1931 Opel 1.2 litre
The Opel 1.2-litre is a small car manufactured by Adam Opel AG between 1931 and 1935. The 1.2-litre was replaced in 1935 by the Opel P4 which was broadly similar but employed a new engine and continued in production till December 1937. For just one year, in 1933, the manufacturer also offered the Opel 1.0-litre which was an Opel 1.2-litre with a smaller engine. The Opel 1.2 litre replaced the last version of the Opel Laubfrosch and was itself first complemented and then effectively replaced by the more roomy Opel Kadett which had itself already entered production in 1935.
The Opel 1.2-litre entered production in July 1931. Conceptually and technically it closely resembled the Opel 1.8-litre which had been launched six months earlier, the two models even sharing identical cylinder dimensions. However, the 1.8 engine included six cylinders where as the 1.2 came with only four. Control over Opel had been purchased by General Motors in 1928 and the 1.2 model was developed in America, with the need for efficient inexpensive production built into the development process. The wheelbase would be considered a little short for this class of car, but there would be no arguing with the aggressive pricing strategy that Opel were able to pursue with the 1.2-litre.
The 1193cc side-valve engine delivered a claimed maximum output of 22 PS (16 kW; 22 hp) which in 1933 increased a little to 23 PS (17 kW; 23 hp). published top speed was 85 km/h (53 mph), and in the case of the slightly heavier “Regent” bodied version 82 km/h (51 mph). Transmission of power to the rear wheels took place via a three speed manual gearbox without synchromesh. From 1933 a four speed option became available, although the three speed transmission continued to be the standard offering on the lower specification cars throughout. The brakes were controlled via a cable linkage and at this stage operated on the drive shaft.
The car was launched with the usual range of bodies. The entry level car was the open-topped two-seater which was priced in 1931 at 2,000 Marks. With price deflation a feature of the economy at this time, it was possible in 1932 to reduce the manufacturer’s listed price to 1,890 Marks. There were two and four-seater cabriolets which came with a foldaway roof-cover and there was a two-door four-seater “Limousine” (sedan/saloon) retailing for 2,700 Marks in 1931: by 1935,following a more general upgrade for the model in 1934, the price for two door four seater “Limousine” was down to 1,850 Marks, presumably helped by economies of scale resulting from the car’s popularity.
The Opel 1.2-litre entered production in July 1931. Conceptually and technically it closely resembled the Opel 1.8-litre which had been launched six months earlier, the two models even sharing identical cylinder dimensions. However, the 1.8 engine included six cylinders where as the 1.2 came with only four. Control over Opel had been purchased by General Motors in 1928 and the 1.2 model was developed in America, with the need for efficient inexpensive production built into the development process. The wheelbase would be considered a little short for this class of car, but there would be no arguing with the aggressive pricing strategy that Opel were able to pursue with the 1.2-litre.
The 1193cc side-valve engine delivered a claimed maximum output of 22 PS (16 kW; 22 hp) which in 1933 increased a little to 23 PS (17 kW; 23 hp). published top speed was 85 km/h (53 mph), and in the case of the slightly heavier “Regent” bodied version 82 km/h (51 mph). Transmission of power to the rear wheels took place via a three speed manual gearbox without synchromesh. From 1933 a four speed option became available, although the three speed transmission continued to be the standard offering on the lower specification cars throughout. The brakes were controlled via a cable linkage and at this stage operated on the drive shaft.
The car was launched with the usual range of bodies. The entry level car was the open-topped two-seater which was priced in 1931 at 2,000 Marks. With price deflation a feature of the economy at this time, it was possible in 1932 to reduce the manufacturer’s listed price to 1,890 Marks. There were two and four-seater cabriolets which came with a foldaway roof-cover and there was a two-door four-seater “Limousine” (sedan/saloon) retailing for 2,700 Marks in 1931: by 1935,following a more general upgrade for the model in 1934, the price for two door four seater “Limousine” was down to 1,850 Marks, presumably helped by economies of scale resulting from the car’s popularity.
