Opel Kadett in Practical Classics magazine

[azopelnut]

I used to have a subscription to this very fine British publication but rarely find in on magazine racks...anyway I was happy to see Part Two (October issue)on a restoration of a 1963 Opel Kadett. It is owned by Richard Hammond of the Top Gear show on BBC (a very entertaining automotive program).

[cherokee]

Oliver!!!!!!

[newman27]

I just wish they would devote more of the magazine to Oliver. The first part was one page as I recall...

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by azopelnut I used to have a subscription to this very fine British publication but rarely find in on magazine racks...anyway I was happy to see Part Two (October issue)on a restoration of a 1963 Opel Kadett. It is owned by Richard Hammond of the Top Gear show on BBC (a very entertaining automotive program).

. . . even more interesting because no Opels were imported here in 1963!

[azopelnut]

Originally Posted by tekenaar . . . even more interesting because no Opels were imported here in 1963!

I assume they were in England as the Kadett is a right-hand drive

[oldopelguy]

Oliver wasn't imported into the UK until last year, he was originally sent to somewhere in Africa.

If you don't know Oliver's history yet you should spend some quality time online watching the episodes of Top Gear where they found him, abused him and a couple other cars across the worst terrain Africa had to offer, then decided to keep him when the other cars fell apart. It's not just funny, it's also something that'll give you a whole new appreciation for the little pushrod 1.0's.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by oldopelguy Oliver wasn't imported into the UK until last year, he was originally sent to somewhere in Africa. If you don't know Oliver's history yet you should spend some quality time online watching the episodes of Top Gear where they found him, abused him and a couple other cars across the worst terrain Africa had to offer, then decided to keep him when the other cars fell apart. It's not just funny, it's also something that'll give you a whole new appreciation for the little pushrod 1.0's.

This is an interesting program that Stephen is talking about. Usually when Top Gear has a side-by-side-by-side test, like this, it's Jeremy that usually comes up with the good or best car, but, this is one time that Richard really blew James and Jeremy's doors off with Oliver. Well worth watching as Jeremy gets so mad at the fact the Opel won't die, he tries to take a hammer to it....

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by azopelnut Originally Posted by tekenaar . . . even more interesting because no Opels were imported here in 1963! I assume they were in England as the Kadett is a right-hand drive

. . . uh, didn't say Opel didn't manufacture Kadetts in 1963, GM just did not import them here.

"Right-hand drive" doesn't really surprise either, the Britts were everywhere in the world during their "Empire" years extending well into the 20th century. No surprise that their "driving customs" would also be adopted in all their "dominions."

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by BQS4 This is an interesting program that Stephen is talking about. Usually when Top Gear has a side-by-side-by-side test, like this, it's Jeremy that usually comes up with the good or best car, but, this is one time that Richard really blew James and Jeremy's doors off with Oliver. Well worth watching as Jeremy gets so mad at the fact the Opel won't die, he tries to take a hammer to it....

. . . reminds me of a May 2000 AutoWeek article on a 1951 Moskvich M400, a direct Soviet copy of the 1938 Opel Kadett and thanks to "liberated" Opel tooling for that car taken back to Russia after WWII!

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by tekenaar the Britts were everywhere in the world during their "Empire" years extending well into the 20th century. No surprise that their "driving customs" would also be adopted in all their "dominions."

"Rule Britannia!
Britannia rule the waves.
Britons never, never, never shall be slaves."........classical lyrics found in the charts week in, week out.

I have to say that that particular Top Gear was absolutely hilarious and well worth watching for entertainment value. Richard Hammond (BTW nearly killed approx 2yrs ago whilst trying to break 300mph for another TG show) completely fell in love with Oliver and arranged for him to be shipped back to the UK. I know the restoration company actually put out a 'call for help' from the various Uk Opel clubs as they were struggling with a few parts, i still don't know if they've got them yet.