Description
The Kadett D was launched in mid-August 1979. In November 1979, the Kadett went on sale in the UK, around five months before the launch of the UK version of the Vauxhall Astra Mark 1 in March 1980. The cars were designed as three or five-door saloons and vans or estate cars. There were also two- and four-door saloons (hatchbacks) with separate luggage compartments, which shared the saloon silhouettes. For the first time since 1965, there was no coupé-bodied Kadett in the range: the previous Kadett C coupé was indirectly replaced by the sporty three-door 1. 3 SR. Technologically, the Kadett D was part of a major investment by Opel (and General Motors as a whole) in a new front-wheel-drive architecture, with an entirely new family of engines and transmissions that would later be applied to the larger Ascona C and the smaller Corsa A in 1981 and 1982 respectively. It was also the first application of the Family I engine, with a single-head camshaft, aluminium alloy cylinder head, hydraulic valve lifters, 1, 297 cm3 capacity (producing 60 bhp and 75 bhp) and a transmission design that allowed the clutch to be actuated. replaced without removing the transmission unit. Our car dates from 1981, has recently been repainted and is in very good condition. After receiving it, I carried out a mechanical inspection and opted to replace the exhaust system. I'm waiting for its certification as a vehicle of historic interest to be scheduled.