Manufacturer: Adam Opel AG, Rüsselsheim – Germany / General Motors Company, Detroit – USA Type: Olympia Coach Export Production time: January 1950 – March 1953 Production outlet: 84,282 Engine: 1488cc straight-4 Opel 1500 OHC Power: 43 bhp / 3.800 rpm Torque: 93.2 Nm / 2.000 rpm Drivetrain: rear wheels Speed: 112 km/h Curb weight: 930 kg Wheelbase: 94.3 inch Chassis: box frame and all-steel unibody Steering: worm & sector (two-piece track rod) Gearbox: three-speed manual / II and III synchronized / steering column shift Clutch: single dry plate disc with spring dampers Carburettor: Opel 30 downdraft vertical (Carter licence) Fuel tank: 35 liter Electric system: Bosch 6 Volts 75 Ah Ignition system: distributor and coil Brakes front: 8 inch Bendix-Duoservo hydraulic drums Brakes rear: 8 inch Bendix-Duoservo hydraulic drums Suspension front: independent trapezoidal triangle cross-bars, Dubonnet type steel sheet axle body with cross-braces, stabilizer, coil springs + hydraulic lever shock absorbers (1952: hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers) Suspension rear: beam axle, semi-elliptical leaf springs + hydraulic lever shock absorbers (1952: hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers) Rear axle: live Banjo-type Differential: spiral bevel 4.30:1 Wheels: 4J x 15 steel discs Tires: 5.00 – 15 Options: fog lamp, radio Special: – The company was founded on January 21, 1863 and began making automobiles in 1899. In March 1929 General Motors bought 80% of the company increasing this to 100% in 1931 and continues as a subsidiary. The Opel family gained $33.3 million dollars from this transaction. – Opel is GM’s largest European brand and with Vauxhall forms GM’s core European business. – The name “Olympia” originated in 1935 at the Internationalen Automobil- und Motorrad-Ausstellung (IAMA) in Berlin from future Berlin 1936 Olympiade, that is why the label of new model was a famous ancient “Discus-thrower” sculpture. – The “standard” Olympia was called “Limousine” was less luxurious and had a less powerful engine: 38 bhp and 88.3 Nm torque. – This third generation Olympia (1950-1953) was available as this 2-door Coach, as rare 2-door Olympia Cabrio-Limousine (6,036 units built) and as 3-door Olympia Komi / Estate Wagon (28,209 units built), all assembled in Rüsselsheim – Germany.
