A superb and rare photo of the magnificent Opel Kapitan, gorgeously photographed for its official
introduction in 1939.
Opel AG (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. The company is headquartered in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Germany. It became
a majority-stake subsidiary of the General Motors Corporation in 1929 and has
been a wholly owned subsidiary since 1931. Their models have been rebadged and
sold in other countries and continents, such as Vauxhall in the UK, Holden in
Australia and New Zealand and, previously, Saturn in the U.S. and Canada.
Following the demise of General Motors Corporation's Saturn division in North
America, Opel cars are currently rebadged and sold in the U.S., Canada, and
China under the Buick name with models such as the Opel Insignia/Buick Regal,
Opel Astra sedan/Buick Verano, and Opel Mokka/Buick Encore. The company was
founded in Rüsselsheim, Hesse, Germany, on January 21, 1862, by Adam Opel. At
the beginning, Opel just produced sewing machines in a cowshed in Rüsselsheim.
Above all, his success was based on his perfectly customized sewing machines. Because
of the quick growth of his business, in 1888 the production was relocated from
the cowshed to a more spacious building in Rüsselsheim. Encouraged by success,
Adam Opel launched a new product in 1886: He began to sell high-wheel bicycles,
also known as penny-farthings. Besides, Opel's two sons participated in
high-wheel bicycle races and thus promoted this means of transportation.
Therefore, the production of high-wheel bicycles soon exceeded the production
of sewing machines. At the time of Opel's death in 1895, he was the leader in
both markets. The first cars were produced in 1899 after Opel's sons entered
into a partnership with Friedrich Lutzmann, a locksmith at the court in Dessau
in Saxony-Anhalt, who had been working on automobile designs for some time.
These cars were not very successful and so the partnership was dissolved after
two years, following which Opel's sons signed a licensing agreement in 1901
with the French Automobiles Darracq S.A. to manufacture vehicles under the
brand name "Opel-Darracq". These cars were made up of Opel bodies
mounted on a Darracq chassis, powered by a two-cylinder engine. The company
first showed cars of its own design at the 1902 Hamburg Motor Show, and started
manufacturing them in 1906, with Opel-Darracq production being discontinued in
1907. In 1909, the Opel 4/8 hp model, known as the "Doctor's Car" was
produced. Its reliability and robustness were greatly appreciated by
physicians, who drove a lot to see their patients, back when hard-surfaced roads
were still rare. The "Doctor's Car" sold for only 3,950 marks, about
half as much as the luxury models of its day. In 1911, the company's factory
was virtually destroyed by fire and a new one was built with more up-to-date
machinery.By 1914, Opel had become the largest German manufacturer of motor
vehicles. In the early 1920s, Opel became the first German car manufacturer to
incorporate a mass production assembly line in the building of their
automobiles. In 1924, they used their assembly line to produce a new open
two-seater called the "Laubfrosch". The Laubfrosch was finished
exclusively in green lacquer. The car sold for an expensive 4,500 marks
(expensive considering the less expensive manufacturing process) but by the
1930s this type of vehicle would cost a mere 1,990 marks – due in part to the
assembly line, but also due to the skyrocketing demand for cars. Adam Opel led
the way for motorized transportation to become not just a means for the rich,
but a reliable way for people of all classes to travel. Opel had a 37.5% market
share in Germany and was also the country's largest automobile exporter in
1928. The "Regent" – Opel's first eight-cylinder car – was offered.
The RAK 1 and RAK 2 rocket-propelled cars made sensational record-breaking
runs.In March 1929, General Motors (GM), impressed by Opel's modern production
facilities, bought 80% of the company, increasing this to 100% in 1931. The
Opel family gained $33.3 million from the transaction. Subsequently, during
1935, a second factory was built at Brandenburg for the production of
"Blitz" light trucks. 1935 was also the year in which Opel became the
first German car manufacturer to produce over 100,000 vehicles a year. This was
based on the popular Opel "P4" model. The selling price was a mere
1,650 marks and the car had a 23 hp (17 kW) 1.1 L four-cylinder engine and a
top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph). Opel also produced the first mass-production
vehicle with a self-supporting all steel body. They called it the Olympia. With
its small weight and aerodynamics came an improvement in both performance and
fuel consumption. Opel receives a patent which is considered one of the most
important innovations in automotive history. 1939 saw the presentation of the
highly successful Kapitän. With a 2.5 L six-cylinder engine, all-steel body,
front independent suspension, hydraulic shock absorbers, hot-water heating
(with electric blower), and central speedometer. 25,374 Kapitäns left the
factory before intensification of World War II brought automotive manufacturing
to a temporary stop in the Autumn of 1940, by order of the government. World
War II brought to Rüsselsheim the only year in the entire history of Opel –
1945 – in which it produced no vehicles at all, since that first
Lutzmann-authored Opel was made in 1899. Before the conflict broke out, the
Adam Opel AG had established itself as the largest motor vehicle manufacturer
in Europe. The combination of Opel know-how with GM resources had produced
outstanding results. In spite of stifling red tape, the economic atmosphere in
Germany in the 1930s had powerfully fertilized the growth of this and other
auto companies. But in the case of Opel, at least, it was clear that the
expansion of this industrial machine was not directed in any way toward
military objectives. Even after June 1940, official connections between Opel
and America were not broken and monetary gain continued throughout the war
which was controlled by the J.P Morgan firm, the Rüsselsheim plant was never
given a major role in Germany's war preparations. Neither was Ford's plant in
Cologne considered trustworthy enough for a big assignment, such as tank
manufacture, in view of their earlier foreign associations. Initially, of
course, it had appeared that the war would be a short one settled in Germany's
favor.
Feel free to contact us for more Opel and other car and motorcycle
photos.
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of
Opel automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance to
own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format of ca.
8" x 10" (ca. 20 x 26 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our archives that we have gathered from various sources.
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We have photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and excellent quality.
After many decades of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace, restaurant, bar or club!
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