Opel Olympia A

Opel
Opel Olympia (1968)
Olympia A
Production period:	1967-1970
Class :	Lower middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , coupe
Engines:	Gasoline engines : 1.1–1.9 liters (44–66 kW)
Length:	4182 mm
Width:	1573 mm
Height:	1354-1400 mm
Wheelbase :	2416 mm
Empty weight :	770-880 kg
successor	Opel Ascona A.

The Opel Olympia A was a lower middle class vehicle model (now the compact class ) that Opel produced between the summer of 1967 and mid-1970. It was more powerful engines and better equipped Kadett B .

There was an Opel Olympia from 1935 to 1953; then different versions of the Opel Rekord ( until 1957 and until 1962 ) were named that way.

Model history

General

Within the Opel range, the Olympia A came onto the market in August 1967 as a luxurious addition to the lower middle class. The car was supposed to fill the gap to the larger record by the time the Ascona A was released and was given a chrome-plated radiator grille with additional decorations and a more elaborate interior design without the bare sheet metal of the simple Kadett models.

Years later, the vinyl roof in particular, which was available for an extra charge, proved to be the Achilles' heel of these late Olympic models, as the roof stickers often became a moisture trap and thus rust trap.

Body styles

There were three body versions: two- and four-door hatchbacks and the coupe. These models were based on the respective LS models of the Kadett B.

Engines

The following engines were available:

• 1.1 l SR, OHV engine with 44 kW (60 PS) and dual carburetor system
• 1.7 l S, CIH engine with 55 kW (75 PS)
• 1.9 l S, CIH engine with 66 kW (90 PS; Coupé only)

In particular, the 1.9-liter engine allowed for an astonishing performance in well-run-in examples with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in about 10.9 seconds and a top speed of about 170 km / h. This made the Opel Olympia one of the most agile compact vehicles in its class.

The fronts of the US export models of the Kadett looked quite similar to the Olympia A at times, but only the corner pieces actually match.

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  Rear view

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  Opel Olympia as a four-door

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  Opel Olympia Coupé (1969)

In July 1970, the production of the Olympics ended A. The model was not a particular sales success with 80,697 built copies since it is too little from the favorable Opel Kadett B differed. Accordingly, it is difficult to find a well-preserved specimen of the Olympia A.

Its successor was the Opel Ascona A presented in November 1970 with a newly developed and independent body.

Technical data Opel Olympia 1967–1970
Opel Olympia:	1100 SR	1700 p	1900 p
engine	4-cylinder in-line engine (four-stroke)
Displacement	1078 cc	1698 cc	1879 cc
Bore × stroke	75 × 61 mm	88 x 69.8 mm	93 x 69.8 mm
Power (PS) at 1 / min	44 kW (60 hp) 5200	55 kW (75 PS) 5200	66 kW (90 PS) 5100
Max. Torque at 1 / min	85 Nm 3800-5000	130 Nm 2800-2900	149 Nm 2500-3100
compression	9.2: 1	9.5: 1	9.5: 1
Mixture preparation	Two downdraft carburetors Solex 35 PDSI	A Solex 35 PDSI downdraft carburetor	A register downdraft carburetor Solex 32/32 DIDTA
Valve control	Overhead valves ( OHV ), side camshaft driven by a single roller chain	Overhead valve ( CIH ), overhead camshaft driven by duplex roller chain
cooling	Water cooling
transmission	4-speed gearbox, stick shift (for a surcharge from late 1968: Opel three-speed automatic)
Front axle	Independent suspension on double triangular wishbones of unequal length, transverse leaf spring (wide-gap semi-spring), telescopic shock absorber
Rear axle	Central joint axis (rigid axis), coil springs, telescopic shock absorbers
Brakes	Hydraulic two-circuit four-wheel brake with braking aid at the front, discs Ø 238 mm, rear drums Ø 200 mm (on 1700 S / 1900 S rear Ø 230 mm)
construction	Self-supporting all-steel body, tank capacity: approx. 40 liters
Front / rear track	1250/1274 mm
Top speed	140 km / h	153 km / h	168 km / h
0-100 km / h	17 s	14 s	11 s
Consumption (liters / 100 kilometers)	7.9-10.5 S.	9.4-11.5 S.	9.6-12.0 S

Web links

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