If you’re the type of enthusiast who wants to show up at a Cars & Coffee in a low-mileage classic and be virtually guaranteed that you won’t park beside an identical vehicle, this 1970 Opel Rekord is worth a close look. These cars weren’t rare in Germany, but the fact that we’ve seen only six Rekords of any description at Barn Finds confirms they aren’t common domestically. The car presents nicely and is a turnkey proposition. The seller has listed the Opel here on eBay in Duluth, Minnesota. The auction opened at $4,388, but there have been no bids at the time of writing.
Opel released the Rekord Series C in 1966, and it remained on sale until the end of 1971. It was considered a large car in Germany, but the wheelbase is 6″ shorter than a 1966 Ford Falcon Sedan, which was marketed locally as a compact. The company offered six body styles, with this car’s first owner ordering this 1970 example as a 2-Door Sedan. It makes a strong first impression, thanks to its shining Gold Metallic paint. Close-up shots reveal chips with developing surface corrosion, but it still presents impressively for a survivor of this vintage. However, the roof is a different story. It looks like Black vinyl, but move closer, and you’ll see it is a spray-on faux-vinyl product that looks pretty awful. I believe the seller planned to take the Opel to a shop to remove the coating, address a couple of small roof dents, and color-match the roof to the body. That sounds wise, and would be my first port of call if I were the winning bidder. The paint chips might exhibit surface corrosion, but this classic has no penetrating rust. The trim and glass are in good condition, presenting acceptably for a survivor with over five decades of service under its belt.
If we remove diesels, two-strokes, and the Wankel rotary from the equation, internal combustion engines broadly fall into two categories. Some feature pushrod operation, while the rest have overhead camshafts. Opel followed a different path with the 1,897cc four beneath the Rekord’s hood. The motor features cam-in-head architecture, with the camshaft situated above the cylinders, but beside the valves. It operates the valves via lifters and rockers, as typically found in traditional pushrod engines. The company never explained the logic behind this configuration, although some people believe that it lowered the engine’s overall height, allowing for a lower hood. The seller says this car originally delivered around 90hp to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission, and that figure sounds plausible. The car also features power front disc brakes, which should provide excellent stopping power. The seller recently installed new tie-rod ends, spark plugs, ignition points, and a condenser. The Rekord runs and drives well and is a turnkey proposition with a genuine 31,000 miles on the clock.
Although it isn’t pristine, this Opel’s interior is comfortably acceptable for a survivor. Trimmed in a combination of Tan cloth and vinyl, the seats look excellent. There is no significant wear or visible staining. The vinyl door trims look respectable, though a few lumps and bumps are developing on the passenger side. The dash and pad are excellent, and the only headliner issue is staining on the outer edges as the factory glue has leeched through. It isn’t lavishly equipped, but does feature a heated rear window and an AM/FM radio.
The 1970 Opel Rekord sold well in Europe, with crisp, clean styling. However, the motor makes the car genuinely interesting, as the company took an unusual approach to camshaft placement. My only concern surrounds the roof, because I don’t believe the spray coating does the car any cosmetic favors. A reputable shop would have little trouble fixing that, and my understanding is that this was the seller’s plan before deciding to part with this classic. I found something interesting while researching this story. This listing isn’t the seller’s first recent attempt to send the Rekord to a new home. They advertised the Opel on another auction site, and bidding stalled at $4,388, which was below the reserve. That explains the opening figure on this listing, but since the action previously was quite subdued, I won’t be surprised if history repeats itself. Do you agree?
Was fur ein toller Fund, or what a great find. ( pardon my German, remember it was forbidden in my parents house) Duluth, you say? Scotty Gs stompin’ grounds, I hope he was one of the bidders. SHIP IT OUT, SG!!!
Never saw one. Most of our recollections of Rekords, were the late 50s that looked like 50s GMs. Once the Kadett came ashore, the Rekord vanished,,,until right now. It looks like a downsize Ford Torino, or a Kadett on steroids, as if, and has all the pieces of a Kadett( or Chevette later) into a more pleasant package. I believe the motor was created for simplicity and lower build costs, but turned out to be one of the most reliable motors. They made an in line 6 too, that was used in many applications. It really is an amazing find, I’d love to have it!
I don’t see how these are rare and VW bugs are not. This is a great looking car.
I though tit was an interesting starting bid amount, then remembered that this car was on Bring a trailer and it ended there at $4388.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1970-opel-rekord-2/