Opel Rekord E is one of the first business-class foreign cars that came to the USSR

Soviet drivers for a long time could only dream of foreign-made cars. Some were more lucky - they examined them and even rode. These lucky ones were the military and sailors. The former served in Germany, while the latter sailed all over the world.


It was the military and sailors who began to bring foreign cars to the USSR. This was allowed in the late 80s, when the Iron Curtain collapsed. The most popular cars were the German Opel. There were a lot of them in Germany, especially since the locals were happy to sell old cars cheaply.

Stories about buying a car up to a thousand brands were then common. It is profitable for the Germans to sell the car - they got rid of mandatory disposal and taxes. The Soviet military and sailors were happy to buy cars. Many have made good money doing this.


Opel Rekord was in demand in our country. They got to the USSR, and then to Russia, cars of the final generation - with the index "E". Sometimes they imported models of the penultimate generation - "D", but this rarely happened. Even Soviet citizens did not want to spend money on junk. Moreover, the Opel Rekord E was also inexpensive.

History of the Opel Record

A model with this name first debuted in 1957. She replaced the Opel Olympia Rekord. Externally, the car copied the American models of the 50s, but was distinguished by small engines with a volume of 1,2 to 1,7 liters.


If we compare the first Opel Rekord with the Soviet automobile industry, then this is the Moskvich, only with a larger body. Yes, the design is similar. The car was produced in four body types:

✅ Sedan
✅ Coupe
✅ Universal
✅ Convertible

The model became one of the best-selling in Germany.

In 1960, the second generation Opel Rekord appeared. Externally and technically, the model did not differ much from its predecessor.

Opel Rekord A debuted in 1963. It was a new, more modern car. If we compare it with Soviet models, then we get something in between Moskvich and Volga. A powerful power unit with a volume of 2,6 liters appeared in the range of engines. The "younger" 1,2 was abandoned in the second generation.


Opel Rekord B appeared in 1965. It was a transitional model, so it did not last long on the assembly line.

In 1966, the Opel Rekord C debuted. This is a new car, already unlike the Soviet models. In this generation, attention should be paid to a full-fledged coupe, made in the style of American muscle cars. They also produced Opel Rekord C in the back of a two-door sedan.


The last representative of the family was the Opel Rekord E, produced from 1977 to 1986.

Appearance

Opel Record E has the most modern design. Of course, now the car looks outdated, but if you compare it with the new Lada Granta, the latter is unlikely to receive an audience award.


The designers got a unique car. Regardless of the body type, it looks harmonious. Opel Rekord E was produced in several versions:

✅ Sedan
✅ Coupe
✅ Station wagon in five and three-door version

Unlike the previous generation, the car has become more streamlined. By the way, after the restyling of 1982, the coupe and the three-door station wagon were abandoned - they were not in demand.

Salon

The Opel Rekord E features a typical 80s American car interior, despite being a European model. The seats are wide, lateral support is weakly expressed.


The car is spacious, 5 people are freely accommodated inside, including the driver. The quality of finishing materials is impressive, especially in expensive modifications. Despite the years, seat upholstery still often looks decent.

The dashboard is square, the steering wheel before restyling was two-spoke, after the model was finalized, there were four beams.

Engines and gearboxes

The Opel Rekord E had a lot of engines, their volume started from 1,7 and ended with 2,3 liters. The basic versions of cars were equipped with power units of 1,7 and 1,9 liters. These carbureted engines developed 60 and 75 hp. With. respectively.


The Opel Record E was also equipped with 1,8 and 2,0 liter engines. They were both carbureted and with the Jetronic injection system. The most powerful two-liter engines developed up to 115 hp. With.

Diesel engines were 2,0; 2,1 and 2,3 liters. The last option was found in three different versions. Power - from 58 to 86 liters. With.
Gearboxes on the Opel Rekord E were installed both mechanical and automatic. Manual transmission is found in both 4 and 5-speed. Automatic transmissions come in 3 or 4 speeds.

Features of operation

Like a typical business class, the Opel Record E features a smooth ride and soft suspension. Engines in Russia are mainly gasoline, 1,8 and 2,0 liters. Diesel engines are rare - they are still not liked in cars in our country. There is nothing scary about this - heavy-fuel engines are frankly rather weak.


There are no special complaints about gasoline engines - except that the consumption in the city is up to 15 liters, if you drive aggressively. Plus age - this can turn into both long runs and long downtime. It is not uncommon for specimens to appear on the used market after 10-20 years in a garage without movement.

The resource of gasoline engines is on average 300 thousand km. This means that there is a high probability of finding a car with an internal combustion engine after a major overhaul or with a motor from a more “fresh” Opel. "Native" power units do not like overheating - the cylinder head immediately warps.

Traditionally for the late 70s, the first half of the 80s, Opel Rekord E is rear-wheel drive. Because of this, the model often falls into the hands of drifters, who try to “heap” on it, it should be noted, quite successfully. True, for a car, this usually ends in failure - the road to the scrap metal collection point.


The transmission of the model is simple and reliable; the gearboxes most often found in Russia are five-speed manual. As a rule, there are no questions to the cardan and rear axle gearbox.

Is it worth buying

Opel Record E is simple and reliable, but we must not forget that the owners of old foreign cars often use them as "workhorses". Cargoes that had to be transported by cars often did not correspond to the business class. On bad roads, steering tips and shock absorbers are the first to suffer.

If the body is rotten, then the “glasses” may not withstand the load. Not the most pleasant feeling when they fall apart on the way. Therefore, these places should be examined in the first place when buying. Overcooked “glasses” are a normal phenomenon for the Opel Rekord E, the main thing is that everything is done correctly, preferably through a pair of steel washers on both sides.

There are frequent cases when the previous owners do not want or simply cannot financially service the old Opel with “native” spare parts. Then “collective farming” comes into play - this is when you have to adapt parts from domestic models to the car, like the classic VAZ, the Volga and the Gazelle.


You should stay away from such specimens - often the owners modify the design in order to introduce foreign parts. Something is filed, cut out, removed. Nothing good can come from this on the road.

As for the cost, for Opel Rekord E they ask from 40 thousand rubles. It is clear that you should not expect good condition from such a car, but it will be on the go. An almost ideal car can be found for 150 thousand rubles. In some cases, it will be completely overcooked and repainted, without "bugs" and rust.

That's just not worth considering the Opel Record E as a car for every day. This is more of a "time capsule" that can take the owner to the 90s.