Opel Olympia
Encyclopedia
The Opel Olympia is a small family 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
). This revolutionary technology reduced the weight of the car by 180 kilograms (400 lb.) compared to its predecessor. 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.
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.
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:
It was available in the same versions as its predecessor with the addition of the 6-light LV:
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.
In three years of production, about 160.000 cars were made.
.
The Olympia name was revived in 1967. This time it was only a luxury version of the contemporary Opel Kadett B
. Engines were a 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
.
Body styles were:
The Olympia A was not highly successful, and was replaced in 1970 by the all new Opel Ascona
.
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
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
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
). This revolutionary technology reduced the weight of the car by 180 kilograms (400 lb.) compared to its predecessor. 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.
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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 (1935–37)
At 2500 ReichsmarkGerman reichsmark
The Reichsmark was the currency in Germany from 1924 until June 20, 1948. The Reichsmark was subdivided into 100 Reichspfennig.-History:...
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 4-light saloon, costing 2500 Reichsmark
- CL 2-door 4-light cabriolet
Opel Olympia OL38 (1937–40) (1947–49)
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
Rüsselsheim
Rüsselsheim is the largest town in the Groß-Gerau district in the Rhein-Main region of Germany. It is one of seven special status towns in Hesse and is located on the Main, only a few kilometres from its mouth in Mainz. The suburbs of Bauschheim and Königstädten are included 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 (1950–53)
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 and its successors, see Opel RekordOpel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
.
Name revival: Opel Olympia A (1967–70)
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 , when it was replaced by the Opel Astra.-Original model :...
. Engines were a 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
Opel Rekord
The Opel Rekord was a large family car/executive car which was built in several generations by the German car manufacturer Opel.-Naming:The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord...
.
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
Opel Ascona
The Opel Ascona was a mid-sized car produced by Opel. It had three generations produced from 1970 to 1988. In motorsport, the Ascona 400 rally car driven by Walter Röhrl won the World Rally Championship drivers' title in the 1982 season....
.