A MACHINE OF ITS TIME

After a long resistance, the massive padlock, rusted from the inevitable passage of time and inactivity, nevertheless succumbed and allowed two impressive garage doors to open, revealing a self-propelled carriage to our eyes of a very venerable age. Although at that moment he could hardly move independently, he still did not look as hopeless as I had imagined.

Covered with a centimeter layer of "dust of centuries", leaning slightly to the starboard side, stood on his four 65-year-old - OpelKadettK38, which by the will of fate has survived to this day. In place of the radiator grill, a huge hole gaped (as there was no radiator itself), the poor old man lost his eyes - instead of the front optics there was also emptiness, and through the scanty size windshield one could see a ticket of the last technical inspection, dated 1998 ...

In his eventful past, he survived the Great Patriotic War, "thanks" to which, in fact, he ended up in Siberia (they say that after the war this trophy was brought to Siberia by some general), the socialist everyday life of the Land of the Soviets, perestroika, and much more. ... And he always served his masters with faith and truth (the latter already in the late nineties, not sparing the rarity, carried several sacks of potatoes from the dacha to Opel). And in the future, this veteran of war and labor was to endure his rebirth: restoration of the body, interior and technical filling.

But first things first.

From sewing machines to cars.

Founder of the largest West German automobile concern Adam Opel was born in the spring of 1837 in the old German town of Rüsselsheim. He was the eldest son of a humble blacksmith and had a talent for mechanics from childhood. Having gone "to work". Adam Opel roamed Europe for five years as an apprentice. In August 1862, he returned home, dreaming of constructing a sewing machine similar to the one he had seen at the Paris exhibition. Uncle gave Adam his cowshed, where he equipped a workshop and began to implement this plan. The sewing machine came out great: it was "torn off with hands" without even letting the master complete the work. Business was going so well for Adam that in 1868 he was able to build a two-story sewing machine workshop. Since childhood, his father was helped by his five sons - Karl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig.

Later, the workshop was also engaged in the production of bicycles - Adam's growing replacement appreciated the achievement of English progress, and the brothers became fanatical about cycling. Thanks to their sporting achievements, the whole of Europe learned about the Opel brand bicycles (for their sporting careers, the sons won a great many awards and prizes).

Having matured, the sons became keenly interested in self-propelled carriages. They saw in them the future of their father's plant. My father was in no hurry to reorient the family business for the sake of stability and constant income. But on September 8, 1895, the founder of the family business died suddenly from a serious illness, and his inheritance passed in equal shares to the widow and two eldest sons. After the death of Adam Opel, Sofia opposed the implementation of the plans of the sons. who remained a like-minded husband. The troubles that fell on the company - overproduction of bicycles and a sharp drop in demand for them - helped to persuade her.

In 1897, Friedrich and Wilhelm looked after a simple but rather high-spirited self-propelled carriage by Friedrich Leopold Lutzmann at a demonstration race in Berlin. By January 21, 1899, an agreement was reached, according to which the Lutzman enterprise came under the control of the Opel family, and he himself received the post of technical director. In the spring, the first single-cylinder Lutzman Opel rolled out of the gates of the factory in Rüsselsheim on its solid tires. The engine, located horizontally under the seat, was manually started. This required turning a huge flywheel - there were no other starting devices. The design turned out to be very "raw", did not sell well, and financial gaps had to be plugged at the expense of sales of bicycles and sewing machines. Soon it was decided to stop the production of Lutzman's carts. However, this particular crew can be considered the first car of the Opel brand.

However, the first failure did not stop the brothers. In 1900, Karl, Wilhelm and Friedrich signed a contract with the French automobile plant Darrak. And in 1902, the Opel Darrak, assembled in Germany, appeared on the German market. Business of the company went uphill, and the brothers began to develop their own models. In 1906, the contract with the French expired, but by this time Opel was firmly on its feet and did not need outside help.

During the First World War, the company produced trucks for the army. However, the engineers did not waste time. In 1920, several versions of the new opel models, but inflation prevented these plans from being realized. It was decided to take radical measures to overcome the crisis. A group of leading engineers of the company, led by Wilhelm Opel, went overseas to adopt the experience of mass production of cars accumulated in the USA. Returning home. they zealously began to implement American ideas. In the period from 1923 to 1924 the old plant was transformed, and the main innovation was the first and at that time the only assembly line in Germany. Obsolete models have been discontinued. In those years, Opel, the former leader among German car manufacturers, had a hard time: german marks cars retreated under the onslaught of imported, for the most part american cars... In 1925, all of Europe talked about the purchase of the British company Vauxhall by the General Motors concern. Already in the spring of next year, Opel decided to follow the example of the British and turned to the overseas giant for patronage. Less than three years later, a formal agreement was signed - Adam Opel AG became a subsidiary of General Motors. Now manufacturing program the enterprise was aimed at producing the maximum possible number of models from the minimum number of unified units and bodies. The bodies of all cars have become more spacious, the wings have acquired rounded outlines, and inside there was a place for a spare wheel. In 1934, the cars of the German branch, like all other creations of General Motors. switched to independent front suspension. The following year, Opel was the first German automaker to produce over a hundred thousand cars in a year. In February 1936, the Olympia was unveiled at the Berlin Motor Show - the first production car with one-piece monocoque body. She laid the foundation for a new direction in the design of small cars. Market inexpensive cars replenished with the P-4 model. made in the style of the 20s. The engine of this car was reliable and thought out to the smallest detail, which made it possible to install it on the next model - Opel Kadett. About 107,000 Kadett cars rolled off the assembly line before the war. And in 1939, the fascist leadership of Germany demanded that the company reorient the plant to the production of military equipment.

By the time of Germany's surrender, the company's Brandenburg plant was located in the depths of the Soviet occupation zone. The Russians received a sanction from the Allied command to export Kadett tools, equipment, stamps and drawings for the establishment of production of these machines in Leipzig. Everything needed was fully shipped by the end of July 1946. Since then, Opel has not seen its equipment again. But many have seen Kadett: less than half a year has passed since a new small car plant on the outskirts of Moscow started production of Moskvich-400, like two drops of water similar to the pre-war Opel Kadett.

Direct legacy of almost all design and technical solutions of Opel - Soviet Moskvich 400, 401

Opel Cadet K38 in the original. All the differences are obvious

Mineral resource.

Honestly, when we drove to the same garage for the first familiarization inspection of the car, produced back in 1939, I didn’t imagine anything good, I even mentally “prepared” the newly-made owner of the rarity: “Like, you know, this carriage is already 65 years old , get ready for the fact that you will collect it almost from scratch ... "

However, the true picture was not so depressing. Having rolled this pepelats out of a small dark box into the street, we proceeded to the first detailed examination and assessment of the upcoming work.

I was pleasantly surprised (more precisely, shocked) by the amazing strength of the body metal. Judge for yourself: only the sills, part of the bottom at the passenger's feet, a small section of the roof above the windshield, and the right front fender, in which there is a hole of the correct shape, the size of a five-ruble coin, turned out to be a little rotten. It's all. The strength and durability of the rest of the metal was beyond doubt. Moreover, even the bottom did not have any traces of the former interference of the welding machine.

The cabin comfortably housed UAZ seats with worn dermantine upholstery, the "native" steering wheel was perfectly preserved, dashboard, consisting of two round ones (speedometer and odometer in one, oil pressure and gasoline level indicators in the other), a three-speed gearbox “selector” located on the steering column (automakers are increasingly returning to this solution now), and a fancy handle hand brake, standing upright. Impressive, what else can you say ... Plunging into the salon, as if you are moving into the distant 30s, and taking on the large thin rim of the steering wheel, you literally touch history.

Concerning driving force rarity, then it also remained completely complete (this is extremely rare): the main unit and almost all attachments have a factory German marking! Only the radiator, front optics and part of the wiring are irretrievably lost. After such an execution in the late nineties, this Opel was put on hold for an indefinite period by the last owner. Soon the man died, taking with him to the grave information about the current location of the documents for the car and at least some facts from the history of the car itself. So the old man stood for about five years without any hope of rebirth.

The verdict of the people who rescued him from the iron captivity was unequivocal: "He will live!"

Resuscitation.

A few minutes later, the Opel Kadett K38 was already slowly rolling, being taken in tow, attracting the perplexed glances of street onlookers. It was necessary to overtake him from the old cold box into a well-equipped capital garage in order to start the rejuvenation operation, divided into several stages.

Body work was the first according to the regulations: removal of old paint, cleaning of rust, welding, painting. An indispensable condition was to preserve the native black color of the car. Rather, if repainted, then only black. No question, only all the irregularities of the body in this case must be exterminated at the root and ideally flat surfaces must be removed. After long agony when removing the old paintwork the current owner spat on this boring occupation and gave the rarity to be torn apart by the masters of one of the wide-profile car services. They promised to boil and paint the body and interior, do everything, so to speak, in the best possible way.

While the car was being cooked and painted in the service, and this procedure lasted about three months (!), It was necessary to find the necessary spare parts, namely a radiator, a gas pump, front optics and a decorative radiator grill. It would seem that the mission is impossible: where to get spare parts for a 1939 car? But the Opel Kadett is practically an exact copy of the Soviet Moskvich - 400, 401. Or rather, our Moskvich is made in the image and likeness of Opel, only two more doors were added to it. This greatly simplifies the situation, and a radiator with a gas pump, not without difficulty, but still located at the local automobile flea market. Another thing is the radiator grill. They were noticeably different for the brothers - Opel and Moskvich. There is nothing you can do about it, you had to sacrifice authenticity and either stick in the grill from the Moskvich (it fits perfectly with the fasteners), or order a homemade product. We chose the second option and, as it turned out, in vain. But God knows, I dissuaded. Instead of convex, like that of the same 400, the grille was made absolutely flat, like that of the ancestor of the Cadet - Opel Olympia, and even painted with a cheap "silver". In general, "not a fountain", but the view does not spoil much.

A set of new glazing was also ordered to replace the clouded old one, which was installed immediately after painting in the same service.

At the end of the painting work, the noticeably rejuvenated car was delivered to the garage, where a Muscovite radiator and a gas pump were implanted into it.

The most delicate question remained: the voltage of the on-board network at the Opel veteran was 6 volts. Where to get a 6-volt battery with sufficient power. The motorcycle is not an option, it is rather weak, and over the 12-volt automobile one had to be conjured up. And they conjured up by installing an additional terminal that breaks the voltage into 2 to 6 volts.

Of the little things, it is worth noting the changed wires, candles, and the newly tightened interior (ugly tightened). So the car, which existed in the garage as a valuable, but still real estate, has become a completely tolerable vehicle.

First kilometers.

So, fuel tank filled with modern 80 gasoline, in engine compartment a modern accumulator is installed, a red lamp flashes on the dashboard with a twist of a flimsy key, an absurd figure froze on the odometer - 18,900 km ... It's scary to even imagine how many thousands of real kilometers the old Opel "rewound" ...

And I squeeze out the frayed iron button with all my might, which starts the starter, and in a second the car announces the area with displeased rumbling, generously flavored with thick clouds of smoke from a pipe cutoff that acts as a muffler. After a short run-through, the 23-horsepower engine began to hold steadily idle speed and the opportunity was given to stick the first gear. But this procedure turned out to be difficult: the shift lever located on the steering column has a special algorithm of operation, and to understand where which gear is located, it was necessary to use trial and error. Fortunately, the box is three-stage! In general, we found the first one and set off. With a creak and gnash, an old car took me and three other passengers across the endless expanses of the garage cooperative. An uninformative accelerator pedal, a "petrified" brake, after frequent pressing on which the leg starts to hurt, a heavy steering wheel with a play clearly exceeding the norm, almost zero visibility, engine noise that completely penetrates the cabin - all these drawbacks could easily ruin a trip on any modern car… But when you manage a “monument on wheels”, you just don't pay attention to these little things! When you imagine how many sets of tires he erased, winding another thousand on the odometer, how many different people he transported and witnessed events ... It's fascinating.

Ahead is seen a section of the road that looks like an open off-road, but it does not scare us: the Opel Kadett has an impressive ground clearance, "toothy" tires and a high-torque engine, so we will break through. The moderately stiff energy-intensive suspension, despite its venerable age, perfectly handles the road of an average degree of lousy. By the way, when the Moskvich-400 was copied from Opel, it was decided to slightly change the suspension in favor of greater durability and, accordingly, less comfort. So it was adapted to the roads of the Soviet Union. And the difference, I must say, is palpable: I had to drive the 401 Moskvich, where all the irregularities are felt much sharper.

Foggy prospects.

So, at the end of the test trip, Opel imperceptibly formed a crowd of interested neighbors in garages around itself. They asked to open the hood, show the salon, asked what kind of curiosity. Now, if we could finish all the restoration work to its logical end ... And there is still a lot to finish there.

In general, a good restoration workshop “cries” for this car, where the engine will be removed and rebuilt, the interior will be restored according to the original, etc. And now the car resembles a semi-finished product, which needs to be worked on for a long time before use. And after all the work done, the rarity will wonderfully get into the garage with a second car, being a cure for stress for its owner who goes out on weekends.

Andrey RICHTER

23 strong power unit paired with a three-speed transmission move cars quite well

This is the handbrake, and behind you can see the starter start button

Purely Russian know-how, battery with three terminals

We lost a little with the lattice, although it looks creative

The steering wheel is native and it is in excellent condition

Rubber from the fields, wheels are almost native (from 401 Moskvich)

Bumper borrowed from Humpbacked Zaporozhets

You get used to the shift poker very quickly

The gallery is cramped, on Moskvich this problem was solved by lengthening the base and adding rear doors

An unpretentious dashboard is located in the middle of the dashboard. Now many are returning to this.

Well a couple of suitcases will fit there

The production of the Opel Kadett began in the pre-war years in Germany. The car has undergone more than seven restyling. Nowadays, there is a good demand for the brand, because a decent ratio of cost and quality allows customers of both high and medium income to buy Opel cars.

First generation: 1937-1940

The release of the first car of the Opel Kadett brand took place in December 1936. It was a simpler version of Olympia, which was considered a progressive model among its contemporaries. The main difference between the Kadett was that the car had a lower-powered early generation P4 engine. It was positioned as a family car: simple and affordable, unlike the Olympia, which was a sports, youth car.

At first, all models were exclusively rear-wheel drive. Later, front-wheel drive versions were designed. The body was self-supporting, and the suspension was independent. The official name of the car is K-36 (by year of manufacture), K-38. The first generation of these cars was produced for 3 years, and the last copies left the conveyors of German car factories in 1940. The car of the first generation was actively used during the Second World War until 1962.

In terms of general technical characteristics, the Opel Kadett had a wide variety of bodies: a sedan (according to the German version, it was considered a limousine, regardless of the size of the car), which could be three- or five-door; and also produced a convertible with two doors.

Features of the model:

• length - 3840 mm, width - 1375 mm, height - 1540 mm;
• engine displacement - 1100 cm3;
• maximum speed - 90 km / h;
• power - 23 liters. from.;
• curb weight - 750 kg;
• gasoline engine;
• control - mechanical.

The car was named a junior officer rank, as it was really a cadet - unpretentious, small, accessible for the whole family. However, in those years, the K-36 and K-38 were the most modern economy class vehicles. The Opel brand emblem was different. The hood depicted an airship, which became a symbol of the advanced achievements of German engineering. It was only in 1947 that lightning appeared on the logo, which is known to this day.

Almost all pre-war cars were frame-based, but Opel made a real breakthrough in mechanical engineering by equipping the Kadett with an all-metal monocoque body. Another innovation is the appearance of an independent front suspension of the Dubonnet type: a set of springs and air struts are hidden under a single casing. With the help of traditional semi-elliptical springs, the rear axle... Brake hydraulics were also integrated.

A special attitude of designers to safety was added to the image of the technically perfect unit at that time. vehicle... Along with the usual crash tests, the supporting body of the car was subjected to tests: it was dropped from a seven-meter height. The result was excellent - despite such a hard landing, the doors opened without difficulty.

In 1938, the K-36 underwent restyling, retaining almost everything specifications, except for a changed appearance. And just this version of the car was made the prototype of the Moskvich-400, since the equipment on which Kadett was produced after the victory in Velikaya Patriotic War was exported to the USSR.

Second generation (A): 1962-1965

After 1940, the production of the car was temporarily stopped due to the Second World War. However, Germany managed to revive the Opel concern practically in the first post-war decade. In 1962, representatives of the next generation Kadett came out under the factory index "A", who prepared as volkswagen competitors Beetle, the same small and economical car for the whole family.

The Opel company celebrated its centenary, and the construction of an automobile plant was timed to coincide with it. It was planned to produce an improved Opel Cadet here. The second generation car was produced with different bodies:

• two-door sedan (1962);
• station wagon Car-A-Van (1963);
• coupe (1964).

The design side of the car was in many ways similar to the Chevrolet brand lineup, namely the Chevy II. However, the rear end was influenced by earlier US vehicles.

Specifications were as follows:

• classic layout with a monocoque body;
• rear drive;
• a total of 12 body panels;
• curb weight 670 kg;
• one liter four-cylinder petrol engine;
• motor (optional) 40 or 48 horsepower.

For 3 years of production from a new plant in the German city of Bochum, 649,500 cars were sold.

Third generation (B): 1965-1973

German engineers took into account the imperfections made in the production of previous models, so in 1965 a new Opel Kadett appeared under the factory index "B". It made such a strong impression on consumers that it became a bestseller in sales. Over the years of production, more than 2 690 000 copies have been sold.

He had even more body versions, but the most in demand were:

• three- and five-door sedan;
• three- and five-door station wagon;
• compartment;
• coupe fastback.

In total, the manufacturer offered 11 bodies. The appearance of the car has also changed: it has become wider and longer.

The third generation Kadett produced the following types of rear-wheel drive engines with a manual transmission:

• 1.1 l. (45 HP, 60 HP) in the basic configuration;

• 1.5 (50 and 55);
• 1,2 (60);

• 1,7 (75);
• 1.9 (90) was developed on the Opel Kadett Rallye modification.

For a separate surcharge, they offered to put an automatic speed switch.

The car was actively bought not only in Europe, but also in the USA. However, the Americans considered Opel too easy for them, so sales were phased out ahead of schedule.

Fourth generation (C): 1973-1979

Since 1973, the production of the Opel Kadett generation under the "C" designation began. The car continued to be rear-wheel drive, but received an upgrade:

• spring front suspension on wishbones;
• a two-liter engine with fuel injection;
• five-stage mechanical box gear;
• three-point seat belt.

This model was created on the global platforms GM - T-Platform, which is why it has many analogues in other brands:

• Japan - Isuzu Gemini;
• USA - sold as Buick-Opel, but manufactured in Japan;
• Australia - Holden Gemini;
• Korea - Daewoo Maepsy, Saehan Gemini;
• Brazil - Chevrolet Chevette;
• UK - Vauxhall Chevette.

Kadett was produced in the following bodies:

• sedan;
• station wagon;
• hatchback;
• compartment;
• cabriolet.

Engine types

Carburetor

• 1.0 liters (40 hp) mechanically, rear-wheel drive (hereinafter - wp);
• 1.2 (52, 55, 60) mechanic or automatic, salary;
• 1.6 (75) mechanics or automatic machine, salary

Injection

• 1.9 (105) mechanics or automatic;
• 2.0 (115) mechanics or automatic.

In 1977, the exterior of the car was updated. He became more athletic. Until 1979, more than 1,700,000 4th generation models were sold.

Fifth generation (D): 1979-1984

The fifth issue with the index "D" was released in 1979. This car was revolutionary in the history of Opel. Technical opel specifications Kadett. It was then that front-wheel drive, which made it possible to expand the capacity of the car. The Kadett is 12cm shorter than its predecessor models ("B" and "C"), but the cabin is much larger.

This also happened because the engine was positioned across, which significantly reduced the space that it occupied. In addition, a rear semi-independent suspension appeared on the car. The result is a completely new model.

All the same body styles were offered as previous generations of Kadett. The car had gasoline carburetor four-stroke engines the following volumes:

• 1.2 liters (52, 55, 60 HP);
• 1.3 (60, 75);
• 1.6 (90).

The 1.8 liter (115 hp) engine was supplied with fuel using air injection (injector). In addition, for the first time installed diesel engine volume of 1.6 liters and a capacity of 54 liters. from.

The prices for the Kadett D were reasonable and the fuel consumption was very low. Therefore this car was an impressive success. The level of sales outpaced competitors-classmates, including Volkswagen Golf... Over the entire period, 2,100,000 vehicles were sold.

Sixth generation (E): 1984-1991

In the latest generation, the Opel Kadett was produced under the E designation. By 1985, the model was awarded the title "European Car of the Year". It was reliable and inexpensive.

It was produced for almost 7 years, and convertibles were produced for another 2 years:

• 1984, September - production of three- and five-door hatchbacks began;
• 1985 - the first sedans of this series with four doors appeared;
• 1985 - the Italian plant "Burton" produced convertibles;
• 1991, in August - the production of the Opel Kadett E CC model (except for convertibles), replaced by the Opel Astra F, was completed;
• 1993, February - convertibles are discontinued.

Generation E had other body modifications:

• three- and five-door station wagons (known as the Kadett Caravan)
• three- and five-door hatchback;
• two-door convertible;
• mini-van ("heel").

Gasoline engines, front-wheel drive:

• Opel Kadett 1.3 (60), mechanically, with a flow rate of 8.6 / 5.5 liters. (hereinafter, data per 100 km);
• on the machine with a flow rate of 9.1 / 5.9 liters;
• 1.3 (75), on mechanics;
• 1.2 liters (55 hp), on the mechanics;
• 1.6 (75), mechanically (7.4 / 4.4l), automatic (9.2 / 6.4l);
• 1.6 (82, 90) automatic / mechanic;
• 1.8 (84), mechanically (9.1 / 5.3 l), automatic (10.1 / 6.3 l);
• 1.8 on mechanics, 112, - 9.7 / 5.7 l., 115, - 9.9 / 5.6 l.;
• 1.8 (115), automatic;
• 2.0 (115), mechanics / automatic;
• 2.0 (116), mechanically (10.2 / 6.2L), automatic.

Diesels (atmospheric and turbocharged) on mechanics with front-wheel drive:

• 1.5 (72), consumption 7/4 liters per 100 km;
• 1,6 (54).

The "E" version has good aerodynamics: Cx \u003d 0.30. The car is streamlined, without sharp corners, therefore it is fast and maneuverable. The popularity increased so much that this particular version was the hit of the Kadett series. More than 3,800,000 vehicles were sold.

The further fate of the model

GM, starting in 1992, unifies model designations in Europe, and the Kadett F becomes the Opel Astra, borrowed from the Vauxhall Astra's British twin. Another version of the reason for the renaming was that the company changed the naming policy for its products: all models became "feminine", ie. end in a: Omega, Vectra, Calibra, etc.

However, back in 1987, a Korean firm Daewoo bought a license from Opel to produce the Kadett E, renaming it Daewoo Racer. She lasted on conveyors until 1995. Then the same base gave rise to a new model - Daewoo Nexia.

The history of the Opel Kadett production ended in 1993. He has become a sales leader in the European automotive market more than once. Because it was inexpensive and of high quality. And one of the reasons for this is a well-organized production process. Initially, the German brand has built factories in different countries, which made it possible to save on the delivery of cars to the nearest dealers, quickly supply original spare parts and components, engage in technical support and more. Nowadays, the successor to the "Cadet", Opel Astra, also occupies a worthy position in the opinion of buyers.

The first Opel with the Kadett nameplate was presented to the public in December 1936. A car equipped with a 1.1-liter 23 hp engine. with., was produced until 1940. After the end of the Second World War, part of the equipment on which the "Cadet" was produced was taken to Soviet Union, and based on german model was created .

2nd generation (A), 1962-1965

Opel Kadett reappeared in lineup company in 1962. The car, which was supposed to compete with "", was produced at a new plant in Bochum, Germany until 1965, a total of 649 thousand cars were made. Opel Kadett A was offered with sedan, coupe and station wagon bodies, and engines with a volume of one liter and a capacity of 40 or 48 liters were installed under its hood. from.

3rd generation (B), 1965-1973

The Opel Kadett B, which debuted in 1965, became one of the most popular cars of the brand: more than 2.69 million cars were produced by 1973. This model boasted a large number of versions: two- and four-door sedan, three- and five-door station wagon, coupe and fastback coupe. Kadett B was sold not only in Europe but also in the US market.

The base engine was a 1.1-liter (45 HP), and the most powerful was a 1.9-liter (106 HP) engine on the Opel Kadett Rallye modification. For a surcharge was offered automatic transmission gear.

4th generation (C), 1973-1979

The 1973 Opel Kadett C became a global model: in Japan this model was known as, in the USA - Buick-Opel, in Australia - Holden Gemini, in Korea - Daewoo Maepsy and Saehan Gemini, in Brazil - Chevrolet Chevette. "Cadet" was produced with sedan, station wagon, hatchback, coupe and convertible bodies, and in the range power units there were carburetor engines 1.0, 1.2, and 1.6 (40-75 hp), and injection engines a volume of 1.9 and 2.0 liters (105-115 forces). In 1977, the Opel Kadett received an updated exterior.

5th generation (D), 1979-1984

In 1979, the production of a new generation of "Cadet" began. It was perfect new car, the main difference from its predecessors is front-wheel drive. Hatchbacks and station wagons were equipped with petrol carburetor "fours" of 1.2, 1.3 and 1.6 liters with a capacity of 53–90 liters. with., as well as a 1.8-liter engine with fuel injection with a capacity of 115 liters. from. In addition, the Opel Kadett D was equipped with a 1.6 diesel engine developing 55 forces.

6th generation (E), 1984-1991

In the photo above, the Moskvich 400 is not familiar to us, but its twin brother, the Opel Kadett K38.
This car appeared in 1936 and was a simpler version of the Opel Olimpia. For its time, the Opel Kadett K36 was a very progressive car. The second car from Opel with a monocoque body and front independent suspension. The first was Olimpia. Unlike Olimpia Kadett was equipped with an older and a low-power engine from the P4 model. Kadett was positioned as a family car, simple and affordable, and Olimpia as a sports and youth car. The range of bodies of Kadett was wider. It included a sedan (which the Germans traditionally call a limousine, regardless of the size of the car). two and four-door versions, two-door convertible.
In 1938, the Opel Kadett underwent restyling, and this version of the car later became the Moskvich 400.
How did Kadett become a Muscovite? I will present my version based on the memoirs of Lev Shugurov and publications in the Autoreview newspaper.
It is necessary to start from 1940. This year the KIM plant was in full preparation for production of its first independent development KIM 10 50. The first three prototypes participated in the May demonstration of the plant workers. A journalist from the Izvestia newspaper was present at the demonstration. In an article about the demonstration, he wrote about the launch of the new The newspaper lay on Stalin's desk. The leader was surprised to learn that the USSR began to produce a new car without his knowledge. Such willfulness could not be tolerated. An inspection was urgently appointed. new car and its western counterparts in Red Square.
The results of the show could be predicted easily. Stalin did not like KIM 10 50. The outdated design was criticized, the headlights of the car were on the wings of the body separately, it was necessary to be united. Especially the leader did not like the two-door body. Among the foreign analogs of the KIM, presented at the bridegroom, there was Opel Kadett. Stalin liked it. Maybe because it was the only four-door car on display. Although the four-door version of the Kadett is more rare. Two-door version was produced much more, about 60 to 40 percent. The chief praised Opel and said that this is how cars should be made. for the Soviet people.
This was followed by organizational conclusions. In August 1940, a resolution of the Council of People's Commissars and the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) was issued sharply criticizing the activities of the leadership of the automotive industry and the management of the plant KIM. Further, Likhachev, the minister of the automotive industry, was removed from his post and sent back to the ZIS as director. Director of KIM Kuznetsov was imprisoned. Many at the plant were preparing for landing, but then the war began. It was necessary to master the production of light tanks. Kuznetsov was released in 1942.
Well, with the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, quite a few Opel Kadett, which Stalin liked so much, drove into the USSR. How could these cars mastered the Russian expanses. From the beginning in one direction, then in the other.
With the end of the war, MZMA, as they began to call KIM, was given the task of urgently starting the production of a Soviet small car. The plant remembered well the story of KIM 10 50. The question of how the new car should look like was not. A group of plant specialists went to Germany to the Opel plant.
The plant looked like this.
The factory did not have any equipment for production in its entirety. Everything was destroyed by Allied bombers.
They began to collect specialists from the Opel plant. Many ended up in the Soviet zone of occupation. It was decided with the help of German specialists to restore all the equipment for the production of Opel Kadett. This somewhat surprised the Germans. After all, the Kadett at that time was already considered an obsolete model. systems.
The Soviet specialists somewhat shocked the Germans with their appearance. Soviet engineers wore sweatshirts, riding breeches and a badass. It was necessary to clean up our specialists a little, so that unnecessary questions would not arise.
Nevertheless, the joint work went smoothly. At first, the work was going on in Germany. Then the Germans and all the developments were taken to the MZMA plant. The Germans went in compartment cars, there was not enough compartment for our specialists.
In the preliminary stages of design, the German was constantly trying to make changes in appearance car.
They offered to release an extended version.
Or a station wagon version.
And they even offered to radically change the front of the car. But the designers of the MZMA firmly repulsed all these attempts. They still had to hand over the car to Stalin. And it is not known how the leader would react to the estates included in the appearance of the car he liked. There were no people who wanted to check it.
At the beginning of 1946, the new car was shown to Stalin. The leader had a very good memory, so when he saw a copy of Kadett in front of him, he was pleased. Although the car looked anachronistic against the background of Gorky's Victory.
Moskvich also got the old low-valve engine from Kadett, although it was more promising to copy the engine from Olimpia.
True, not only in the Soviet Union they copied the Kadett. The Renault Juvaquatre was also a copy of this car and was produced for about the same years as the Moskvich. True, the French got the whole equipment for the production of the car. Those factories that fell into the western sector of the occupation were bombed less by the Allies.
How to distinguish Opel Kadett K38 from Moskvich 400?
If the soldiers of the Wehrmacht are standing next to the car, then this is Opel. It's a joke.
Opel Kadett K38 is usually two-door, often without side molding. Probably came as an option. And so it is very difficult to distinguish.
The very first Opel Kadett K36 produced in 1936.