1979 Buick-Opel Kadett C

[mghale]

I just found this site and I'm not sure this is the right place to post a note so I would appreciate any help. I have a 1979 Buick-Opel Kadett C coupe that needs work but has some good parts. I've been told a blown head gasket is why it won't run. It has a recently recored radiator, replaced water pump and rebuilt starter. It has sat for a little while now. I would like it to go to a good home or to someone who could use the parts. Any advice on what I should do?

[kwilford]

I split this off from a thread on the Kadett B, as it didn't really fit there. In truth, it doesn't fit too well anywhere here on OpeltGT.com, as it is only a Kadett C by a distant relation. More by marriage than by blood. It is really an Isuzu (as I am sure you know) and virtually none of the pieces are interchangeable with an Opel, except a passing resemblance.

That said, there are some folks here who have a soft spot for the Opel-Isuzu, so perhaps one of them can help you out.

[Phoenix]

You could allways give it to me.

[Motor Mouth]

Any chance of posting a pic......none US members might not know what one is.

[BQS4]

you mean this model ?

[Aardvaark]

Some pics of the Buick/Opel I raced SCCA SSC.
It would run comparitive lap times for a few laps to the '75 Ascona
I had before it, but the brakes wouldn't hold up like the
German Opel's would for a whole race session without
fading and grabbing in the rear. I dumped the Isuzu and
switched to a '78 VW Rabbit after a few races for the rest
of the 1979 season.

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by BQS4 you mean this model ?

Well.....that's exactly what I was expecting a Kadett C Coupe to look like.....that's definately an Opel.

As for Aardvaarks pics I can see there's a slight difference in the panels etc, but is it dimensionally any different to the Kadett C.....I guess this must also be similar to the Holden Gemini?

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Motor Mouth Well.....that's exactly what I was expecting a Kadett C Coupe to look like.....that's definately an Opel. As for Aardvaarks pics I can see there's a slight difference in the panels etc, but is it dimensionally any different to the Kadett C.....I guess this must also be similar to the Holden Gemini?

At the time, the GM body platform used on the Kadett C was also sold in the
US as the 1976-1987 Chevrolet Chevette and Pontiac T-1000, both in hatchback form in addition to the Buick Opel fastback coupe. I know a version was also sold as a Vauxhall (Chevette ?) in GB. No doubt as a Holden and who knows what else in the late '70's and into
the '80's around the world. The worse version was probable one I rode in once, a rented diesel powered Chevy Chevette automatic that could hardly
get out of it's own way. The gas version was not much faster. Those were
dark days at Chevrolet as the equally bad Vega and it's variations were also
being offered. Argh!!!

[Motor Mouth]

In the UK we did indeed have the Chevette, but the Kadett C was also available......I'd have to say it's a far nicer model.

The Chevette was offered as either a hatch, saloon and estate, all with the 1256cc engine. The 'hot' version was the HS and rarer HSR, these both being motorsport editions with a 2.3 slant four twin cam engine.

The Kadett C came as a hatch, saloon, estate, coupe and in Germany as the Aero. The most popular engine was the 1.2, but there was also a 1.0, a 1.6 and the hotter versions were the 1.9 and 2.0 GT/E. The DOT cars also ran a crossflow motor...but that's another beast altogether.

Sorry if I've bored you all......I have had a couple of coupes, seriously under-rated in the UK when compared to the Chevette or Shovit (refering to the number of break-downs owners experienced). Mine have all been 1.2's, but the one I have at the moment (amongst the 6 GT's ) I'm considering a works replica.

[Opelkurt]

The "Isuzu" Opel has nearly the exactly same body shell and almost completely identical suspension parts as the German Kadett C. The biggest differences were the dashboard and, of course, the Isuzu P'up engine and tranny.

I've owned a Chevette (the American one) and I have an Isuzu-Kadett now. The Isuzu drives much like an Ascona A with a truck engine. The Chevette was like driving a toolbox powered by a sewing machine motor. My favorite Chevette memory (happened more than once) was pulling up to a stop sign and watching fragments of the front coil springs passing me up as they tumbled down the road. The front bumper was getting pretty low when I sold it....

-Kurt

[2 Fast 4 U]

Originally Posted by Motor Mouth In the UK we did indeed have the Chevette, but the Kadett C was also available......I'd have to say it's a far nicer model.

the only differance was the front of the car

all those cars had the C Kadett body only the front and/or back side were different from the German model C

[Aardvaark]

A couple of other little tidbits of info:
The Buick/Opel went on to become the Isuzu I-Mark sold by the newly established Isuzu franchise dealers with different front
fenders and grill in 1981, but retained the same 1800cc Isuzu truck engine plus a Isuzu Diesel version in the states. The 1800cc gas engine was good on torque but hated to rev up compared to my 1975 Ascona 1900. The
Isuzu was rated at 80bhp and the Ascona 81bhp and both would turn in
similar accelaration times and top speed and lap times at tracks like Road America, Blackhawk Farms and Brainered International raceway as long as
the brakes held up on the Isuzu.

[Aardvaark]

Just for giggles, here are some pics of my Rabbit and a friends Buick/Opel
on track. My VW was the tan one. All taken at the old Mid America Raceway
near St. Louis, Mo. now closed. I can't find the on track pics of my Buick/Opel if I kept any. Only ran about 6 or 7 races with it before switching to the VW.

[mghale]

Well to update and close this for us, this was the right place to find a loving home. The car has been sold to someone through the ads here and will be restored and on the road again. If you want a final look here are a few shots of the car as it was just before it was sold http://www.flickr.com/gp/9675277@N02/5nK01x
We will leave the link up for discussion for a little while. Thanks

[2 Fast 4 U]

Looked at the photo's and the only differrences with the German "C" are the rear lights front grill and the dash, as far as I could see. The head lights do look the same, only the blinker lights are in the grill with the "C1" they were under the bumper [ german kadett's had the thin one], and with the "C2" they were beside the head lights on the outside