In the rearview mirror: When sedan and van became a caravan
In a few weeks, the Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric, one of the first battery-electric station wagons from a German manufacturer, will make its debut at the IAA Mobility 2023 (September 5-10). Exactly 70 years ago, the Rüsselheim-based company achieved a similar pioneering feat at the 1953 IAA: with the simultaneous presentation of the new Olympia Rekord and Olympia Rekord Caravan, the first large-series station wagon from a German manufacturer was born and, as a mix of sedan and van (Caravan = Car and Van), established itself from then on as a permanent fixture in the Hessian model range. "An ideal vehicle that harmoniously combines beauty and practicality - on weekdays for customer deliveries, on weekends for pleasurable recreation," as the Opel advertising of the time put it.
The appearance was determined by the shark's mouth front, which was characteristic of both variants at the time. In the case of the Caravan, the smooth-surfaced pontoon body merged later into a boxy rear end with side windows, so that passengers in the back row could also enjoy the best views from the Olympia Rekord Caravan. In this respect, the Caravan no longer had anything in common with a simple delivery van, which meant that the station wagon continued to rise in the esteem of buyers as a young vehicle category.
The 4.26-meter-long four-seater also scored points with its large cargo space, which could be doubled by folding down the rear seats. Split backrests that folded inward at an angle made it easier for passengers to get in and out, while the wide rear door made it easier to load and unload work utensils or bulky materials. In addition, the cargo area was sturdily built - a payload of up to 480 kilograms is possible - and designed to be easily cleaned.
However, the Olympia Rekord Caravan demonstrated efficiency not only in its design and usability, but also with its 40-horsepower, 1.5-liter engine, which took the station wagon to a cruising speed of up to around 115 km/h. This made the Olympia Rekord Caravan a hit with the public and customers, and laid the foundation for the rest of the model range at Opel. From then on, the Caravan was a "must have": barely ten years after the premiere of the first large-series station wagon from a German manufacturer, the Kadett A Caravan finally followed in 1963 as Opel's first compact-class station wagon, with which the Rüsselsheim company quickly became the market leader in this body segment. (aum)
More info for topic: Opel Olympia Rekord Caravan , Opel Astra Sports Tourer Electric , IAA 1953 , IAA 2023
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Opel Olympia Rekord Caravan (from 1953) and Astra Sports Tourer Electric.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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Opel Olympia Rekord Caravan (from 1953) and Astra Sports Tourer Electric.
Photo: Autoren-Union Mobilität/Opel
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