In the late 1970s, more exciting versions proliferated, especially the 2-liter “Kadett Rallye,” with 108hp. Initially, the Kadett came only with a rather wheezy 1.2L OHV four. The Ts were first introduced in Brazil in the late spring of 1973 as the Chevrolet Chevette – though Brazil’s version was a 2-door sedan at first, unlike the later U.S. There were eventually pickup bodies as well for South America.ġ978’s Buick Opel Isuzu SC (top) and Sedan. The sedan bodies and the vans and wagons were a collab between Opel and Brasil. The Kadett C City, the hatchback version that was similar to the stateside Chevette, originated at Vauxhall. The Opel Kadett C fastback coupe, however, seems to have come from Japanese-born Opel designer Tsutomo Aoto, from sketches done in 1971-72. The design process was mostly handled at Opel under Erhard Schnell, but there were so many different T-cars, it’s hard to credit any one studio with the look. Four cylinders, rear wheel drive, meant to be cheap to build and buy and durable no matter where it was sold. Up until around 1969-70, the General had not attempted to design a single platform that would be built and sold in all of its many different markets – what became called a “world car.” The design process of the T-car was a long international collaboration between Opel in Germany, Chevrolet do Brasil (who were making many Opel-based cars), Isuzu in Japan, and Vauxhall in the U.K.Ī small car meant to compete in the 1- to 2-liter range, it was an utterly conventional platform that didn’t rock the boat. Opel, Vauxhall, and Holden often sold completely different vehicles until the late sixties, when rationalization of these practices began. South America’s Chevrolet do Brasil and General Motors de Argentina often made do with cast-offs of European or American platforms which they then made their own. GM’s vast overseas divisions had largely done things independently until the mid-1960s. Buick’s marketing team seemed incapable of selling it, and in the years afterward, virtually everybody disavowed all knowledge of its existence. Why not take the Japanese Gemini and use the familiar “Buick Opel” connection to market it? It was a good plan in theory, although once it arrived it seemed to please almost nobody. ![]() The Chevette had not yet arrived when the Buick Opel Isuzu idea was conceived, but one of Isuzu’s products – the Faster pickup, was already on sale as the Chevrolet LUV. Isuzu’s Gemini rode the brand-new T-car platform, which GM’s corporate bosses approved, unexpectedly, for North America as the Chevrolet Chevette at the end of 1973 (for a 1975 intro). Conveniently, GM had bought 34% of Isuzu in 1971. Opel made a smaller car than the Manta and Ascona/1900, and a version of it was being built in Japan by Isuzu. The solution lay in GM’s vast portfolio of cars and factories. ![]() According to contemporary reports, GM was losing several hundred dollars on each car in 1974.īuick dealers were also more interested, in 1974, in a car that could take aim at the Datsun 210 or Toyota Corolla than the sporty Manta. In hindsight, the Opels weren’t too much more expensive than Toyota Celicas or Datsun 710s, but GM was subsidizing them to keep them competitive. ![]() The rising Deutsche Mark, boosted by Germany’s anti-inflation policies and high domestic interest rates, eventually made the Opel 1900 (aka Ascona) and Manta more expensive than Buick’s domestically-built Apollo. Buick had a good thing going on until exchange rates pushed the price of the Opels way up right around the time they needed small cars most – 1974. Buick dealers had sold Opels since 1957, and the little German cars proved quite a good sideline. Straight out of the era (and concept) of Marvel Team-up, Opel’s name was put on a car built by Isuzu (but designed by Opel) and sold in the USA by Buick. In 2020 Isuzu is a stand-alone Japanese truck maker Opel is a part of PSA Group Stellantis, and Buick is one of China’s most popular brands. It looks like an Opel Kadett C, but it’s actually called the “Buick Opel Isuzu.” Confused? Well, all three brands were part of GM’s universe in 1976 but are quite disparate entities now. We love unusual badge-ups, and this one brings together a very odd trio.
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