Opel Diplomat
Encyclopedia
The Opel Diplomat is a large car
manufactured by Opel
. Opel's range-topping models were traditionally the Admiral
and Kapitän
, introduced in 1937 and 1938 respectively.
In 1964, these models were joined, in the so-called "KAD" (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) range, by the new Opel Diplomat. Essentially the three were badge-engineered
versions of the same new vehicle.
P-LV of 1959/1963. At launch these KAD models (Opel Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat; also referred to as "The Big Three" by Opel) were available with 2.6 litre or 2.8 litre, in-line six-cylinder petrol engine
s (100 or 125 PS/99 or 123 hp), or a V8-Chevrolet small-block engine 283
(4.6 litre) teamed with a two-speed Powerglide
automatic transmission (190 PS/187 hp). The latter engine was supplanted in the saloon by the V8-Chevrolet small-block Type 327 (5.4 litre) in October 1966 (230 PS/227 hp). As the company's range-topping model, the Diplomat was available only with the V-8.
A Diplomat Coupé (with the 327 engine only) was also available, from 1965 to 1967, in limited numbers. The coupé
was built by coachbuilder Karmann
and cost DM 25,000 (or as much as 7 Volkswagen Beetle
s). 347 Coupés were built.
In September 1967 the Diplomat (along with its less expensive siblings) received a work-over consisting of rub strips on its flanks, new recirculating ball steering by ZF
and heated rear window. At the same time a HL (Hochleistung or high performance) version of the 2.8 liter six became available (140 PS/138 hp) for the Kapitän
and Admiral
models.
These cars were even larger than their predecessors (stretching to almost 200 inches) and found little favour with the Europe
an public. Between February 1964 and November 1968 Opel built 89,277 KAD models (24,249 Kapitäns, 55,876 Admirals and 9,152 Diplomats), whereas its direct predecessor, the Kapitän P-LV, had registered 145.618 sales over a comparable four-year span.
rear axle. These cars were slightly smaller than their predecessors. While the lesser models (Opel Kapitän
and Admiral
) were also available with a carburetted 2.8 l-inline six, the Diplomat could be had with either a fuel-injected version of this engine (Diplomat E) or with Chevrolet´s 327-V8 (Diplomat V8), now coupled to a 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic
.
The new body was a typical General Motors style and bore a strong resemblance to the contemporary Statesman
of Australia
.
The Diplomat V-8 was hoped to compete with Mercedes'
new 350 and 450 SE
; from May 1973 Opel even offered a long-wheelbase version of the V-8 to keep up with Mercedes' SEL models.
In October 1971 the Diplomat's list of standard features included H1 halogen headlamps, radio antenna integrated into the windscreen and remote-controlled rear view mirror. From January 1972 the 4-speed manual gear box was no longer offered on the Diplomat E. September 1972 saw the introduction of a modified grille with OPEL script relocated from its left side to its central portion.
Opel kept building these models until 1977, but found little success in the market; only 61,559 KAD cars were built from March 1969 to late 1977 (of which 4,976 Kapitäns, about 33,000 Admirals and about 23,500 Diplomats). They were superseded in 1978 by the new Opel Senator
of a somewhat reduced size and more modern, European styling.
In the 1970s GM considered the use of Opel Diplomat of the KAD-line of vehicles as the base of the new Cadillac Seville. However due to the probable costs caused by the re-engineering of the Diplomat, the in-house Chevrolet Nova was selected instead.
The Diplomat V8 furnished the technical base for the Bitter CD
, a limited-production GT.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
manufactured by Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
. Opel's range-topping models were traditionally the Admiral
Opel Admiral
The Opel Admiral was a luxury car made by the German car manufacturer Opel from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1964 to 1977.-Admiral :...
and Kapitän
Opel Kapitän
The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War, developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door...
, introduced in 1937 and 1938 respectively.
In 1964, these models were joined, in the so-called "KAD" (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) range, by the new Opel Diplomat. Essentially the three were badge-engineered
Badge engineering
Badge engineering is an ironic term that describes the rebadging of one product as another...
versions of the same new vehicle.
Diplomat A
In February 1964 Opel introduced a new range of flagship models as successors to the Opel KapitänOpel Kapitän
The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War, developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door...
P-LV of 1959/1963. At launch these KAD models (Opel Kapitän, Admiral and Diplomat; also referred to as "The Big Three" by Opel) were available with 2.6 litre or 2.8 litre, in-line six-cylinder petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
s (100 or 125 PS/99 or 123 hp), or a V8-Chevrolet small-block engine 283
Chevrolet Small-Block engine
The Chevrolet small-block engine is a series of automobile V8 engines built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors using the same basic small engine block...
(4.6 litre) teamed with a two-speed Powerglide
Powerglide
The Powerglide is a two-speed automatic transmission designed by General Motors. It was available primarily on Chevrolet from January, 1950 through 1973, although some Pontiac models also used this automatic transmission, extensively on models produced for the Canadian market with Chevrolet...
automatic transmission (190 PS/187 hp). The latter engine was supplanted in the saloon by the V8-Chevrolet small-block Type 327 (5.4 litre) in October 1966 (230 PS/227 hp). As the company's range-topping model, the Diplomat was available only with the V-8.
A Diplomat Coupé (with the 327 engine only) was also available, from 1965 to 1967, in limited numbers. The coupé
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
was built by coachbuilder Karmann
Karmann
Wilhelm Karmann GmbH, commonly known simply as Karmann, in Osnabrück, Germany was until 2009 the largest independent motor vehicle manufacturing company in Germany...
and cost DM 25,000 (or as much as 7 Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
s). 347 Coupés were built.
ZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
and heated rear window. At the same time a HL (Hochleistung or high performance) version of the 2.8 liter six became available (140 PS/138 hp) for the Kapitän
Opel Kapitän
The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War, developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door...
and Admiral
Opel Admiral
The Opel Admiral was a luxury car made by the German car manufacturer Opel from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1964 to 1977.-Admiral :...
models.
These cars were even larger than their predecessors (stretching to almost 200 inches) and found little favour with the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an public. Between February 1964 and November 1968 Opel built 89,277 KAD models (24,249 Kapitäns, 55,876 Admirals and 9,152 Diplomats), whereas its direct predecessor, the Kapitän P-LV, had registered 145.618 sales over a comparable four-year span.
Diplomat B
In March 1969, Opel introduced a new line of KAD models with new bodies and a more sophisticated chassis with a De Dion tubeDe Dion tube
A de Dion tube is an automobile suspension technology. It is a sophisticated form of non-independent suspension and is a considerable improvement over the alternative swing axle and Hotchkiss drive types. A de Dion suspension uses universal joints at both the wheel hubs and differential, and uses a...
rear axle. These cars were slightly smaller than their predecessors. While the lesser models (Opel Kapitän
Opel Kapitän
The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War, developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door...
and Admiral
Opel Admiral
The Opel Admiral was a luxury car made by the German car manufacturer Opel from 1937 to 1939 and again from 1964 to 1977.-Admiral :...
) were also available with a carburetted 2.8 l-inline six, the Diplomat could be had with either a fuel-injected version of this engine (Diplomat E) or with Chevrolet´s 327-V8 (Diplomat V8), now coupled to a 3-speed Turbo-Hydramatic
Turbo-Hydramatic
Turbo-Hydramatic is the registered tradename of a family of automatic transmissions developed and produced by General Motors. These transmissions mate a three-element torque converter to a Simpson planetary geartrain, providing three forward speeds plus reverse.The Turbo-Hydramatic series was...
.
The new body was a typical General Motors style and bore a strong resemblance to the contemporary Statesman
Statesman (automobile)
Statesman was an automotive marque created in 1971 by General Motors Holden , the Australian subsidiary of General Motors. Statesman vehicles were sold through Holden dealerships, and were initially based on the mainstream Holden HQ station wagon platform, thereby providing more interior room and...
of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The Diplomat V-8 was hoped to compete with Mercedes'
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
new 350 and 450 SE
Mercedes-Benz W116
The Mercedes-Benz W116 was a series of flagship vehicles produced from September 1972 through 1979. The W116 automobiles were the first Mercedes-Benz models to be officially called S-Class, although earlier sedan models had already unofficially been designated with the letter 'S' - for...
; from May 1973 Opel even offered a long-wheelbase version of the V-8 to keep up with Mercedes' SEL models.
Opel kept building these models until 1977, but found little success in the market; only 61,559 KAD cars were built from March 1969 to late 1977 (of which 4,976 Kapitäns, about 33,000 Admirals and about 23,500 Diplomats). They were superseded in 1978 by the new Opel Senator
Opel Senator
The Opel Senator was a large automobile, two generations of which were sold in Europe by Opel, from 1978 until 1993. A saloon, its first incarnation was also available with a fastback coupé body as the Opel Monza and Vauxhall Royale Coupe....
of a somewhat reduced size and more modern, European styling.
In the 1970s GM considered the use of Opel Diplomat of the KAD-line of vehicles as the base of the new Cadillac Seville. However due to the probable costs caused by the re-engineering of the Diplomat, the in-house Chevrolet Nova was selected instead.
The Diplomat V8 furnished the technical base for the Bitter CD
Bitter Cars
Bitter is a premium sports-luxury automobile marque originally produced in Germany and later Austria. Founder Erich Bitter, a former race car driver turned automobile tuner, importer and ultimately designer began crafting his own vehicles after business ventures with Italian manufacture...
, a limited-production GT.