A considerable part of Hall 5 was dedicated to Opel, celebrating several anniversaries. The oldest marks 60 years of the Opel Rekord C. This mid-size model was renowned for elegance, versatility, and “Coke-Bottle” styling, making it a valued member of German automotive culture.
Opel unveiled the Rekord C in 1966 to replace the short-lived Opel Rekord Series B in the large family car segment. The Rekord C’s five-year production run was longer than that of any previous generation of Opel Rekord, and during that period over 1,2 million cars were produced. This made it the first “middle-class” Opel to exceed the one million mark.
Moving on, the second anniversary is dedicated to 40 years of the Opel Omega, and the organisers enlisted classics from the company car saloon to the family caravan. The Opel Omega A succeeded the Rekord E in 1986, combining established technology with the modernist design introduced with the Kadett E and spread throughout the model line in those years.
The Omega A impressed with its aerodynamic lines (Cw value of 0.28!) and offered a wide range of engines, from economical four-cylinder to (then) modern 24V inline-six, and a crazy Lotus-tuned sport sedan. The car, however, could not make a dent in the premium market, though it became the first choice for sales representatives and managers who did not want to kill their careers in the corporate parking lot. With over 1.6 million units produced, the Omega A was not only a sales success, but also won the Car of the Year award in 1987.
In addition to the anniversary-themed displays, the organisers enlisted a few really exquisite cars, such as Manuel Reuter’s 1995 DTM race car, the all-wheel-drive Calibra V6, and a rare Bitter SC sports limousine.
The rest of the hall featured various clubs, each showcasing rare cars and remarkable specimens—including the Giulietta Sprint Speciale.
