1979 Opel Rekord – Project Profile

Opel is an interesting brand. It was founded in 1862 when it was, of all things, a sewing machine manufacturer. It then moved into the world of bicycles, and the company owner’s two sons popularised them by entering bicycle races! It wasn’t until 1898 that the company started designing cars, with the first models rolled out in 1899. They weren’t brilliant, but we all have to start somewhere. Over the following years, Opel improved its designs and also revolutionised the way it built cars – Opel was the first German car manufacturer to employ the assembly line, no doubt following on from Ford’s lead with the Model T. Certainly, Opel’s output as well as the cars themselves impressed the Americans, and in 1926, General Motors bought Opel, lock stock. 

From there, Opel grew hugely, however a lot of its products were shared. This was down to General Motors acquiring other brands and grouping them together. For example, GM also bought Vauxhall. As such, most Vauxhall models were also Opels. The Astra was the Kadette, The Calibra was shared, the Nova was the Corsa, the Cavalier was the Vecra, the Insignia was both a Vauxhall and an Opel, but it was also a Buick. The list goes on. Take the car we’re looking at here. It might look like a first-generation Vauxhall Carlton, but it’s not, it’s an Opel Rekord E. A car that can trace its genealogy back to 1953. And this is no import – for a time we could buy UK-specification Opel models, which is what this is. 

What is it? 

The car we’ve found here is a 1979 Rekord E, which was the eighth-generation of the Rekord, or to put it in more familiar terms, it was also the platform shared with the first-generation Vauxhall Carlton. A large, five-seat, four-door saloon, the Rekord was positioned in the luxury segment. If, in the late ‘70s, you found yourself behind the wheel of a Rekord, you knew you’d made it. Yes, there was the new Carlton to be seen in, too. And some would argue the Carlton, with its ‘droop-snoot’ face was better looking. But it was nowhere near as exclusive as the Opel badge. 

Sadly, the exclusivity of the Opel badge also meant sales were low. Vauxhall had a far greater foothold in the UK market, and as such, the Carlton sales outstripped those of the Rekord. This car marked the beginning of the end for Opel in the UK. We’d have this, the Ascona and the Manta, but by the late 1980s, Opel was gone from the UK market, wholly replaced by Vauxhall. 

That’s why cars like this Rekord are so special. They’re a reminder of what once was. Sadly, rust killed off most of them, so it’s unusual to see one today. This one, a 2.0 Berlina model, is actually MOT’d and on the road. It just needs some love to make it perfect. If you want a classic that’s usable, handsome and also exclusive, you can’t go far wrong. 

Why is it a project? 

As mentioned above, this Opel Rekord is actually on the road and driving, complete with MOT. It has a mere 49,000 miles on the clock. The pictures show it to be an extremely presentable old car. It rides on alloy wheels, it has electric windows, a luscious velour interior (very ‘70s) and under the bonnet, it all looks very presentable. The current owner has carried out an oil service, he’s fitted a new fuel pump, he’s cleaned and painted the rocker cover and the air box, a new rocker gasket has been fitted and the car has been MOT’d. It looks pretty much ready to go. Well, apart from a few other bits. 

The seller states there is some surface rust to sort (though we can’t see it in the pictures). The paint needs some love as it’s dull and faded – nothing a cut and polish shouldn’t be able to sort out. It could do with a pair of front discs and pads, along with a more comprehensive service and apparently the heater, and we quote, “smells a bit when used but works fine”. And that’s odd, but nothing a budding home mechanic shouldn’t be able to tackle. 

It’s a small grouping of minor DIY jobs that need doing. No excessive welding, no wiring, no engine rebuilds. It’s about as straightforward as projects get, or at least it should be as long as this Rekord isn’t hiding anything. 

Five things to look for:

1) Rust

It’s rare to see a Rekord today because so many of them succumbed to the dreaded tinworm. The car here looks clean, but you should still check it thoroughly. You need to look up in the arches, look at the footwells, the firewall, the boot floor. Check it all and check it twice. 

2) Bodges

The car looks great now, but let us not forget that the Rekord is not a cherished model, it would have been a ‘work a day’ car at one point, meaning it might have been subjected to quick, cheap repairs to keep it roadworthy. So, look for any dodgy welding. 

3) Interior 

For us, the red velour is the selling point. It is utterly gorgeous, but only if it’s in good nick. With just 49k on the clock, it should be. However, check for rips, sun damage and wear, as any repairs will need a specialist trimmer. 

4) Heater 

The seller says the heater smells when it’s in use. But of what? Is it a burning smell, is it a rancid/mouldy smell, indicating a leak somewhere? Does it make a noise? Check it out. 

5) Engine

The 2.0 engine in this model is pretty robust, it’s a timing chain rather than belt, and it’s a simple eight-valve design. However, it never hurts to check the oil, check it gets up to temp without issue, make sure the fan works, the usual stuff. 

What should you do with it? 

This beautiful Opel Rekord has survived all these years with only 49,000 miles to show for it. It deserves to be refreshed and restored to the most original condition possible. Get the wheels refurbished, sort out any issues with the trim, have the engine bay cleaned and detailed, get the underside undersealed to protect it from the elements. Get the machine polisher out and give the paintwork the love it needs. With a couple of weekend’s work, this car could be a show winner. And it probably wouldn’t cost you more than £1,000 to get it there. Who said classic cars had to be expensive?