Opel Kadett Gassers

Some more of Paddack's Opel.

 

Dave Mason's ex-Paddack Opel. He took an upset win over Ohio George at the 69 Nats.

 

One more... another of the Clark & Clark Opel. I wonder if it's the same car. Looks like the same bulge in the hood, that once covered the blower.

 

Good observation, the green Opel shares a lot of the same proportions.

 

Might have A/FA class run offs. Because the Mini Brute ran a foreign make body style it was classified an altered, despite really being a short wheel funny car.

 

I also heard that the Opel is slightly "lighter" than the Anglia .... especially the Opel GT.

Builders back then, as they are today, are always looking for that "edge" no matter how small it might be.

Using lighter parts (fiberglass - aluminum - magnesium) and of course practices like drilling lightening holes have always been a way to cut weight. The theory behind it .... Less weight .... the faster you can go!!!!

One of the "secret tricks" that first happened many years go that blew me away was "acid dipping" . How much weight could a car that was acid-dipped lose???? My guess would be "some" and that's all that mattered.

When you're looking for an edge even an insignificant amount of weight is still a saving. So it's still an EDGE ..... at least in theory!!!!

 

Here's some more info on the Opel Sauce gasser. It was pretty quick too. An 8.48 was smokin' fast for a supercharged gasser.

 

Article states that the car was BBC powered, but he accompanying article (Pop Hot Rod if I recall) speaks of the car as being Hemi powered. I think someone posted a shot of the car with said Hemi. I like the teams effort in building two motors; One for legal class racing, the other for "match racing."

 

The race picture with the 8.48 ET is from an old 1001 Custom & Rod Ideas from 1970. The article was covering a late 69 UDRA event. I don't think I've seen any other shots of the car with the body up to confirm if it was converted to hemi power later.

 

Here's a picture (advertisment) of Jimmy Vararcalli's Opel Kadett that I found in an anniversary booklet from Pittsburgh International Dragway.

Jimmy has built a LOT of cool customs, hot rods & drag cars over the years. He still drag races and he is "STILL FAST"!!!!!

 

There is a close up shot or two of the car here on the HAMB of the car with its shell lifted while a crew member attends to the Hemi.

 

Thanks for all the Kadett pics, I have no info on this one.

 

Found this pic in e-bay.

 

Here's another..... quite different Opel Kadett than all of the drag cars previously posted.

If you think you don't see many Opels on the drag strip when's the last time you saw one at your local cruise night.

NICE street/strip Kadett SW....

 

Car is powered by an in-line six banger. Note G/Gas class inscribed on the window.

 

The combination of paint - lettering and wheels on this car is one of my all time favorites.

 

Nice Opel..... have seen quite a few running sixes.... love cars whose owners aren't afraid to be different!!!!


Have you noticed that MOST of the Opels shown here all have the popular paint job of the early-mid 70's...... panels with lace - cobwebs - fades, etc .....

Surprised you don't see much of those paint jobs done today..... at least for nostalgia purposes.

Although MUSCLE CAR did paint the "Altered Ego" project car they did in 70's multi-color panels, lettering, etc

 

This is the model I used to own back around '70 or so..... after spending time in Germany I started liking the Opel Rally Kadetts.


Once I rotated back to the States ended up buying one that I used for going back & forth to work & night school.

Once I graduated I promptly bought a SS Camaro.

Ironic I would even up with another Opel after all of those years.... and even more ironic that it appears to be a "keeper"..... at least I think so!!!! Ha!!!!!

 

I think the shape of the body leant itself well to wild paint schemes. Also, by the late 60's, very early 70's, you had a lot of talented car painters surfacing from the mid west. Guys like Greg of Ohio, Shedlik etc. I cant recall the name of the painter who did the Rod Shop cars or the Clark & Clark.

 

I loved this car. And I recall when he ventured out to Pomona in 1970 and creamed everbody. The foreign car body relegated as an altered. And in many ways it was for it featured a very short wheelbase for a "funny car." Yet the car left hard and straight every time. A testament to Ditmars driving and the R & B chassis.

 

Time for a bump.

 

Amazing! These are the guys that ran a Colt wagon with a gurney/weslake sbm a couple years later.

 

You are correct, Chris told me all about that car and motor. It had a unique injection system. One of my favorites as I grew up at the Rod Shop, you can see his name on the rear.

 

1966 Kadett.

 

Here's my 59. Not a Kadett and not a gasser but....

 

Holy crap, undercover. That thing is bad ass

 

I would have enjoyed seeing a 2 out 3 match race between these two hard running A/Gassers. Winner takes on Fred Hursts Cuda for all the laurels.

 

Question,,There was a E/A I believe that had the same name " the Sly One" with a 300" Ford 6 with Cleveland head and fuel injection.Wonder if it's the same guy.Found the pic
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/535/slyonetbucket.jpg/

 

I think it was. I know of the altered you speak of. Car Craft did an article on it in 1972 or so.