Steinmetz Opel Tuning
 _Solitude_Revival_2019_IMG_1710.jpg) Steinmetz Commodore A 3000 GS Motorsport Group II |
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| Vehicle data | |
| Model: | Steinmetz Commodore A 3000 GS Group II |
| Displacement : | 2990 cc |
| Hub : | 69.8 |
| Bore : | 95.4 |
| Max. Torque : | 305 Nm at 6100 rpm |
| Mixture preparation : | three Weber twin flat-stream carburetors |
| Gearbox : | Five-speed racing transmission |
| Empty weight : | 1070 kg |
| Power to weight ratio : | 3.5 kg / hp |
| Brake : | internally ventilated discs all around |
| Top speed | depending on the rear axle ratio |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 5.3 seconds |
| Price (1970) | approx. 45,000 DM * |
| * the inflation-adjusted purchase price ~ x 5. | |
Steinmetz Opel Tuning has been a tuner for Opel models since the 1970s .
Steinmetz-Automobiltechnik GmbH
Steinmetz-Automobiltechnik GmbH, a sports center for Opel vehicles based in Rüsselsheim am Main , founded by Klaus A. Steinmetz , already had a comprehensive range of street accessories in the early 1970s.
Racing
From 1970 to 1971, Opel supplied the Commodore A with a 2784 cm³ engine, double carburetors and standard 107 kW at 5200 rpm for motorsport. The engine was the six-cylinder from the large Opel models ( KAD ), which the Opel tuners Irmscher and Steinmetz raised to 250 hp and more. In particular, the yellow and black Steinmetz Opel Commodore were on par with the BMW Coupés, Porsche 911 and Ford Capri RS on the racetracks. Finally, Opel offered a variant specially tailored to the needs of motorsport enthusiasts who wanted to convert, the 2800 GS Motorsport :
- two-door sedan
- Sports transmission, closely spaced
- direct translation steering gear
- Limited slip differential
- Bucket seats in front
- Laminated glass front pane (instead of the usual toughened safety glass )
The work already reduced the weight:
- The rear and side windows are made of plexiglass
- Engine hood and case lid made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP).
- Fender flares made of GRP
- Decorative and add-on parts omitted, only the corner moldings were still installed,
- Interior paneling of the doors lightweight construction variant
- Heating not built in.
For further tuning one referred to the relevant companies Steinmetz and Irmscher. There you received:
- Sports suspension with shorter springs, different suspension rubbers and harder dampers
- Rear axle watt linkage (the watt linkage gives the rear axle a very precise and stable guidance, "moving" is almost completely prevented).
- different axle ratios adapted to the respective application
- internally ventilated racing disc brakes front and rear ( Diplomat V8 rear wheel brake), aluminum calipers front,
- Fender flares,
- wider rims and tires,
- 120 liter tank,
- Front axle support,
- Fusina sports steering wheels in different versions,
- Roll bar or roll cage,
- Double shock absorber on the rear axle,
- asymmetrical front joints for negative camber ,
- Unibal-mounted tension struts,
- reinforced stabilizers ,
- Manifold.
- from 1971: ZF five-speed gearbox, 5th gear ratio 0.87
- from 1971: cross-flow cylinder head
- from 1971: dry sump lubrication .
In 1977 Steinmetz-Automobiltechnik stopped working in the tuning area.
Steinmetz GmbH
The Kohl Group took advantage of this, and with Klaus Steinmetz they founded the new Steinmetz GmbH with headquarters in Aachen in 1993 and bought the naming rights in order to get a "quick start" with the Opel friends with a restored car.
For example, an original Steinmetz-Opel Commodore A Group B GS 3000 from 1971 (car from racing driver Hans-Wilhelm Ridder) was restored, which at the IAA 1993, as in the 1970s, was able to draw a great deal of interest to the newly founded Steinmetz company .
During the restoration , some changes were made that do not have much in common with the original stone cutter Commodore. The car was rebuilt using the body of a Rekord C. The original body of the "Ridder" vehicle disappeared in the scrap container. The restored Steinmetz Opel Commodore helped a lot to arouse emotions in the many visitors and experts. Hardly anyone could ignore the memory of the glory days of an Opel Commodore in motorsport. The first new products were also presented. In addition, a future sports project with the Steinmetz-Opel Astra FIA Class II was shown.
In the meantime, Klaus Steinmetz left again. In 2006 all Steinmetz parts were TÜV-tested and available from Opel dealers.
Steinmetz-Automobiltechnik GbR
In 2012, Oliver Steinmetz, son of the late Klaus Steinmetz, decided to continue his father's activities. In the re-established Steinmetz-Automobiltechnik, the products from the years 1970 to 1974 are made available again.
literature
- Klaus Steinmetz - A life for motorsport , Klaus Steinmetz, Oliver Steinmetz, Heel Verlag (2007), ISBN 3-898-80829-7
- Opel GT Motorsport 1968-1975 , Stefan Müller, Detlef Kurzrock, Maurice Van Sevecotte, Petrolpics Verlag (2008), ISBN 978-3-940306-04-3
