History of Opel

Company "Opel" was born a while ago, in 1862. Its founder, Adam Opel, would not let vehicles: current status and fame he has acquired, thanks to industrial production of sewing machines. In the 80 years of XIX century, Adam Opel, some hesitation, still gave the go-ahead for production of bicycles - these vehicles claim the role of a public vehicle. Prospects of automobile industry was estimated at that time quite restrained - but the sons of Adam Opel, inheriting the father's business after his death in 1895, had a special flair and entrepreneurs keen interest in technical innovations, and came to the conclusion that for cars - the future. Finding the owner of the workshop entitled "Anhaltishe Motorvagenfabrik," Mr. Friedrich Luttsmanna, which at that time had already produced about 60 cars of his own design for 4 years, Opel brothers decided to buy not only a patent for the design, but the entire factory as a whole. Agreement on this purchase, dated January 21, 1899, marked the beginning of direct automobile company Opel in Russelsheim, near Frankfurt-am-Main. Familiarity with the various competing cars will soon persuaded to take the cars of the Opel-Luttsmann "behind the technological progress, and in 1901, after assembly 65 cars, the brothers had denounced an agreement with Luttsmannom, and found a new partner - the Frenchman Alexander Darrach. Study in detail the features of its construction, already in 1902, the brothers presented at the Hamburg Motor Show "Motorvagen" of its own. In 1902 was released in 1964 cars, 178 - in 1903, 244 - to 1904-m ... The case has gone, but at the same time, the issue was single-piece, the cost of vehicles - high. Talk about their mass was still early, besides the market was clearly more than the winning competitor - motor bike, which cost about 8 times smaller car "Opel-Darrach. In 1906 it was again terminated by an agreement now with the Darrach, when the brothers Opel thought that these cars have reached the desired perfection. One of the best confirmation of this - the car in 1909 under the name "Doktorvagen" - a compact, easy-to-device and service, reliable car for everyday business trips - the prestige of this variant was deliberately pushed. This car really is perfect answer inquiries of physicians - and found a quick admission: only one year sales doubled, reaching 1,556 units in 1910. On the eve of World Plant Opel became the largest among automotive companies in Germany. This was facilitated by rational methods of production - the unification and reduction range, similar to the Ford factory. The rapid development of automobile industry encouraged to be active in related fields: in 1911, Opel built his first aircraft engine, is produced fire trucks, and powerful motor plows, also made the prestigious six-cylinder cars - but the priority in spite of everything, was given a mass model. Thanks to them, "Opel" firmly on its feet before the First World War, and particularly in the postwar years, when supplying the inhabitants of the German low-cost, practical car, an Opel saved his strength for a breakthrough. In 1924, invested millions of gold marks, the factory has mastered the assembly on the conveyor belt - the first among automobile plants in Germany. Productivity growth is accompanied by an increase in demand for the new model "5 / 12 hp." Dubbed Laubfrosh (tree frog) - this allowed even in the face of inflation to reduce its price from an initial 4,500 to 2,980 marks, and later - until 1990. Success was scandalous: French producer Andre Citroen accused Opel of plagiarism, copying his model "5 hp.." - And demanded compensation. Judges, however, heeded the arguments of the defendant that Laubfrosh used standard technical solutions, but about the resemblance court responded that since the "Citroen" are painted yellow, while, as the "Opel" - in green, the accusations of plagiarism are meaningless . In 1928, sales of Opel reached 42,771 units., And its share of market in Germany amounted to 37,5%. But the owners of the company came to the conclusion that the issue of public car though and brought the firm a leader, but profits from them was still too small for intensive development - and the market has already begun to feel the pressure of inexpensive American models. As a result, in 1929 the company Opel, a joint stock company, became the property of General Motors. As the president of "GM" Sloan, an important role in this decision has played a high level of production on "Opel". American technology, management, design ideas had considerable influence on the company and its cars. In 1935, there is the Opel Olympia - the first German car to an all-metal monocoque body, the annual output of up to 100 thousand units. A year later, there is an Opel Cadet. " Having made 120 293 car, an Opel goes to a place in Europe. In 1940, made millions Opel - Model "Captain." At the new plant in Brandenburg, tirelessly collecting light and medium trucks, "Blitz" - all these cars are massively involved in the Great Patriotic War and World War II. Learning that the German Government an ultimatum demanded transfer Opel on a war footing, direction "GM" (after the U.S. and Germany were opposed) has expressed strong protest, but after so long (until 1948) to eliminate from the management of a subsidiary company, recognizing the that its actual owner was Hitler. Post-war model "Opel", especially the 50's, 60's, looked even more Americanized. However, many felt it was more dignity - against the backdrop of ever-same "Volkswagen" and unachievable "Mercedes". The greatest success, as always, had a massive series - "Record" and "Cadet". Global strategy for "General Motors" made popular Opel world: the planet goes around 50 million cars of different brands, based on - the development of "Opel". These are some of Chevy (Chevrolet) and the Cadillacs (Cadillac), British and Australian Vauxhall (Vauxhall), themselves, "Opel", collected in many countries. Opel makes Hungary and Poland, Daewoo cars (Daewoo) are also the basis for the development of the Opel. In preparing the article used in the publication "Auto Review", "Klaxon," "Driving," "history of the automobile"