Opel Kapitän

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The Opel Kapitän was a car made in several different generations by the German car manufacturer Opel from 1938 to 1970.

[edit] 1938–40

First generation
Production	1938–1940
Engine(s)	6-cylinder

The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door coupés and cabriolets were also built. The pre-war Kapitän featured a unitary body, a modern feature for its time.

[edit] 1948–50

In October 1948 the Kapitän was re-introduced as a large six-cylinder saloon only, based on the 1939 version. The main differences were round headlights as opposed to hexagonal ones. From May 1950 the shifter was relocated from the floor to the steering column. The first post-war Kapitän reached a top speed of 126 km/h (78.3 mph), needed 29 seconds to reach 100 km/h and consumed 13 l/100 km (18 mpg (US)) in the process.

Up to February 1951, 30.431 Kapitäns were built.

[edit] 1951–53

Third generation
Production	1951–1953
Engine(s)	2.5 l-I6, 58 PS/57 hp
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual
Wheelbase	2695 mm (106.1 in)
Length	4715 mm (185.6 in)
Width	1720 mm (67.7 in)
Height	1625 mm (64 in)
Curb weight	1240 kg (2733.7 lb)

The 1951 Kapitän, introduced in March 1951, was a stilistically slightly modernized version of the old model; technically it was much the same. The engine's compression ratio rose from 6.0:1 to 6.25 to 1, its output from 55 to 58 PS.

From March 1951 up to July 1953, Opel built 48,562 cars of this series.

[edit] 1954–57

Fourth generation
Production	1954–1957
Engine(s)	2.5 l-I6, 68-75 PS (67-74 hp)
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual, 4-speed-overdrive transmission
Wheelbase	2750 mm (108.3 in)
Length	4710 mm (185.4 in)-4735 mm (186.4 in)
Width	1760 mm (69.3 in)
Height	1600 mm (63 in)-1560 mm (61.4 in)
Curb weight	1250 kg (2755.8 lb)-1300 kg (2866 lb)

In November 1954 Opel launched a completely new Kapitän that was longer and wider than its predecessor. Carried over was the six-cylinder engine, though its compression ratio was raised to 7.0:1, giving 68 PS (67hp) initially. For 1955, output rose to 71 PS (70 hp) and was further enhanced to 75 PS (74 hp) for 1956. The ´54 featured a revised rear live axle, a rear stabilizing bar and slightly enlarged drum brakes.

Model year 1956 saw a mild facelift with a more up-to-date grille, bezeled headlamps, larger front indicator lights and revised side trim. The ´56 reached a top speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) and consumed 11.5 l/100 km (20 mpg (US)).

From May 1957 a semi-automatic 3-speed overdrive transmission with an additional fourth gear became available on request.

From November 1953 to February 1958, 154,098 Kapitäns were built. In its time, this generation was the third most popular car in Germany behind Volkswagen´s Beetle and Opel's own Rekord (Oswald, p. 73).

Opel Kapitän 1956/57

[edit] Kapitän P1

Kapitän P1
Production	1958–1959
Engine(s)	2.5 l-I6, 80 PS (79 hp)
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual 4-speed overdrive
Wheelbase	2800 mm (110.2 in)
Length	4764 mm (187.6 in)
Width	1785 mm (70.3 in)
Height	1500 mm (59.1 in)
Curb weight	1310 kg (2888.1 lb)

The 1958 Kapitän (series P1), introduced in June 1958, was both wider and lower than its predecessor, and featured panoramic windows. It was only built for one year. This time, the 2.5 l-six's output was raised to 80 PS (79 hp). Wheelbase, track widths, length and width were all slightly stretched, while a flatter roof made the car some 6 cm/2.4 in lower.

From June 1958 to June 1959, 34.282 cars were built.

[edit] Kapitän P2

Kapitän P2
Production	1959–1963
Engine(s)	2.6 l-I6, 90 PS (89 hp)
Transmission(s)	3-speed manual 4-speed overdrive 3-speed Hydra-Matic-automatic
Wheelbase	2800 mm (110.2 in)
Length	4831 mm (190.2 in)
Width	1812 mm (71.3 in)
Height	1512 mm (59.5 in)
Curb weight	1340 kg (2954.2 lb)

The P2 Kapitän came to market in August 1959 and while it still had the panoramic windscreen, it gained a new grille and a redone body with a more angular roof and a new rear. It was driven by a stronger new, oversquare 2.6 liter-inline six (bore x stroke: 85 x 76.5 instead of 80 x 82 mm), still of OHV and pushrod design. Carried over were the 3-speed and 4-speed overdrive transmission; the latter was replaced from December 1960 by a version of GM´s 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic.

The P2 climbed to a top speed of 150 km/h (93.2 mph), reached 100 km/h in 16 seconds and consumed 12 l/100 km (19 mpg (US)).

From August 1959 to December 1963, Opel built 145.618 units of this Kapitän series.

[edit] Kapitän A

Kapitän A
Production	1964–1968
Engine(s)	2.6 litre 6-cylinder, 100 PS (99 hp) 2.8 l-I6, 125-140 PS (123-138 hp) 4.6 l-V8, 190 PS (187 hp)
Transmission(s)	4-speed manual 2-speed Powerglide-automatic
Wheelbase	2845 mm (112 in)
Length	4948 mm (194.8 in)
Width	1902 mm (74.9 in)
Height	1445 mm (56.9 in)
Curb weight	1380 kg (3042.4 lb) - 1550 kg (3417.2 lb)

In 1964 Opel introduced the completely new KAD (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) models; the Kapitän served as the base model of this three-tier model range.

It was powered by the same engines as the contemporary Opel Admiral, namely a 2.6 l-inline six or a 2.8 l-six; a few Kapitäns even received the Chevrolet-sourced 4.6 l-V8. For the Austrian market, 580 Kapitän and Admiral models received a 2.5 l-six with an output of 112 PS/111 hp in 1966/67.

Like its more expensive brethren, the Kapitän was reworked in late 1967 and received rub strips, a new ZF steering and a collapsible steering column. At the same time, a new HL (Hochleistung = high output) version of the 2.8 l-six became available that put out 140 PS (138 hp).

Sales of the Kapitän A fell sharply off; up to its discontinuation in November 1968, a total of 24.249 cars left the factory.

[edit] Kapitän B

Kapitän B
Production	1969–1970
Engine(s)	2.8 l-I6, 132-145 PS (130-143 hp)
Transmission(s)	4-speed manual 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase	2845 mm (112 in)
Length	4907 mm (193.2 in)
Width	1852 mm (72.9 in)
Height	1450 mm (57.1 in)
Curb weight	1475 kg (3251.8 lb) - 1495 kg (3295.9 lb)

The Kapitän B was introduced in 1969 and was the last car bearing the Kapitän name. Engine options included a 1-bbl 2.8 l-inline six or a 2-bbl version of same, coupled with a 4-speed manual or Opel's 3-speed automatic transmission.

Production ended in May 1970. The Admiral and Diplomat lived on for another seven years until they were replaced by the Senator in 1978.

Just 4,976 Kapitan B models were built in 15 months.

[edit] Sources

• Werner Oswald, Deutsche Autos 1945-1976. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1975. ISBN 3-87943-371-8.
• Phil Seeds' Virtual Car Museum
• KAD Historie