Sexy six-pot Opel.

Sorry, but we have never been wild about Opel. The only sidestep was a 1965 Kadett Coupe S in a distant-distant past. Yet the machinery recently on show in Essen sheds a different light on the early products. Of course we all know the 1928 RAK2 rocket record car. Based on that succes Fritz von Opel announced a motorbike to slash the worldrecord on two wheels which was 200,6 km/h in that time. The plan was to get the bike with a tuned yet conventional engine at a speed of 145 km/h and from there to use two rockets at a time to accelerate to 180, 200 and 220-225. It never came further than the November-December Berlin Motorshow. Still this six pot rocket bike was a most pleasant surprise to see. It is a reconstruction based on an original Opel Motoclub. Despite the fact that it never got to a record, the concept is daring and the design is from eternal beauty. Chapeau for Opel! And one more chapeau for Opel next year when they are in business for 150 years. With sewing machines and more. For biking fans we don't want to keep you from you the 1919 Opel derny- Opel bicycle combo. Leading a two liter 4 in line monster, which gave way to Belgium biking champ Léon Vanderstuyft to reach 122,771 km/h ..! Don't try this at home.

Gepubliceerd:

donderdag april 7th, 2011

Onbekend

11 April 2011, 08:40

Re Martin Shelley's comment, it is not a Derny. Dernys are the very small capacity pacing bikes that are still used. I think they are counted in France as mopeds so attract no tax. The larger pacing bikes are formidable machines. Early ones often used Anzani vee twins of about two litre capacity. In the seventies, I remember some being built with Norton Commando engines. Before internal combustion engines, I believe the pacing was done by four man bicycles. In one famous record attempt, a board track was laid between railway lines. Sadly, those lovely Anzani engines are sometimes taken out these days to power yet another "vintage" special.

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Onbekend

08 April 2011, 16:03

Another Opel product is the Kadett A Caravan 1000, of the early 60's. It's a very rare bird these days and because of the small outside dimensions it is charming. And 'de luxe' version had a 48 hp engine and it had a chrome roofrack. How cool is that!

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Onbekend

08 April 2011, 12:52

Must disagree with you on Opel.(before they became GM)
I ran a 1972 1900 Rallye Kadette for some time and found it to be one of the best cars I have ever had. Black and Yellow in colour - danced like a butterfly and could sting like a Bee !!
Solid car , well built & great handling, wish I had kept it - now where have I heard that !!

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Onbekend

08 April 2011, 09:07

Sorry to spoil a good story but the 1919 Opel derby is of course a derny, not a derby!! Look it up on your friendly Wikipedia... a motorised bicycle-pacing machine!! And I think the idea of someone opening up a rocket bike in traffic fills me with fear and loathing not to mention rocket efflux!!

Dear Martin, a good story is never spoilt with a good correction. Regarding the rocket bike, I agree on the fumes aspect, but the acceleration probably is very poor compared to modern superbikes... Editor

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Sexy six-pot Opel.

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