Opel Olympia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Opel Olympia
1936 Opel Olympia
Overview
Manufacturer	Opel
Production	1935–70
Chronology
Predecessor	Opel 1.3 litre
Successor	Opel Rekord/Opel Ascona

The Opel Olympia is a compact car produced by the German automaker Opel from 1935 to 1940, from 1947 to 1953 and again from 1967 to 1970.

The 1935 Olympia was Germany's first mass-produced car with an all-steel unitized body (monocoque).^[1] This revolutionary technology reduced the weight of the car by 180 kilograms (400 lb.) compared to its predecessor.^[2] Production of the unibody design required new production methods and materials. Spot welding, advanced types of steel, and a new production line layout were among the many advances introduced by the Olympia.^[3]

The car was first presented in February at the 1935 Berlin Motor Show: production got under way later during that year. The Olympia was named in anticipation of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. Before World War II it was made in two versions. From 1935 to 1937 the Olympia had a 1.3 litre engine. For the OL38 version made from 1937 to 1940 this was replaced by a 1.5 litre overhead valve unit.

Between 1935 and the 1940 over 168,000 units were built.

The name Olympia was revived in 1967 for a luxury version of the Opel Kadett B.

Opel Olympia (1935–1937)

Opel Olympia

Overview
Production	1935–1937 81,661 produced
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 2-door cabriolet
Powertrain
Engine	1.3 L Straight-4 side valve
Transmission	3 or 4 speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2.37 m (93.3 in)
Length	3.93 m (154.7 in)
Width	1.43 m (56.3 in)

At 2500 Reichsmark it offered a true four-seater with 1.3 litre, 4 cylinder, side valve, 24 hp (18 kW) engine capable of 95 km/h (60 mph). Drive was to the rear wheels through a three speed gearbox but a four speed unit became available in 1937. The car had independent front suspension with a live axle at the rear and semi-elliptic leaf springs.

The car was made available in two versions, as a two door saloon and as a two-door soft-top convertible:

LZ 2-door 5-window saloon, costing 2500 Reichsmark
CL 2-door 5-window cabriolet

Opel Olympia OL38 (1937–1940) (1947–1949)

Opel Olympia OL38

Overview
Production	1937–1940 1947–1949
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 4-door saloon 2-door cabriolet
Powertrain
Engine	1.5 L Straight-4 ohv
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2.43 m (95.7 in)
Length	4.02 m (158.3 in)
Width	1.50 m (59.1 in)

A new engine was introduced in 1937 with a capacity of 1488 cc and overhead valves. It produced 37 hp (27 kW) and the top speed of the car was 112 km/h (70 mph). The car's body received a facelift.

It was available in the same versions as its predecessor with the addition of the 6-light LV:

LZ 2-door 4-light saloon, 2675 Reichsmark
LV 4-door 6-light saloon, 2950 Reichsmark
CL 2-door 4-light cabriolet, 2750 Reichsmark

Due to World War II, production came to a halt in late 1940. During the war, the Opel plant in Rüsselsheim was severely damaged by allied bomb attacks. After reconstruction, production of the Olympia restarted in late 1947. The OL 38 was unchanged to the pre-war car but only the two door sedan was produced. Until the end of 1949, 25.952 of them were made.

Opel Olympia 1950 (1950–1953)

Opel Olympia 1950

Overview
Production	1950–1953
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door saloon 2-door convertible 2-door estate
Powertrain
Engine	1,5 L straight 4 OHV

In January 1950, the Olympia got a modernized body. But the car was still based on the pre-war Olympia. The following bodies were offered:

2-door saloon, 6400 Deutsche Mark
2-door convertible, 6600 Deutsche Mark
2-door estate, 7350 Deutsche Mark

In three years of production, about 160.000 cars were made.

First successors: Opel Olympia Rekord (1953–57), later Opel Rekord (1957–86)

In March 1953, the 18 year old design of the Olympia was finally replaced by a completely new car. It was called Opel Olympia Rekord and it had a modern pontoon body. For this car, see Opel Olympia Rekord.

Name revival: Opel Olympia A (1967–1970)

Opel Olympia A (1968)

The Olympia name was revived in 1967. This time it was only a luxury version of the contemporary Opel Kadett B. Engines were an 1100 cc unit with 60 hp (44 kW) taken from the Kadett and two larger units, a 1700 cc with 75 hp (55 KW) and a 1900 cc with 90 hp (66 kW) which were normally used in the Opel Rekord. The bodywork was of the "fastback" style, rather than of the more upright regular sedan-style bodywork used on most Kadetts.

Body styles were:

2-door saloon
4-door saloon
2-door coupé

The Olympia A was not highly successful, and was replaced in 1970 by the all new Opel Ascona.

Notes

↑ GM Media Online, http://archives.media.gm.com/intl/opel/en/company/c_history/1930/index.html
↑ Bartels, E.; Manthey, R. (2004). Opel Jahrbuch 2005, Brilon: Podszun (ISBN 3-86133-366-X), 37
↑ Bartels, E.; Manthey, R. (2004). Opel Jahrbuch 2005, Brilon: Podszun (ISBN 3-86133-366-X), 35 ff.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Opel Olympia.

Classic Opel Parts database

Opel

A subsidiary of General Motors

Vehicles

Cars	Adam Agila Ampera Astra Cascada Corsa Insignia Meriva Mokka

Crossovers/SUVs	Antara Mokka

Vans	Corsavan Combo Vivaro Movano Zafira Tourer

Historic	Admiral (1937–1939, 1964–1977) Arena (1997–2001) Ascona (1970–1988) Astravan (1998–2013) Bedford Blitz (1973–1986) Blitz (1930–1975) Calibra (1989–1997) Campo (1992–2001) Chevette (1980–1982) Commodore (1967–1982) Diplomat (1964–1977) 5/12 PS "Puppchen" (1911–1920) 4/8 PS "Doktorwagen" (1909–1910) Frontera (1991–2004) GT (1968–1973, 2006–2009) Kadett (1937–1940, 1962-1991) Kapitän (1939–1970) 4 PS "Laubfrosch" (1924–1931) Manta (1970–1988) Monterey (1992–1999) Monza (1978–1986) Olympia (1935–1940, 1947-1953, 1967-1970) Olympia Rekord (1953–1957) Omega (1986–2003) Patent Motor Car, System Lutzmann (1899–1902) P4 (1935–1937) RAK (1928) RAK2 (1928) Regent (1928–1929) Rekord (1953–1986) Senator (1978–1993) Signum (2003-2008) Sintra (1996–1999) Speedster (2000–2005) Super 6 (1937–1938) Tigra (1994–2000, 2004–2009) 10/30 (10/35) PS (1922–1924) Vectra (1988–2008)

Concept cars

Divisions and subsidiaries

People

Factories

Aspern
Bochum
Brandenburg
Ellesmere Port
Eisenach
Kaiserslautern
Luton
Tychy

Other

Category
Commons

v t e Opel car timeline, 1919–1950 next »
Type	1919	1920s										1930s										1940s										1950s
Type	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0
Small family car						4/12 PS							1.2 litre / P4
Small family car						4/14 PS			4/16 PS		4/20 PS				1.0 litre	1.3 litre		Kadett
Compact car																	Olympia												Olympia
Large family car									7^/34 & 8^/40				1.8 litre			2.0 litre
Executive car							10^/40												Super 6		Kapitän									Kapitän
Luxury Car									12^/50		14^/50
Luxury Car											Regent									Admiral

v t e « previous Opel car timeline, 1947–1979 next »
Class	1940s			1950s										1960s										1970s
Class	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Small family car																Kadett A				Kadett B								Kadett C
Small family car	Olympia																				Olympia A
Large family car								Olympia Rekord				Rekord P1			Rekord P2										Ascona A					Ascona B
Large family car																	Rekord A		Rekord B		Rekord C					Rekord D					Rekord E
Executive car																					Commodore A					Commodore B					Commodore C
Luxury vehicle		Kapitän						Kapitän				Kapitän P1/P2						Kapitän A / Admiral A / Diplomat A					Kapitän B / Admiral B / Diplomat B									Senator
Sports car																								Manta A						Manta B
Sports car																						GT

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.