In its 160-year history, Opel has produced countless automotive legends, as well as vehicles that have become bestsellers, such as the Corsa or the Astra. But beyond the production of cars, the German brand has invented and marketed innovations and solutions that made everyday life easier and caused a stir, but are sometimes overlooked today.
These include the development of advanced machinery for agriculture,
as well as motorcycles for two-wheelers and airplanes. The second part of the “Hidden Treasures of the Opel Archive” reveals more amazing ideas and products “made in Rüsselsheim” that few expected. Some of them have even reached cult status. The secret of success: Like automotive engineering, Opel always focuses on innovative solutions that are suitable for everyday use and developed with great attention to detail.
For example,
the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York it houses one of the most important contemporary art collections in the world and the “Bone Chair” has been part of this collection since 2008. It was designed by the Dutch artist Joris Laarman based on data from the development center in Rüsselsheim. The aluminum seat was featured in the special exhibition “Design and the Flexible Mindset” together with an engine mount from an Opel Vectra. Like the “Bone Chair”, the motor mount is designed according to biological construction principles.
Bionics is the name of the scientific discipline that systematically analyzes and applies the principles of construction and growth of nature
technical developments in the automotive industry. The goal: to reduce the weight of the components while increasing their resistance with a lightweight design inspired by nature. Rüsselsheim engineers have developed a simulation program that, for example, transfers the natural rules of tree growth to component development. The result: components such as the engine mount that are a quarter lighter and at the same time 60% stronger.
what now forms
belongs to the basic equipment of every kitchen It used to be no easy feat: the refrigerator was the dream of many German housewives in the 1950s. One of the most coveted models was the “Frigidaire”, and this brand has a common history with Opel. Thousands of refrigerators were manufactured in Rüsselsheim. But how did all this come about? Frigidaire had been making refrigerators since 1916 and in 1918 the company was bought by General Motors.
Since the mid-1920s, trade has exploded and demand has increased around the world. A) Yes,
Frigidaire, a subsidiary of GM, also expanded into Germany. Frigidaire GmbH was founded in Berlin in 1926 and from 1931 Opel supplied components from Rüsselsheim to the Berlin assembly line.
On October 1, 1938, the main factory in Rüsselsheim finally took over the entire assembly. Since 1949, refrigerators made in Hessen have had the inscription “Product of Adam Opel AG” in their logo. After a relaunch of the design in 1954, the brand even became the market leader in West Germany.
However, from the mid-1950s, Opel wanted to concentrate on the booming car production, so in 1959 it was decided to stop Frigidaire production. Frigidaire still exists, but the brand belongs to the Swedish company Now.
Opel not only ventured on “icy ground” with the production of refrigerators, but also ventured into a sport that today captivates many fans every winter. Under the project name “LP 13”, Rüsselsheim engineers built a bobsleigh for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, USA.
Strangely enough, however, it was not used there. The story begins in 1977, when Opel designers were ordered to equip
the bobsleigh of the Deutscher Bob- und Schlittenverband (DBSV, the German Bobsleigh and Luge Association) of a special paint job. The Rüsselsheim company came up with the idea not to limit itself to cosmetics, but to completely redesign sports equipment… and the association agreed! Under the leadership of Opel, innovative work was done in the wind tunnel and an entirely new steering system was developed.
In addition, the skates were equipped with shock absorbers and springs. Early tests showed that the four-person and two-person bobsleds, respectively
0.65 and 1.35 seconds faster per race than previous models. But to ensure equality in the competition, during the qualifying phase, the federation only allowed athletes to compete in the old conventional bobsleigh, preventing qualified teams from getting acquainted with the futuristic Opel bobsleigh first.
There wasn’t enough time for it. Most of all, the pilots could not perfectly master its innovative direction in such a short time. The risk was too high and
the DBSV withdrew the Opel bobs. “These machines were ahead of their time, actually ahead of their time,” remembers André Lange, bobsleigh legend and Opel enthusiast. There is no doubt, however, that Opel’s bob has had a lasting influence on sporting goods design to this day.
Opel provided exceptional speed, not only on the ice rinks, but also
on the racetracks. In 1990, Michael Schumacher won his first title in the German Formula 3 Championship in a Reynard 903 powered by Opel’s legendary 2.0-litre 16V engine in the rear.
Opel was not only a much sought-after engine supplier in Formula 3, since 1990 the 2.0 16V engine from Rüsselsheim developed into the most successful racing engine in history.
A lot of
the later stars of Formula 1 learned the secrets of Formula 1 racing with a powerful Opel behind them: Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heinz-Harald Frentzen, Mika Häkkinen, Nick Heidfeld and Ralf Schumacher. Opel achieved 164 Formula 3 victories in Germany alone and a further 30 national championship titles around the world.
Jos Verstappen (1993), Jarno Trulli (1996) and Nick Heidfeld (1997) they won German Formula 3 championships with Opel engines. And today? With the ADAC Opel e-Rally Cup, the first single-brand rally world cup for 100% electric cars, the brand is taking rallying into the future with the Opel Corsa-e Rally, battery-powered and emission-free.
With its modern competition and rally cars, Opel is a source of inspiration in sports, but with its practical and complete solutions for all needs, the traditional brand also excels in everyday life.
An example from the 1980s is the practical trailer made of aluminum for a wide range of professional tasks, light transport, leisure and vacation, which was advertised as “Leichtmetaller” (light metal) at the time.
In the accompanying 1981 catalogue
six versions of the trailer were offered in four sizes each, with a total of 24 variants. The largest version was 2.20 meters long and had a load capacity of one ton. Unfortunately, single-axle vehicles did not carry the lightning bolt logo, for example on the tailgate.
If so, the few surviving examples would undoubtedly be highly coveted pieces for collectors. In 1913, however, Opel already had a trailer in its range, a two-ton, two-axle drawbar for trucks.
Let’s go back to the present and to the attention to detail and unconventional ideas of the Opel designers. The hidden shark in Opel models has become more than just a beautiful tradition: it is a cult object! In 2006, the animal first appeared on the Corsa.
How did it get there?
Opel designer Dietmar Finger at home he made some sketches of the exterior panel of the Corsa’s glove box. His son looked over his shoulder and asked, “Dad, why don’t you draw a shark?” So he drew a little sea predator, showed the design to his superiors and colleagues, and they were delighted. Since then, the shark has spread to all new Opel models.
When the development and design process is complete, the chief interior designer can place it in the interior without revealing where. And so the idea has now become a popular “Easter Egg” – a hidden detail that customers rave about.
when you receive your new Opel and they hasten to look for it. And in the latest models, such as the new Opel Astra Sports Tourer, several of the little predators penetrate places where you certainly wouldn’t expect them.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
