The career of the Kadett C began 50 years ago. Which is why the Opel classic has had more than 40 brand and model names over the years.
From a car ridiculed by village youth to a sought-after classic car: the Opel Kadett C turns 50. It was the last Opel with rear-wheel drive to be built in Bochum. And that still makes him sought after today. But it wasn’t just the drive that made the Kadett C successful, but also the variety of models. From economical versions for the era of the oil crisis to powerful GT/E models and rally vehicles: Opel tried to offer the right Kadett for every taste.
Worldwide success thanks to General Motors
The Kadett C was not only popular in Europe. General Motors (GM) used the Kadett C platform as the basis for its global car called the T-Car and produced the car with more than 40 brand and model names on all continents. In total, more than seven million T-Cars were sold, including 1.7 million Kadett Cs at the Opel factory in Bochum.
The Kadett C in the USA: Chevrolet Chevette
The Kadett C was particularly successful in the USA. There it was marketed as the Chevrolet Chevette. His thrift in particular made him popular in the wake of the oil crisis. The Chevette even outsold some of its more advanced competitors and was one of the most popular cars on the American registration charts for years.
Versatile and robust
In Europe, the Kadett C faced a variety of competitors including Alfasud, Citroën GS, Fiat 128, Ford Escort and of course the VW Golf. It was able to assert itself primarily because of its versatility and robustness: in the six years of production (the Kadett D followed in 1979) there were 58 body and equipment lines.
The legacy of the Kadett C in the classic car scene
Today the Kadett C is in great demand in the classic car scene. Collectors particularly value the GT/E versions and restore these cars with great attention to detail. The prices are now correspondingly high: the particularly popular sports version costs at least 28,000 euros, depending on the condition.