[soybean (R.I.P.)]

Enclosed is a picture of an Opel Blitz from Army Motors Nos.113. In case the caption is not readable, here it is. Quote "German WWII Opel Blitz "Lightning"
1 1/2 ton cargo truck. During WWII these trucks were built by Mercedes-Benz as the General Motors design was considered superior to the competing Mercedes-Benz design. This was similar to Willys jeeps being built by Ford." End Quote. Jarrell

 

[Thom71GT]

It's a Typo. If you read it, it contradicts itself.

these trucks were built by Mercedes-Benz as the General Motors design was considered superior to the competing Mercedes-Benz design.

That doesnt make any sense. Now read it as it should of been.

these trucks were built by Opel as the General Motors design was considered superior to the competing Mercedes-Benz design.

Opel was bought out by GM in, I believe, 1917

 

[Sportwagon75]

1929

GM had vested interests in Opel through the years but didn't acquire full ownership until 1929.

 

[soybean (R.I.P.)]

I thought it might be a typo in the captioning too. I just thought it was interesting to see an Opel Blitz "Lightning" 1 1/2 ton cargo truck restored to WWII specs. It was among others featured in an article commemorating the celebrations of "VE Day" in Europe in the last Army Motors. There was another truck featured in an earlier article on the 50th anniversary of D Day. Jarrell

 

[oldopelguy]

not typo

No guys, the caption is right. The Opel plant couldn't make enough trucks for the demand, and neither could Mercedes, but the decision was made to only make one truck with one design. The Opel design was a better truck than the Mercedes one, so both Opel and Mercedes made just one style of truck, the Opel design, throughout the war.

That's why the "just like Ford Jeep" comment, Willys couldn't keep up on our side with Jeep production, so they had to turn over everything to Ford so Ford could make them too during the war. They were Willys Jeeps, but they were made at the Ford plant, by Ford workers.