Opel Captain / Admiral / Diplomat A

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Opel
Opel Admiral V8 (1966)
Opel Admiral V8 (1966)
KAD Serie A
(captain, admiral, diplomat)
Production period: 1964-1968
Class : Upper class
Body versions : Limousine , coupe
Engines:
Petrol engines : 2.6-5.4 liters
(74-169 kW)
Length: 4948 mm
Width: 1902 mm
Height: 1494-1510 mm
Wheelbase : 2845 mm
Empty weight : 1350-1610 kg
Previous model Opel Kapitän P 2.6
successor Opel KAD series B

The captain , admiral and diplomat , in short: Opel KAD A were upper-class models that were built by Adam Opel AG in Rüsselsheim from spring 1964 to autumn 1968 . The A indicates that this is the first version of the range. The cheapest model was the Kapitän, the Admiral model as the successor to the Kapitän P 2.6 had better equipment and the top was the Diplomat with reinforced chassis, standard V8 engines and further improved equipment. The KAD A series was launched in the spring of 1969 by the KAD B.-Series replaced, the bodies of which were slightly smaller and smoother.

Captain A (1964–1968)

The Kapitän A had a horizontal radiator grille and less chrome trim than the other two models.

Initially it was offered with a 2.6 liter six-cylinder in-line engine and an output of 74 kW (100 hp). In September 1965, this was replaced by the newly designed in-line engine Opel CIH with six cylinders, 2.8 liters displacement and 92 kW (125 hp).

In addition, from September 1965 there was the “ Kapitän A V8 ” with a 4.6-liter Chevrolet V8 engine with 140 kW (190 hp). Only 113 vehicles of this version were built. For tax reasons, there was also a 2.5-liter version with 82 kW (112 hp) for the Austrian market.

From September 1965, the Opel logos on the front fenders were also dropped, and the name Opel appeared on the radiator grille. In September 1967, the captain's logos were moved from the rear roof posts to the front fenders and the captain was given protective strips on the sides. The Kapitän A with its front bench seat was the last Opel passenger car with six seats. At the time, this was a selling point.

A total of 24,249 units were built between February 1964 and November 1968, of which 15,030 models with the 2.6-liter engine were built up to August 1965.

Admiral A (1964–1968)

The Admiral A was a version of the Kapitän A that had been upgraded in various details, more or less the "L" model like the Kapitän P "L" before. The name was taken from the pre-war model Admiral, which was built from spring 1937 to autumn 1939.

The Admiral A had a grille accentuated in the form of a grid. While the Kapitän A only had chrome-plated door sills, the Admiral A had chrome-edged wheel cutouts. From September 1967 there was also a chrome side protection strip.

The engine range corresponded to that of the Captain A. From March 1965, the Admiral V8 with the 140 kW (190 hp) and 4.6 liter Chevrolet V8 engine was offered, which made the over 1.5 t car in just under 10 Seconds from 0 to 100 km / h and made 200 km / h fast. However, only 623 copies of this model were delivered, which at 15,950 DM was around 3,750 DM more expensive than the Admiral with a six-cylinder engine.

With the beginning of the 1966 model year, the Opel logos on the front fenders were omitted from September 1965, while the name Opel appeared on the radiator grille. In September 1967 the Admiral logos were relocated from the rear roof posts to the front fenders.

The Admiral A was produced from April 1964 to November 1968 in 55,876 copies, of which 31,318 units were accounted for by the 2.6-liter engine offered until August 1965, the best-selling model in the KAD A series.

Diplomat A

Saloon (1964–1968)

The Diplomat A , offered exclusively with eight-cylinder engines, was Opel’s top model at the time. Unlike the later Diplomat B, it was delivered exclusively with powerful and high-torque Chevrolet V8 engines. The chassis of the Diplomat was designed for high speeds with reinforced springs and larger tires (15-inch radial tires ) and a brake force regulator at the rear. A power steering was also standard. The diplomat also stood out from the captain and admiral in terms of equipment. These included a vinyl roof , a large center console with an automatic selector lever, a more elegant interior with veneer inlays on the door panels, the instrument panel and the steering wheel and other details.

All V8 models of the KAD had two exhaust lines that end on the left and right under the rear end panel. In contrast to the captain and admiral, the diplomat wore the type lettering on the side of the front fenders from the start. When the model year changed in September 1967, the Diplomat A was given protective side strips. The center tunnel console with the chrome-plated selector lever of the automatic transmission was provided with a storage compartment. There was also the switch strip for the standard electric window lifters front and rear, which was still an exclusive feature in the luxury class at the time.

The V8 engine with a displacement of 4638 cm³ and an output of 140 kW (190 hp) was supplied by the Opel parent company General Motors together with the two-stage "Powerglide" automatic transmission from the USA . There this engine (in the USA with the displacement designation 283 cubic inches ) was the standard equipment of the Chevrolet V8 cars and there generally known as " small block ". From September 1966, the 5.4-liter engine with 230 PS (169 kW) was also available for the sedan for a surcharge of approx. 960 DM from the Diplomat Coupé together with its 250 km / h speedometer under the name Diplomat 5.4 offered. This version could be recognized by the additional emblem "5.4" on the trunk lid next to the Diplomat lettering instead of the V8 symbol. The engine output of 190 hp or 230 hp was unusual even in this class at the time. With an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in less than 11 seconds and a top speed of around 200 km / h, the Diplomat was one of the fastest mass-produced vehicles in Europe.

At first, the diplomat received a great deal of applause in the press and in public. For example, in its 3rd edition from 1965, the trade magazine Auto, Motor und Sport wrote : “As far as driving comfort is concerned, the Diplomat corresponds completely to its American siblings. For Europe it sets new standards beyond all switch shops. ”Road holding, smoothness and bodywork were also praised. Only the mediocre suspension comfort and the high consumption in short-haul operation were criticized. After some time, however, it turned out that the Chevrolet V8 engine, which had been taken over unchanged from the USA, was not up to the tough thermal requirements of continuous full throttle driving on German motorways. This shortcoming was remedied in 1965 with the introduction of an even larger 5.4-liter V8 with 169 kW (230 DIN PS). This engine was a special version of the "327 cid small block" from the Chevrolet Corvette , which had been modified for racing purposes and was therefore also suitable for motorway operation without any problems. However, this engine was initially only available in the Diplomat Coupé and was only later offered as an option for the sedan. The initial technical inadequacies damaged the diplomat's reputation, as did the extreme fuel consumption of over 20 liters / 100 km when driving fast or driving short distances.

A total of 8,848 units of the sedan were built from June 1964 to November 1968, but only 330 units with the 5.4-liter engine.

Coupé (1965-1967)

Opel Diplomat A V8 Coupé

The luxurious coupé variant of the Diplomat was only available with the 5.4-liter engine, which also powered the successor Diplomat B (1969–1977). The Diplomat V8 Coupé was the crown of the Opel range. However, sales fell short of expectations. Most vehicles were delivered without a vinyl roof, but many with leather interior.

From February 1965 to July 1967, Karmann in Osnabrück produced 347 copies. The price was initially 25,500 DM (from April 18, 1966: 26,000 DM), leather upholstery cost an additional 1,500 DM. The price of the Diplomat Coupé was higher than that of comparable sports models such as the Mercedes 280 SL or the Porsche 911 .

technical description

body

The new self-supporting body of the three types was essentially identical and the design was based on the Chevrolet Nova . The distinctive rectangular headlights with prismatically edged lenses and the wide-beam fog lights under the bumper, available as special accessories, gave the KAD-A series an independent, harmonious appearance. Overall, however, the design of the KAD-A series in Germany was often perceived as too American.

series
  • Four-door notchback sedan (captain, admiral and diplomat)
  • Two-door coupé (only Diplomat, 347 pieces manufactured) - developed by Karmann in Rheine and Osnabrück under the direction of Johannes Beeskow and also built by Karmann.
Unique pieces
  • Long version, built by Vogt Autotechnik in Unterschneidheim , the company no longer exists.
  • Convertible on a coupé basis, built by Karmann in Osnabrück for the IAA 1965 (not included in the coupé production figures).

landing gear

The new body was connected to a conventional chassis, consisting of a rigid rear axle with long, longitudinal two-leaf springs (Diplomat: three-leaf spring ) and an individual front wheel suspension with coil springs , wishbones and internal shock absorbers (somewhat reinforced on the Diplomat). All KAD models had a dual-circuit brake system with disc brakes at the front and a brake booster .

Engines

The previous captain's 2.6 l six-cylinder in-line engine with four-bearing crankshafts and side camshafts was improved and now achieved 100 hp at 4600 rpm and 18.5 kpm at 2400 rpm. For the first time, Opel used maintenance-free hydraulic valve lifters, which made checking and setting the valve clearance superfluous. However, this engine soon no longer met the rapidly increasing demands in the luxury class, so that the newly designed six-cylinder in-line engine Opel CIH followed in September 1965 with a seven-bearing crankshaft, overhead camshaft, 2.8 liters displacement and 92 kW (125 hp). With a register carburetor , it developed 92 kW (125 PS) as the "2.8 S". From 1967 it was equipped as the "2.8 HL" ("high-performance engine") with two Zenith register carburetors and thus achieved 103 kW (140 PS).

After the late 1920s, shortly offered Opel Regent with eight-cylinder - inline engine was at Opel also now also an engine with eight cylinders in the program: the V8 engine came from the Chevrolet - Division of parent company General Motors (engine designation 283V). This developed 190 hp at 4500 rpm, brought 34.4 kpm at 3000 rpm and was initially only available from the Diplomat. From 1965, there was initially only a 5.4 l engine with 230 hp for the Diplomat Coupé. Later it was also possible to order the Diplomat limousine with the larger engine (model: Opel Diplomat A 5.4). From 1965, V8 engines were also installed in the Kapitän and Admiral to a small extent.

The larger displacement mainly had an effect on the acceleration and less on the top speed (comparison V max : Diplomat A 4.6 200 km / h, Diplomat A 5.4 206 km / h).

  • 283 in 3 (4638 cm 3 ) displacement, 140 kW (190 hp) at 4600 rpm
  • 327 in 3 (5354 cm 3 ) displacement, 169 kW (230 hp) at 4700 rpm

The V8 engines damaged the reputation of the KAD-A series, especially the Diplomat: While the smaller V8 engine turned out to be not fully throttle-proof, all V8 engines criticized the high fuel consumption, which was well over 20 l when driving quickly / 100 km.

transmission

The engines were initially combined with a standard 4-speed steering wheel gearshift. Center shift lever or two-speed Powerglide automatic from General Motors (already with kickdown function) with shift lever on the steering wheel could be supplied at an additional cost. The V8 engines were always delivered in combination with an automatic transmission, so it was also standard in the Diplomat A, here with a center selector lever.

Advertisements described a combination of the V8 with a four-speed manual transmission, top speed 210 km / h, but this version was not offered after a few test vehicles due to overstressing of the clutch and the transmission. Nevertheless, some copies ended up in private hands.

Technical specifications

Opel Kapitän / Admiral / Diplomat A (1964–1968)
Opel KAD: Kap / Adm 2.6 Kap / Adm 2800 p Kap / Adm 2800 HL Kap / Adm / Dipl 4.6 Kap / Adm / Dipl 5.4
engine 6-cylinder four-stroke in- line engine (HL: high performance) 8-cylinder V-engine (four-stroke)
Displacement 2605 cc 2784 cc 4638 cc
Chevrolet 283 (283 cubic inches )
5354 cc
Chevrolet 327 (327 cubic inches )
Bore × stroke 85 x 76.5 mm 92 x 69.8 mm 98.4 x 76.2 mm 101.6 x 82.6 mm
Power
(PS)
at 1 / min
74 kW
(100 PS)
4600
92 kW
(125 PS)
4800
103 kW
(140 PS)
4900
140 kW
(190 PS)
4600
169 kW
(230 PS)
4700
Max. Torque
at 1 / min
181 Nm
2400
206 Nm
3500
223 Nm
3700
347 Nm
3000
427 Nm
3100
compression 8.2: 1 9.5: 1 9.25: 1 10.5: 1
Mixture preparation a downdraft carburetor a register downflow carburetor two register downdraft carburetors a Carter quadruple downdraft carburetor
Valve control OHV , side camshaft, drive by spur gear CIH : overhead camshaft driven by a duplex roller chain OHV, an underlying central camshaft with chain drive
cooling Water cooling
transmission 4-speed gearbox, steering wheel or center shift
(a. W. Powerglide two-speed automatic (GM))
Powerglide two-speed automatic (GM), selector lever on steering column (captain and admiral) or on center console (diplomat)
Front suspension Independent suspension on double wishbones , coil springs
Rear suspension Rigid axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs
body Sheet steel, self-supporting
Front / rear track 1494/1510 mm
wheelbase 2845 mm
length 4948 mm
Empty weight 1380-1630 kg
Top speed 156-158 km / h 166-170 km / h 175-180 km / h 198 km / h 200 km / h
0-100 km / h 16-18 s 14-16 s 12-14 s 11 s 10 s
Consumption (liters / 100 kilometers) 13-14 p 15-16 pp 16-17 pp 19.0 S. 20.0 S.

literature

  • Frank Thomas Dietz: Opel Captain, Admiral, Diplomat A & B - The Big Three from Rüsselsheim. Heel Verlag 1996 ISBN 3-89365-463-1

Web links

Commons : Opel KAD A  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Archived copy ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.verlag-podszun.de
  2. Archived copy ( Memento of the original from July 14, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / media.gm.com
  3. Americans from Rüsselsheim. In: Automotive Technology . 5/1964, pp. 183-184.