MEET THE OWNER – GLENN LOUCH AND HIS 1978 OPEL KADETT C

One of the many Lancaster Insurance Classic Car Show’s stars last year was a smart two-door saloon in pale blue. It also seemed to cause some confusion among certain visitors who muttered: “Why does that Chevette have a different nose?” The reason was, of course, Glenn’s car was not a Vauxhall but one of the very few surviving British-market Opel Kadett Cs.

Fifty years ago, Opel launched the C as part of the General Motors’ T-Car family. Development commenced in 1970, and the German division of GM was responsible for the chassis and suspension design for the entire programme. The first T-Car was the Brazilian Chevrolet Chevette in 1972, and other versions would eventually include the Holden and Isuzu Gemini, the Daewoo Maepsy, the Pontiac Acadian and the Pontiac T1000. In May of 1975, Vauxhall introduced the Chevette. Post-war British sales of Opel began in 1967, but the two marques retained separate dealerships until 1981.

The outgoing Kadett B was Opel’s best-selling model in the UK, and Autocar was especially taken with the Coupe version. More sober-minded drivers could choose from two- and four-door saloons, and a three-door estate. The C made its UK debut at the 1973 London Motor Show, and, two years later, Opel offered a ‘Kadett City’ with a Vauxhall-designed hatchback body from the Chevette.

German production of the C ended in July 1979 after 1,701,076 units with the introduction of the FWD Kadett D. Glenn’s Kadett is one of the few remaining on the road in the UK, although they were not uncommon in the 1970s. One surprise looking at the price lists for 1976 is that the entry-level 1.2E two-door cost slightly less than its Chevette equivalent at £1,596. Yet, at that time, Opels seemed more upmarket than Vauxhall during the 1970s, assisted by clever marketing campaigns.

Perhaps it would be fair to say that a C such as Glenn’s possesses that indefinable air of quality that caused many British drivers to opt for Opel. It also has a vast amount of period fascination, down to the “penny flap” fresh air vents in the fascia. Above all, Glenn’s Kadett is a reminder of, to quote the brochure, “one of Europe’s best-selling cars” that represented “German engineering, quality and craftsmanship”.

Plus, the colour scheme is exceptionally charming.

With thanks to: Glenn Louch