Kadett D Coupe

Drummerboy08

Had a good nosey around one of these last night, was a 1.2 4 speed. A friend owns it - his grandmother bought it originally in 1981.

He said he's spent the last 3 years reconditioning it, and has only put it on the road this week.

Question for ye old classics experts - how rare are these in Ireland? It was the first Kadett D I've ever seen on a road over here.



(Not the actual car btw)

bbam

For a time they were common... The 1300 packed a better punch but the engine needed a little more tlc...
I'd have to say I thought the interior was "gick" compared to the C type.

There are some still on the road but fewer each year

1948Wolseley

Yup, they're getting pretty rare now. Personally, I much prefer them to the jellymould Kadett E. That's just me though.

...waits for someone to mention 'superior aerodynamics' .

lepoatnam

You'll see plenty of them over on www.totalopel.com. There are plenty about in sheds all over the country - I know of one over the road from me and has been resprayed but hasn't been on the road since.

I think I know that same car you are talking about. Is it red? On a HIM plate?

kasper

is it the 1.2n engine if its the ohc they go through cam shafts too often

unkel

Yeah I believe the 1.2N is a very old engine, it only has something like 50BHP (from memory). These cars only weigh about 800KG, but still that's not a lot. My father bought a new 1.3S Special Caravan (yes in rust brown / red) in '82 and it had 75BHP which was quite high per litre at the time

What's the trim level? Also is it the 2-door (boot) or the 3-door (hatch) model? The 2-door was really bottom spec at the time

Any pics?

Max_Damage

Their is a good few at any given time for sale on Donedeal or Carzone.

That said, I rarely ever see one of the roads.

DaveCol

Two friends of mine loaded up and drove one of those Kadetts around Europe for 3 months back in the early 90's. They made it to Greece and back

Max_Damage

Weren't the 'coupé' versions of these really the same as the hatchback, only with the tailgate hinges in a different place?

Drummerboy08

lepoatnam wrote: »

I think I know that same car you are talking about. Is it red? On a HIM plate?

It is red, and I think its on HIM plates alright yeah. Around Dunboyne somewhere.

unkel wrote: »

What's the trim level? Also is it the 2-door (boot) or the 3-door (hatch) model? The 2-door was really bottom spec at the time

Any pics?

Its a 3 door Hatch (Sorry, I must edit the title).

I'll ask him for some pics next week if he has it with him.

mamakevf

This is my Kadett 1.6 SR, only one on the road in Ireland AFAIK.

carchaeologist

^What are the wheels off?

unkel

Max_Damage wrote: »

Weren't the 'coupé' versions of these really the same as the hatchback, only with the tailgate hinges in a different place?

There is no coupe, only hatchback and estate. When I say hatchback I mean they all look the same but the 2 and 4 door models don't actually have a "hatch" - just a boot. The 3 and 5 door models have a hatch. So yes, it's about tailgates hinges in a way

mamakevf

carchaeologist wrote: »

^What are the wheels off?

Porsche 928, fitted with adapters

Hermy

mamakevf wrote: »

Can't be too many of those B+I boxes left now.

unkel

mamakevf wrote: »

Porsche 928, fitted with adapters

Yup. Porsche 928 S2 to be precise / pedantic. I should know cause I have them on my car. Not an Opel Kadett BTW

And fair play to you, I'm a sucker for originality on cars, but the Porsche wheels look quit good on your motor!

lepoatnam

This might be the one then,

MercMad

At one time they were the most plentiful Opel to be sold.

The 1.2S was a pushrod/over head valve engine, and was an old design, from Kadett A days, however it was reliable and silent. You could hardly hear them tick over and the tappets could be adjusted whilst the engine was running ( .6" and .12" from memory)

The 1.3S was an OHC engine and far most lively and raspy though early one suffered from premature cam wear as the cams weren't hardened properly.Opel did a lot under warranty, it wasn't a tough job.

The Kadetts were built in Germany and were a far superior car to the Vauxhall Astra which werent rustproofed as well.

The 1800cc GTE was a flier..........in a straight line......loads of torque steer and little ability to get around a corner !

unkel

MercMad wrote: »

The 1.3S was an OHC engine and far most lively and raspy

I got ours to just under 100km/h in 2nd gear before the rev limiter kicked in

Drummerboy08

Thats her!

mamakevf

Hermy wrote: »

Can't be too many of those B+I boxes left now.

Haha, took me a while to cop what you were talking about.
It's in an old ESB yard and has been sitting there a few years.
What was B+I, and whats so special about them.?:)

lepoatnam

mamakevf wrote: »

Haha, took me a while to cop what you were talking about.
It's in an old ESB yard and has been sitting there a few years.
What was B+I, and whats so special about them.?:)

B+I was the Ferry company that used to operate in opposition to Sealink back in the 80's on the Irish Sea. Sealink now known as Stena!

Hermy

mamakevf wrote: »

What was B+I, and whats so special about them.?:)

lepoatnam wrote: »

B+I was the Ferry company that used to operate in opposition to Sealink back in the 80's on the Irish Sea. Sealink now known as Stena!

I used to work out of the B+I with my Da who was a haulier.
Their logo was a very common sight but not anymore.
B+I were taken over by Irish Ferries in 1992.
More info here.

knipex

1948Wolseley wrote: »

Yup, they're getting pretty rare now. Personally, I much prefer them to the jellymould Kadett E. That's just me though.

...waits for someone to mention 'superior aerodynamics' .

Was that not the Astra A ?

The kadett D was the last of the kadett's.

The 1.3 engine was a dog, particularly if not babied from new.

The 1.2 was a nice sweet free revving engine (carried straight from the C if I remember)

The kadett C was a far superior car (and also superior to the over rated mk 11 Escort).

1948Wolseley

The Kadett D was known as the Astra Mk 1 in the UK, while the (Vauxhall) Astra Mk 3 corresponded to the first Opel Astra, as far as I know.

mamakevf

knipex wrote: »

The kadett D was the last of the kadett's.

No, there was the Kadett E 84-91, also known as the Astra mk2 in UK.
The Kadett E was replaced with the Astra F in this part of the world, although South Africa carried on with the Kadett badge.

mondeo

Jeez have not seen one of them in about 12 or 13 years

I never liked them BUT seeing them now they do look alot better then what I remember..
My friends mother had a copper colored one which was scrapped, I remember seen it being crushed..pitty when I think about it now

knipex

mamakevf wrote: »

No, there was the Kadett E 84-91, also known as the Astra mk2 in UK.
The Kadett E was replaced with the Astra F in this part of the world, although South Africa carried on with the Kadett badge.

I remember it now. I dont know how I forgot, my father had one in White.