1955 Opel Olympia Rekord CarAvan: Feisty, Adorable and Classic

1955 Opel Olympia Rekord CarAvan

This eye-turning, elightful little car has been stored in a garage on an island seven miles off the coast of Maine for the past decade, locking upa maximum of50 miles a year. I was told that this car was originally ordered by Leni Risefenstahl, he renown (and controversial) German film maker) for use as a camera equipment van. However, hortly before taking delivery of the Opel she decided to have a Mercedes 220S modified to better fit her needs.

The government grey Opel was subsequently sold to Lt. James House, hen stationed near Frankfurt. It was shipped to the U.S. upon returning from active duty. Lt. House used the car for the next twenty years in and around Walla Walla, ashington. Southeastern Washington's unique climate helped preserve this Opel in an amazingly rust-free state. There are no holes or perforations and the floors are clean and original. The average lifespan of a 1955 Opel in Germany was about seven years before it was junked, ery likely in great mechanical condition, ecause of rust cancer brought on by road salt commonly used in the harsh German winters.

In February 1998 the CarAvan was purchased by a noted local collector and was refurbished. The second owner rebuilt the brake hydraulics, ncluding hoses and lines, ad a new exhaust system fitted, nd installed new water and fuel pumps. The gas tank was boiled out and sealed. The car was refinished in the original grey color and the headlined replaced.

The car was moved to Texas and was stored indoors. I purchased and shipped it to my cottage in Maine. It is now stored in Rehoboth Beach, elaware (19971). Since I have owned the car I've had work done on the transmission and brakes. It never fails to start and drives surprisingly well. Be prepared to get a lot of people asking you about the car. It is more than likely the only 1955 Opel in America.

Over the years I have purchased numerous parts that have come up on Ebay which will come with the car, s well as the original owner's manual (English), hop manual and rare parts catalog.

From the ruins of WWII rose the Opel factory in Russelsheim, ermany, o once again produce high-quality, eliable vehicles to motorize hard-working, hrifty Germans. The Opel-Werke, stablished in 1888 to manufacture bicycles branched out to build automobiles. It was purchased by General Motors in 1929. The influence of American 1950s design is apparent in this little station wagon — it looks a bit like a miniaturized 1950s Pontiac.

Some background information:

TheOpel Olympia Rekordwas a two-door family car which replaced theOpel Olympiain March 1953. Innovations included the strikingly modernPontonformat body-work incorporating numerous styling features from theUSAand large amounts of chrome decoration both on the outside and on the inside.

The car was offered till 1957. Unusually, t least in European terms, he manufacturer followed the example ofGeneral MotorsinDetroitby applying an annual facelift. There was a new front grill every year along with other detailed modifications to the trim. The policy of annual facelifts ensured plenty of publicity, nd the car was a commercial success, chieving second place in the West German sales charts year after year, eaten to the top slot only by the much smaller, ess costly and at this time seemingly unstoppableVolkswagen. Around 580,000 Olympia Rekords were produced. Opel boss Edward Zdunek justified the annual facelifts with the explanation that they gave customers the possibility of "sozialen Differenzierung" (social differentiation). Nevertheless, ommentators also noted that the Detroit inspired annual face-lift disadvantaged owners because it depressed second hand values for the Olympia Rekord. The Olympia Rekord set a pattern that Opel would follow for many decades, roviding a lot more car for the money than most competitor manufacturers.

By contrast to the modern and annually modified bodywork, he 1488 cc ohc four-cylinder water-cooled engine was very little changed since it had first been offered in theOpel Olympiaback in 1937. When the Olympia Rekord first appeared in 1953 maximum power output of 40hp (29kW) at 3800 rpm was claimed. This was increased at the end of 1955 for the 1956 model year to 45hp (33kW) at 3900 rpm. At the same time there was a marginal increase in maximum torque, nd the compression ratio was raised from 6.5:1 to 6.9:1. The 1950s was a decade during which minimum fuel octanes were raised progressively across western Europe: the manufacturer continued to specify "normal" grade fuel for the Olympia Rekord throughout its life.

The Name

The car retained the "Olympia" name, riginally applied in 1935 to the predecessor model in anticipation of the1936 Olympic Games. The Olympia had been a defining model for Opel, eaturing then revolutionary monocoque body construction, nd intended to be produced in huge numbers at a time when the national economy was finally seen to be on a sustained upswing. Adding the name "Rekord" in 1953 built on the theme of sporting success, nd reflected a spirit of optimism which the model's marketplace performance would justify.

Evolution

1953/54

The Opel Olympia Rekord was introduced with a new generously proportioned body and an old 1,488 cc engine in March 1953. The top seller, y far, as the two-door saloon. From August 1953 Opel also offered a 2-door cabriolet ("Cabrio-Limouisine") which, espite costing only an extra DM 300, old in very small numbers. Also available from August was a 3-doorestatewhich Opel branded as the Opel Olympia Rekord CarAVan. The resulting eleven syllable name was evidently no handicap in the marketplace, ince the "Caravan" name would turn up on many subsequent Opel estate models. The styling was upbeat and an unapologetic tribute to the designs that General Motorswere producing inDetroit, ith a particularly striking open mouthed front grill which reminded commentators of a shark's mouth (der "Haifischmaul-Kuelhergrill").[1Some customers may have been irritated that all the cars were delivered with their standard steel wheels painted black regardless of the colour of the car body, lthough sellers of after-market wheel trims were no doubt delighted by Opel's cost-cutting approach to painting the car's wheels.

The advertised price in Germany was DM 6,410 for the 2-door "Limousine" (sedan) and DM 6,710 for the "Cabrio-Limousine" and "Caravan" (estate). By July 1954 Opel had produced 113,966 "Limousine" (sedan) or "Cabrio-Limousine" Olympia Rekords along with 15,804 "Caravan" (estate) versions and 6,258 Olympia Rekord panel vans.

1954/55

Production of the first Olympia Rekord ended in July 1954 and in late summer 1954 the mildly facelifted 1955 car was presented. The advertised power output of the 1,488 cc engine was unchanged at 40hp (29kW) despite a slight increase in the compression ratio from 6.3:1 to 6.5:1. The back window grew in size and the front grill was modified, hrough he addition of a single thick horizontal bar across the hitherto "open-mouthed" grill. This new adornment earned for the 1956 model, hen coloured green, he soubriquet "Gurkenraspel"("cucumber grill").

A new base model was offered at DM5, 50, hich was slightly above DM 1,000 more expensive than the market leadingVolkswagen. Opel's new entry level family car also received a reduced name, eing badged simply as the Opel Olympia, hile the other models in the range continued with the Opel Olympia Rekord name. The 1955 model year also saw the introduction of a light panel van version.

In July 1956 the 2-door cabriolet version was withdrawn. It had not sold well: the few survivors are much prized by enthusiasts and collectors half a century later.

Technical Data

Payment/Shipping Information

$1,000 deposit required within 24 hours by PayPal at end of auction. Balance must beseven (7) a days by cashier's check or wire transfer. Shipping and insurance is responsibility of the buyer. I will help in coordinating shipping.

The car, f course, s sold with no warranties implied or real. It is a sweet little vehicle, eisty and fun to drive. The only item I do not have is a period radio. I have a German contact for securing the correct radio.