Bitter automobiles

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bitter Automotive GmbH

logo
legal form GmbH
founding 1971
Seat Ennepetal , Germany
management Erich Bitter
Branch Automobile manufacturer
Website www.bitter-automotive.de

The Bitter Automotive GmbH (formerly Erich Bitter Automobile GmbH and Bitter GmbH & Co. KG ), headquartered in Ennepetal is a German automobile manufacturer of special models. The vehicles are based on production models from General Motors .

history

The Bitter GmbH & Co. KG was founded in 1971 by Erich Bitter founded. Before that, Erich Bitter worked as a general importer of Abarth vehicles and as an importer of protective clothing for racing drivers from 1964 under the name Rallye Bitter .

In 1986, Erich Bitter ceased sports car production and from then on built prototypes on behalf of Volkswagen and other manufacturers.

Series models from Bitter

Bitter CD

Bitter CD

The first vehicles were hatchback coupe on the technical basis of the Opel Diplomat B .

The CD had the eight-cylinder V-engine from Chevrolet from the Opel Diplomat B with 5354 cm³ displacement and an output of 169 kW (230 hp). The design of its body goes back to an Opel study from 1969 and a design by Pietro Frua based on it. The shape was based on the Italian sports cars of the time; the design model was the Maserati Ghibli .

The CD was quite successful on the European market. Its advantage was that it combined a sensational, Italian-looking body with reliable European high-volume technology.

A total of 395 copies of the Bitter CD (for “Coupé Diplomat”) were produced from autumn 1973 to the end of 1979.

Bitter SC

Bitter SC convertible

Successor to the CD was presented in the spring of 1980 Bitter SC, which based on the Opel Senator A was developed.

A convertible version followed in the spring of 1983 and in the summer of 1985 the model range was expanded to include the four-door notchback sedan called the SC Sedan , of which only five copies (including a prototype) were produced.

From the beginning of 1981 to autumn 1989 488 Bitter SC were built.

Bitter Vero (2008)

Bitter Vero

The Bitter Vero is a visually and technically slightly modified Holden Statesman (WM series) from Australia with left-hand drive and upgraded equipment: It differs from the original model in features such as the bonnet and the radiator grille in the front apron, a sportier exhaust system and a sports chassis. The four-door is powered by a six-liter Chevrolet V8 with 278 kW (378 hp), which transmits its power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic. Ten vehicles were made, nine still exist.

In 2009 the Bitter Vero Sport was created, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show 2009. It is a sedan based on the (shorter) Holden Commodore with a 6.2 liter eight-cylinder engine and 320 kW (435 hp). The vehicle remained a one-off.

Bitter Insignia (2010)

Erich Bitter and the Bitter Insignia

In summer 2010, Bitter presented a luxurious version of the Opel Insignia with, among other things, a redesigned front section and an upgraded interior.

The engine is the 2.8-liter turbo with 191 kW (260 hp) familiar from the Opel Insignia.

A total of only eighteen Insignia by Bitter were built, including the "black widow II", an Insignia OPC 5-door in black metallic and the "Bitter Nürburgring Edition", a red Insignia Turbo 4-door production, both of which are unique. Among the 16 other Insignia by Bitter, the combination share is around 50%, the other half are 5-door and a 4-door 160 hp diesel all-wheel drive in black metallic.

Opel Adam, Opel Mokka and Opel Cascada by Bitter (2014/2016/2018)

Bitter cascada

Since April 2014 the Opel Adam , since April 2016 the Opel Mokka and since 2018 the Opel Cascada , with optical modifications to the exterior and interior with the addition of "by Bitter" to the name.

Prototypes and concepts

In addition to the series models, Bitter also presented studies, some of which were even ready for series production. Despite repeated attempts, some of which were very promising, he never succeeded in achieving series production again.

Bitter Blazer (1976)

The bitter Blazer was a modification of the Chevrolet Blazer with new Europeanized front end, by a horizontally extending grille and light units from Opel Admiral B were characterized. There was also a refined interior. He followed the concept of the Monteverdi Safari . The vehicle remained a one-off.

Bitter Rally GT (1984)

The Rally GT was a compact two-seater sports car based on the Opel Manta . The vehicle had a removable central roof section in the Targa style and was developed by Bitter and Isdera . Erich Bitter predicted a sales price of DM 40,000. However, he refrained from series production because the supply of technical components was not secured in the long term.

Bitter Type 3 (1987)

Bitter Type 3 at Retro Classics 2019

The Bitter Type 3 was a 2 + 2-seater convertible that was introduced in 1988 as the successor to the SC and was intended primarily for sale in the USA .

The technical basis was the Opel Omega A , the floor pan of which was shortened by 35 millimeters. Bitter had designed the body himself; it had pop-up headlights and the round taillights of the Chevrolet Corvette C4 . A 3.0 liter six-cylinder from Opel was planned as the drive, the performance of which was stated in a sales brochure as 177 hp.

A total of five prototypes were made; the bodies were each built in Italy at CECOMP. The first prototype was equipped with the 3.9 liter six-cylinder from the Bitter SC, the later models with the 3.0 liter engine.

Initially, it was planned to organize sales in the USA through the Isuzu dealer network . It is also said to have been considered to market the car as Isuzu. The GM planning was based on 10,000 units sold per year. The first US sales brochures were printed in late 1988, but before production of the car could begin, GM withdrew its plans. Nothing came of the Type 3; The five prototypes remained, two of which still exist today. The other three were destroyed in crash tests .

Bitter Type 3 Sedan (1987)

Also based on the Opel Omega A , Bitter developed a four-door sedan, the lines of which essentially corresponded to those of the Type 3 Cabriolet. Only a wooden model was made of the sedan.

Bitter Tasco (1991)

The Tasco was a two-seat mid-engined sports car with drive technology from Chrysler that Bitter developed with Japanese funding. The body was designed by Tom Tjaarda. Series production did not materialize; only two copies of the Tasco were made.

Bitter Berlina (1994)

The Bitter Berlina was a four-door sports sedan based on the Opel Omega MV6 , which was basically similar to the Type 3 Sedan. A sloping front section with pop-up headlights was striking. The rear lights of the Opel Calibra were used at the rear . There was only one prototype presented at the 1994 Geneva Motor Show . The start of series production failed due to the unsecured financing.

Bitter CD 2 (2003)

Bitter CD 2

The CD2 was a two-door hatchback coupe based on the Australian Holden Monaro or the identical Pontiac GTO . The vehicle was presented at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. Two prototypes were created. Bitter pursued the concept of modifying heavily motorized Australian GM vehicles for the European market with the Vero model.

literature

  • Erich lasts the longest : Portrait of Erich Bitter in: Autobild Klassik Heft 2/2010, p. 40 ff.
  • Bitter Vero sales prospectus, January 2008 edition

Web links

Commons : Bitter  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Auto, Motor and Sport : "Bitter Vero: Strong feedback" ( Memento from October 19, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ↑ a b Autobild Klassik, issue 2/2010, p. 47
  3. ↑ Bitter Insignia 2.8 Turbo 4x4: The Coal Pot Maserati . In: Autobild.de . July 2, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2012.
  4. ↑ Auto News: Opel Mokka by Bitter .
  5. ↑ Carpassion: Adam Opel by Bitter .
  6. ↑ Illustration of the Bitter Blazer
  7. ↑ Autobild Klassik 4/2010, p. 44
  8. ↑ Sales brochure for a Bitter Type 3
  9. ↑ Illustrations of the Bitter Tasco
  10. ↑ Brief description and illustration at www.tom-tjaarda.net
  11. ↑ Autobild Klassik 4/2010, p. 45