Daewoo Royale

Last updated
Daewoo Royale
Daewoo royale salon-front.jpg
Daewoo Royale Saloon (second generation)
Overview
ManufacturerGeneral Motors Korea [n 1] (1972–1976)
Saehan (1976–1983)
Daewoo (1983–1993)
ProductionAugust 1972 – December 1993
AssemblySouth Korea: Bupyeong [1]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door sedan
Layout FR layout
Platform GM V
Chronology
Successor Daewoo Arcadia (replaced Imperial)
Daewoo Prince (replaced Royale)

The Daewoo Royale is a series of mid-size cars that was produced by Daewoo in South Korea from 1983, being replaced by the Daewoo Prince in 1991, although production of the top-line Daewoo Imperial continued until 1993. [2] The Royale's predecessor was launched in 1972 by General Motors Korea (GMK) [n 1] as the Rekord, becoming the Saehan Rekord in 1976 when Saehan Motors replaced GMK, until production ended in 1978. This car was a version of the German Opel Rekord D. [4]

Contents

The second generation Saehan Rekord was a development of the Opel Rekord E. Production began in 1978, along with the Saehan Royale. The Royale was the Rekord E bodyshell with the front grafted on from the Opel Senator A. The Saehan Royale became the Daewoo Royale in 1983, with Saehan Rekord being discontinued and incorporated into the Royale lineup as the Daewoo Royale XQ. In 1989, the flagship Daewoo Imperial was introduced, based on the standard Royale. While Royale production (excepting taxis) ended in 1991, Imperials continued until 1993, being replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia. [5]

First generation (1972–1978)

External images
Searchtool.svgRekord Premier:
Searchtool.svgRekord Royale: , ,
First generation
20150920 GM Korea Rekord 1.jpg
1975 GM Korea Rekord Royale
Overview
Also calledRekord: Opel Rekord D
Rekord Royale: Opel Commodore B
ProductionAugust 1972–August 1978 [6]
Powertrain
Engine 1.9 L Opel 19S I4
Transmission 4-speed manual
3-speed automatic

General Motors Korea (GMK) launched the Rekord in August 1972. [7] The GMK Rekord was based on the German-designed Opel Rekord D. [8] In August 1975, a version of the Rekord, known as the Rekord Royale was launched by GMK. [7] The Royale version was based on the Opel Commodore B, which was essentially the Opel Rekord with a lengthened engine bay. [9] 12,005 Royales were produced between 1975 and 1978. [10] In November 1976, GMK changed its name to Saehan Motors, [7] and as a result, the Rekord and Rekord Royale became the Saehan Rekord [11] and Saehan Rekord Royale. [12]

Second generation (1978–1993)

Second generation
Daewoo royale salon-front.jpg
Overview
Also calledDaewoo Imperial
Production
  • August 1978 – May 1989 (Saehan Royale Diesel/Daewoo Royale Diesel)
  • August 1978 – June 1991 (Saehan Royale/Daewoo Royale Prince) [13]
  • September 1980 – June 1991 (Saehan Royale Salon/Daewoo Royale Salon/Royale Salon Super/Royale Super Salon)
  • August 1983 – May 1989 (Daewoo Royale XQ/Royale Duke)
  • March 1989 – December 1993 (Daewoo Imperial)
  • August 1982 – July 1993 (Taxi models) [14]
Body and chassis
RelatedRekord: Opel Rekord E
Royale (early):
Holden Commodore (VB–VH)
Opel Rekord E1/Senator A1 (Commodore C)
Royale (mid):
Opel Rekord E2/Senator A2
Royale (late): Opel Senator A2
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission 4/5-speed manual
3/4-speed automatic

The second generation Saehan Rekord was based on the Opel Rekord E. It was introduced in 1978 along with the Saehan Royale, which was essentially the Rekord E, featuring the front-end of the larger Senator A. [18]

In January 1983, after Daewoo gained control, Saehan Motors changed its name to Daewoo Motors. At the same time the Saehan Royale was renamed Daewoo Royale, [19] and the Saehan Rekord was absorbed in the Royale range, becoming known as the Royale XQ. [20] Production of the XQ ended in 1987. [21]

1986-1987 Daewoo Royale Salon Super Daewoo royale salon-rear.jpg
1986–1987 Daewoo Royale Salon Super

Until November 1984, Royale body panels were stamped by Holden in Australia, where the Rekord-Senator hybrid was manufactured there as the Holden Commodore. [22] After November 1984, Daewoo began pressing their own panels on a newly installed production line. [22] The E1 bodystyle continued to be built as the Royale XQ and Diesel, while the Prince received the Senator A2's front end. All Korean-built shells, however, received a unique rear pressing with large, somewhat sloped rectangular taillights, which increased the length by about 5 cm (2 in). [23] The Royale Salon continued with the Senator A1 front end until it received a whole new front in 1987. The Royale Salon Super was introduced in 1986. However, unlike other Royales that utilised the Opel Rekord E2/Senator A2 hybrid with the four-window glasshouse design, the Salon Super used the six-window design from the Senator A. [24] A second design revision came in 1987 with a new front-end design, featuring a revised grille and headlamps, along with minor trim changes. While lower-specification versions such as the Royale Salon retained the four-window design, the Royale Super Salon continued using the six-window design from the now discontinued Salon Super. [25] The old-style XQ and Diesel received an all new front end of a smooth, upright, and rectangular appearance. 1989 marked another design change; the Royale Prince inherited a new grille insert and adopted the six-window glasshouse. [26] From 1989, Daewoo introduced the top-of-the-range Imperial, which was marketed separate from the Royale range. [27] Imperial production ended in 1993, replaced by the Daewoo Arcadia. [28]

Specification levels

External images
Searchtool.svg1978: Rekord Royale, Rekord Royale,
Searchtool.svg1983:
Searchtool.svg1985: Royale XQ, Diesel, Prince, Salon
Searchtool.svg1987: Royale Duke, Prince 1500, Super Salon
Searchtool.svg1989: Royale Prince, Imperial
Searchtool.svg Various

Daewoo Royale engines were four-cylinder Opel units, [29] with Daewoo offering the Royale in several different levels of luxury: the Diesel, Salon, Duke, XQ, and Prince: [30]

Bibliography

Notes

  1. 1 2 GMK was a joint venture established by Shinjin Motors and General Motors, not related to the GM Korea established in 2002 subsequent to Daewoo's bankruptcy. [3]

References

  1. "GM-Daewoo Auto – 40 turbulent years" (in Korean). November 2001. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
  2. "새한자동차 - 레코드 카탈로그 (-)" [Saehan Motors - Rekord catalog]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-10-15.
  3. Broken Strategic Alliance: A Case of Daewoo-GM Joint Venture at the SNU Open Repository
  4. ""한국 자동차 역사"" ["Korean Automobile History"]. call999.or.kr. South Korea: Car Sarang. 2009-04-30. Archived from the original on 2005-08-16.
  5. ""자동차 박물관 - (자동차 역사, 국내)." 최인정의 자동차 박물관" ["Automobile Museum - (Automobile History, Domestic)." Choi In-jeong's Automobile Museum.]. myhome.shinbiro.com. South Korea: Shinbiro.com. 2009-04-30. Archived from the original on 2009-04-22.
  6. "레코드로이얄開發(개발) 市販(시판)".
  7. 1 2 3 "1970~1979" (in Korean). Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  8. КАДАКОВ, Максим. Между прошлым и будущим (in Russian). Газета АВТОРЕВЮ. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  9. Schaefers (1998–2008). The "1973 Rekord" is quoted to be 457 cm in length; the "1976 Rekord Royale" 462 cm. These two lengths correspond to those of the Opel Rekord D and Opel Commodore B, respectively.
  10. "GMK의 新型車(신형차) 레코드로얄 人氣(인기)".
  11. "새한自動車(자동차)「레코드」 20일로 1만대販賣(판매)".
  12. "새한자동차 乘用車(승용차)레코드로얄 外型(외형)바꿔출고예정".
  13. "自動車(자동차) 車種(차종)다양화로 수요자眼目(안목) 높아져".
  14. "대우 로얄프린스 LPG 택시_카탈로그" [Daewoo Royal Prince 2000 LPG Taxi] (Catalog). South Korea: Daewoo Motor Co. 2012-02-23 via Naver Blog.
  15. "새한自動車(자동차) 로얄LPG 개발".
  16. "中型(중형)택시 모델「듀크시티」개발".
  17. "로얄디젤 販賣(판매)호전 一般(일반)택시허용 이후".
  18. "대우자동차 - 로얄시리즈 카탈로그 ('87)" [Daewoo Motors - Royale Series catalog ('87)]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-01-25.
  19. "Saehan (새한)" (in Korean). Samsung Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
  20. "Daewoo (대우)" (in Korean). Samsung Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012.
  21. "Saehan Rekord royale (새한 레코드 로얄)" (in Korean). Samsung Transportation Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  22. 1 2 Robertson (1984), p. 32. "Currently, Commodore panels, pressed by GM-H, are used in the Daiwoo [sic] Royale. But that contract won't be repeated. While I was there they were installing a new line of presses that will, by November, be pressing the panels."
  23. Schaefers (1998–2008).
  24. Schaefers (1998–2008).
  25. Schaefers (1998–2008).
  26. "1989 Daewoo Imperial (television commercial)" (in Korean). Daewoo Motors. 1989. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  27. "1989 Daewoo Royale Prince (television commercial)" (in Korean). Daewoo Motors. 1989. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  28. 1 2 "Daewoo Imperial". Autocade. JY&A Media. Archived from the original on 20 November 2010. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  29. Robertson (1984), p. 31. "...a car called the Royal [sic] made by Daiwoo [sic] using Holden Commodore body panels shipped from Melbourne and Opel 1.9- and 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines..."
  30. Aspee, Diego. "Daewoo's 60' 70' y 80'" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  31. 1 2 "1980~1989" (in Korean). Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  32. "대우자동차 - 로얄 디젤 카탈로그 (-)" [Daewoo Motors - Royale Diesel catalog]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-06-05.
  33. "1985 Daewoo Royale Salon". Carfolio.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  34. "대우자동차 - 로얄 살롱 카탈로그 (-)" [Daewoo Motors - Royale Salon catalog]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-07-30.
  35. "대우자동차 - 로얄 살롱 수퍼 카탈로그 (-)" [Daewoo Motors - Royale Salon Super catalog]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-09-30.
  36. "[특별했던차] 대우 로얄 시리즈 – 상편" [[Special Car] Daewoo Royal Series – Part 1] (in Korean). Korea: Motoya. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  37. "최정상의 자부심, 대우 슈퍼 살롱 1987-1991 Daewoo SUPER SALON" [The pride of the highest level, Daewoo Super Salon 1987-1991 Daewoo SUPER SALON]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2023-10-17.
  38. "1985 Daewoo Royale XQ". Carfolio.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  39. "대우자동차 - '86 로얄 XQ 카탈로그 (-)" [Daewoo Motors - '86 Royale XQ catalog]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2015-03-16.
  40. "87' 대우 로얄 듀크" ['87 Daewoo Royale Duke]. blog.naver.com. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2011-10-28.
  41. "1985 Daewoo Royale Prince". Carfolio.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  42. 대우 91년형 프린스 출시! [Daewoo 91 model Prince Released!] (catalog), South Korea: Daewoo Motor Co., 2012-06-29 via Naver Blog
  43. 1 2 3 4 "1989 Daewoo Imperial (aut. 4) (model since February 1989 for Asia Korea DM) car specifications & performance data review". Automobile-catalog.com. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  44. 1 2 "대우자동차 임페리얼 DAEWOO Imperial - 국산 첫 3000CC 엔진, ABS를 장착한 고급차". 국산 자동차 이것저것 (in Korean). 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2009.
  45. "대우 92년형 수퍼살롱_카탈로그" [Daewoo 92 model Super Salon_catalog]. South Korea: Naver Blog. 2012-07-03.