More than half of every Kadett C that Opel built — 52% of 1.7 million cars — left West Germany, making it as much an export hit as a home-market compact.
Lead trim: Kadett C 1.0 (993 cc, 40 PS) · up to 113 hp
Opel Kadett C1973–1979
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Opel Kadett C yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactMore than half of every Kadett C that Opel built — 52% of 1.7 million cars — left West Germany, making it as much an export hit as a home-market compact.
The Opel Kadett C, the fourth generation of the Kadett, was released in August 1973 as Opel's version of the General Motors "T-Car". It was the last small Opel to feature rear-wheel drive and remained in production at Bochum until July 1979, by which time Opel had produced 1,701,076, 52% of them exported outside West Germany; badge-engineered versions stayed in production as late as the mid-1990s as the Vauxhall Chevette (UK), Chevrolet Chevette (Brazil), Holden Gemini (Australia), Isuzu Gemini (Japan), Buick Opel (USA), Daewoo Maepsy (Korea) and others. Body styles were the "Limousine" (2/4-door saloon), the "City" 3-door hatchback, the "Caravan" 3-door estate, the coupé and the "Aero" targa-top cabriolet. Engines started with the 1.2-litre unit that had become an option for the Kadett B in 1971 (1,389,940 European Kadett Cs, almost 82%), a 1.0 from March 1974 with the same 993 cc as in 1962, the CIH 1.6 "S" from May 1977 with 75 PS, and the sporting 1.9-litre Bosch L-Jetronic injected GT/E from September 1975 with 105 PS, replaced in September 1977 by the 2.0-litre 20E in the Kadett Rallye 2.0E (110 PS, 189 km/h) and a 115 PS K-Jetronic 20EH in the GT/E. A five-speed manual was offered on the GT/E from 1975 and standard from 1977, and the 1.2 S and 1.6 could have a GM Strasbourg three-speed automatic. At launch the 1.0 and low-compression 1.2 had 200 mm drum brakes all round while other cars had front discs with servo assistance; the "Kadett Berlina" arrived in May 1977. Its T-car sibling, the Vauxhall Chevette, used a 1,256 cc Vauxhall OHV engine and a hatchback body.
Collectors Spotted in the Opel Kadett Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Opel Kadett yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
8 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadett C 1.0 (993 cc, 40 PS) | 1974–1979 | 1.0 L Inline-4 | 39 hp | 51 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C 1.2 N (1196 cc, 52 PS) | 1973–1976 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | 51 hp | 58 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C 1.2 N (1196 cc, 55 PS) | 1976–1979 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | 54 hp | 61 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C 1.2 S (1196 cc, 60 PS) | 1973–1979 | 1.2 L Inline-4 | 59 hp | 65 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C 1.6 S CIH (1584 cc, 75 PS) | 1977–1979 | 1.6 L Inline-4 | 74 hp | 83 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C GT/E 1.9 fuel injection (1897 cc, 105 PS) | 1975–1977 | 1.9 L Inline-4 | 104 hp | 113 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C GT/E 2.0 20EH (1979 cc, 115 PS) | 1977–1979 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 113 hp | 117 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
| Kadett C Rallye 2.0E (1979 cc, 110 PS) | 1977–1979 | 2.0 L Inline-4 | 108 hp | 117 lb-ft | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
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More than half of every Kadett C that Opel built — 52% of 1.7 million cars — left West Germany, making it as much an export hit as a home-market compact.
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Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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