The prosperity of the “Wirtschaftswunder” goes back to the 1960s – for Opel this means launching the KAD series in 1964. Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat. Opel is top class again. Nothing changes in this order until 1969. KAD-A, quasi MKI – KAD-B then probably MKII. Both the KAD-A and the B were clearly different from their German competitors. At least on the outside, the influence of the American parent company GM is unmistakable.

The KAD-B in particular is a real landyacht. And that is also the problem. Even if the engineers in Rüsselheim take pains not to make everything taste like Detroit – it just doesn’t fit. And indeed, the Admiral here in the picture is a good example. It drives like a Yank, but it feels like a European. Yet it doesn’t even have the 5.4 litre Chevy V8 from the Diplomat, the top of the KAD-B. It is the “small” 2.8 litre in-line six-cylinder. Add to that the three-speed automatic – honestly, that’s all you really need. It also looks better than the Diplomat with its raised headlights.

Between the Kapitän and the Diplomat, the Admiral is something like the perfect middle ground. And yet trouble is approaching. The first: in 1972, #MercedesBenz redefined the luxury class with the #W116, the S-Class. The second: the oil crisis is to the KAD-B as the iceberg was to the Titanic. In 1977 it’s over – by then only the heart of the Diplomat is still beating. After that, Opel never dared to revive the luxury class.

This car is currently for sale at www.mondaenmobil.de – better be quick

Der Beitrag Opels last Landyachts erschien zuerst auf petrolpunx.