cub 1.4 as my first car. Lots of fun to drive. The Super Boss must be an exciting drivers car. Nice vid, but Cars.co.za, it would be cool if you could do an objective review of the car maybe with some other classics from the era or compare it with the modern equivalent.
I love the cars in this series, you guys should do full reviews on them though in addition to the owner's view.
song plz
Why did Opel die
I noticed that this boss doesn't have the digital speedometer because the one we had in the family had a digital speedometer
Nawane khomo that wasn't a boss... Probably the 1.8 GSi
And the 2.0 8v had digital
This is my chanel
Hi ✋
I thought that all Super Bosses came with digital instrument panels :/
Claude Tasquier no Superboss didn't. The original 1.8 GSi did.
Cool...i havent been in many kaddetts before,in a monza here and there saw some digital instruments,was under the impression the Super Boss would have,but kinda makes sense though,it was purpose built car for track,no need i guess xD
2.0 had digital instrument panel
Can it reach 200km/h flat with no problem
HOW MUCH??I PAY POUND STERLING BOET?
Music is louder than the commentary. Come on man
The gsi Kadett are nice cars but all suffer the dreaded spark problem were the engine refuses to start
Who else has a superboss
When it comes to cars, analog beats digital, agreed?
Annoying that south Africa got specials even a 204bhp astra mk3 saloon/kadett 200ts
Lekker tappit kar
200ts was better
Will De Meyer
I had both and the superboss was lighter and raw. Felt faster and more fun. I'm 58 now so don't judge me
Cool car, but the Honda Vtec still is a legend..
I am really not feeling this car