Model: Opel Kadett B 1200 31S
Year: 1972
Mileage: 71k miles
Tax: Feb 2012 (tax tempted so it's free)
MOT: May 2012
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Price: £2750 ono
Contact details: PM me here or 07824993306
This is my 1972 Opel Kadett B 1.2 31S that I'm selling as I want something bigger.
If your thinking I've never seen one of those before, then your not alone!, Most people confuse this with a Mk1 Escort, the Vauxhall Viva or even "Oliver" from Top Gear (That was a Kadett A).
This is a genuine RHD British sold Kadett, They were based as a direct competitor to the Vauxhall Viva HB, even being sold from the same Vauxhall dealerships at the time, Even though the Kadett was the better made car most people at the time preferred to buy British and what they knew so whilst the Viva's flew out the door, the Kadetts sadly didn't, This was also because General Motors in the UK favoured the Vauxhall brand so there wasn't many imported, In the rest of Europe the preferred brand was Opel so over in countries like Holland and Germany these were as common as a Vauxhall Corsa is today so spares are easily available.
As far as I'm aware this is the last remaining RHD UK sold Opel Kadett B saloon left on British roads, I only know of two other Kadett B's left in Britain and both of those are the fastback version so this is very rare.
It was sold new back on the 11th November 1972 by J.D Phelps in Chepstow, South Wales to a Mr. Bernard Kirlen, He owned the car for many years until 1992 where it still had only done 36000 miles, The next owner, from Poole only kept the car 7 months before selling it to another gentleman from Poole who kept it from 1992 until 2005 at which time the mileage was 62000 miles, Since then it's had another 3 owners across the country before I bought it last year.
So the car, Well it's orange, very orange! It's the cars original colour (most people don't believe me!) called Opel Red 529 which is also very common on the Opel GT's which share the same floorpan, The outside has had a blow over at some point but to a good standard.
The floor has never been welded or has any sign of needing welding, the only parts which aren't perfect at the front wings, Mainly the leading front edges, they have signs of bubbling coming though although this isn't at all bad yet but it will need attention in the future at some point, there's also a "spider leg" scab coming through to the rear of the wing.
The engine bay is very solid, there is black rustproofer on the chassis legs that's keeping the rust at bay under there you might like to clean off but I prefer it's orginial look myself.
A previous owner literally drowned the car in Dinitrol rustproofer which has gone a long way to help save the car, all the box sections and sills have been treated as well as the underside.
The interior is lovely, apart from the clock which is a bit slow everything works, even the interior light and the original radio, which picks up FM!, It drives really nice as well, with very light controls and steering and for a 1196cc it's quite pokey!.
It had a full stainless steel exhaust fitted back in 1994 which gives it a nice note, quite like a Morris Minor, and it's had electronic ignition fitted so it starts like a dream, I've just had a brand new clutch fitted as the old thrust bearing was noisy and the gearbox oil changed which as made it even nicer to drive.
I have stacks of old paperwork and history with the car, The service book is stamped right up to 1992 then I have every mot since then to back up the mileage, I also have the original brochure and a GM parts microfiche!, It comes with a large box full of spares as well to help you get by if you need them.
The car is tax exempt and you need to use a lead replacement additive (included) when fillling up, it's very cheap to run as well by the way, about 200 miles to about £15.
So there you have it, What is probably one of the rarest 70's UK cars left on the road, I've had lots of fun owning the car, I've won trophies with it and I get stopped everytime I go out in it by someone wanting a chat about it!
It was also featured in Classic Car Mart earlier this year in a special 5 page road test feature which I'll include as well a having it's photo in Practical Classics a few months ago.
I have more photos here s77.photobucket.com/albums/j79/trigger_mike45/1972%20Opel%20Kadett/.
Any questions please ask, thanks
Year: 1972
Mileage: 71k miles
Tax: Feb 2012 (tax tempted so it's free)
MOT: May 2012
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk
Price: £2750 ono
Contact details: PM me here or 07824993306
This is my 1972 Opel Kadett B 1.2 31S that I'm selling as I want something bigger.
If your thinking I've never seen one of those before, then your not alone!, Most people confuse this with a Mk1 Escort, the Vauxhall Viva or even "Oliver" from Top Gear (That was a Kadett A).
This is a genuine RHD British sold Kadett, They were based as a direct competitor to the Vauxhall Viva HB, even being sold from the same Vauxhall dealerships at the time, Even though the Kadett was the better made car most people at the time preferred to buy British and what they knew so whilst the Viva's flew out the door, the Kadetts sadly didn't, This was also because General Motors in the UK favoured the Vauxhall brand so there wasn't many imported, In the rest of Europe the preferred brand was Opel so over in countries like Holland and Germany these were as common as a Vauxhall Corsa is today so spares are easily available.
As far as I'm aware this is the last remaining RHD UK sold Opel Kadett B saloon left on British roads, I only know of two other Kadett B's left in Britain and both of those are the fastback version so this is very rare.
It was sold new back on the 11th November 1972 by J.D Phelps in Chepstow, South Wales to a Mr. Bernard Kirlen, He owned the car for many years until 1992 where it still had only done 36000 miles, The next owner, from Poole only kept the car 7 months before selling it to another gentleman from Poole who kept it from 1992 until 2005 at which time the mileage was 62000 miles, Since then it's had another 3 owners across the country before I bought it last year.
So the car, Well it's orange, very orange! It's the cars original colour (most people don't believe me!) called Opel Red 529 which is also very common on the Opel GT's which share the same floorpan, The outside has had a blow over at some point but to a good standard.
The floor has never been welded or has any sign of needing welding, the only parts which aren't perfect at the front wings, Mainly the leading front edges, they have signs of bubbling coming though although this isn't at all bad yet but it will need attention in the future at some point, there's also a "spider leg" scab coming through to the rear of the wing.
The engine bay is very solid, there is black rustproofer on the chassis legs that's keeping the rust at bay under there you might like to clean off but I prefer it's orginial look myself.
A previous owner literally drowned the car in Dinitrol rustproofer which has gone a long way to help save the car, all the box sections and sills have been treated as well as the underside.
The interior is lovely, apart from the clock which is a bit slow everything works, even the interior light and the original radio, which picks up FM!, It drives really nice as well, with very light controls and steering and for a 1196cc it's quite pokey!.
It had a full stainless steel exhaust fitted back in 1994 which gives it a nice note, quite like a Morris Minor, and it's had electronic ignition fitted so it starts like a dream, I've just had a brand new clutch fitted as the old thrust bearing was noisy and the gearbox oil changed which as made it even nicer to drive.
I have stacks of old paperwork and history with the car, The service book is stamped right up to 1992 then I have every mot since then to back up the mileage, I also have the original brochure and a GM parts microfiche!, It comes with a large box full of spares as well to help you get by if you need them.
The car is tax exempt and you need to use a lead replacement additive (included) when fillling up, it's very cheap to run as well by the way, about 200 miles to about £15.
So there you have it, What is probably one of the rarest 70's UK cars left on the road, I've had lots of fun owning the car, I've won trophies with it and I get stopped everytime I go out in it by someone wanting a chat about it!
It was also featured in Classic Car Mart earlier this year in a special 5 page road test feature which I'll include as well a having it's photo in Practical Classics a few months ago.
I have more photos here s77.photobucket.com/albums/j79/trigger_mike45/1972%20Opel%20Kadett/.
Any questions please ask, thanks
