Opel Luxury Class Stars at Top International Concours d’Élégance

• Opel’s “Big Three”: Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat display ‘60s style
• Pioneer: Opel 4/8 PS “Doktorwagen” of 1909 paved way for motorised mobility for all
• Unique ambience: Baroque garden of Schloss Schwetzingen hosts 180 classic cars
• Electrified: New Astra plug-in hybrid at accompanying “ECOmobil Gala”

The international Classic Gala Schwetzingen (September 2-4) is one of the most prestigious concours d’élégance in the world. Fittingly, Opel will be presenting its 1960s luxury class – the “KAD” series, consisting of Opel Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat – at this year’s event. More than 180 selected classic automobiles from all decades will be on display in the baroque garden of Schwetzingen Palace in Germany. A car from the early days of motorised mobility and Opel’s 160-year history is a “must”: therefore the 1909 Opel 4/8 PS “Doktorwagen” will also be among the star attractions, in addition to the Admiral V8 and the Diplomat V8 Coupé.

The array of historic cars in Schwetzingen will be complemented by the “7. ECOmobil-Gala”, a gathering of sustainable mobility concepts under the motto “Future meets Classic”. Opel will be taking part with the plug-in hybrid version of the new Astra Sports Tourer (WLTP combined fuel consumption¹: 1.2-1.1 l/100 km, CO₂ emissions 26-24 g/km).

“The charming setting and the beautiful cars make the Classic Gala Schwetzingen a unique experience for exhibitors and visitors”, said Opel Classic Manager, Leif Rohwedder. “There could hardly be a better occasion to admire Opel’s luxury line-up from the 1960s, cars that stood out with their straightforward design, and offered the highest comfort for their time.”

“KAD”: The “Big Three” from Rüsselsheim

Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat – aka “KAD” or “Big Three” – represented the Opel luxury class in the 1960s and ‘70s. All three were fully equipped, extremely roomy and influenced by the contemporary American styling. With a length of 4.95 metres and a width of 1.90 m, the Opel luxury class also reached new dimensions.

While the Kapitän became the best-selling German six-cylinder passenger car and the Admiral built on the success of the pre-war model with the same name, the Diplomat represented the top of the line. Opel – which has always stood for the democratisation of innovation – was the only German manufacturer to offer a complete product range at the time; from Kadett and Rekord, to Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat, Opel had a car for everyone.

At this year’s Classic Gala Schwetzingen, Opel will be showing the 1966 Diplomat V8 Coupé as well as the Admiral V8 from 1965. The Diplomat’s 169 kW/230 hp 5.4-litre V8 powered the four-seater from zero to 100 km/h in 9.5 seconds while the top speed exceeded 200 km/h. Hardly any other German-made car was faster.

The Admiral with its range-topping 140 kW/190 hp engine was also notable for its two-speed “Powerglide” automatic transmission. Made from 1964 to 1968, a total of 55,876 Admiral A left the factory, of which only 623 featured eight-cylinder engines. This makes the Admiral V8 a rare collector’s item today. The KAD trio in Schwetzingen is completed by a Kapitän from a private collector.

4/8 PS “Doktorwagen”: Opel made early automobility affordable

Visitors to the Classic Gala can also admire an early automobile that made motorised mobility possible for all: the Opel 4/8 PS. In advertising, Opel proclaimed the car as ideal for “Doctors, veterinarians and lawyers”, which earned it the nickname “Doktorwagen” (doctor’s car). The pioneering vehicle was available for a low price of only 3,950 marks, paving the way for a broader section of the population to own their own car for the first time. The technical highlight was the four-cylinder “mono-block” engine cast in one piece.

The Schwetzingen Palace park will open its gates to Classic Gala visitors from Friday, September 2 to Sunday, September 4, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Further information is available here.

^[1] The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures mentioned comply with the WLTP homologation (regulation EU 2017/948). The fuel consumption and CO2 emissions figures may vary depending on specific equipment, options and format of tires.