Origins
The 1.3-litre can be seen both as a potential successor and as complementary to the popular Opel 1.2 litre, though production of both cars was formally ended in the Autumn of 1935. The 1.3-litre, developed by General Motors in North America, was like its predecessor engineered with ease of manufacture in mind. The car was designed around a new “torsion resistant” box frame chassis and featured a fashionably streamlined body that incorporated, at the back, an unusually large (by the standards of the time) trunk/boot which could be accessed via a lid from outside the car. [2]
The brakes were now hydraulically controlled, [3] in place of the cable based system that had stopped the 1.2-litre, and which continued after 1935 to be fitted on the upgraded version of the smaller model, the Opel P4.
Modern bodies
The fashionably stream-lined body was available as a two-door “Limousine” (sedan/saloon) priced in 1934 at 2,650 Marks. Also offered was a four-door “six-light” limousine. A “Cabrio-Limousine” with a foldaway roof-hood was available with either two or four doors. Buyers preferring to make their own arrangements could select an Opel 1.3-litre in “base-chassis” form for 2,150 Marks. The listed prices increased by 200 Marks in 1935, which was consistent with the continuing period of inflation experienced by the German economy in 1934.
The Opel 1.3 litre was introduced at the same time as the Opel “6” 2-litre, and was superficially similar to the four seater bodied Opel 2-litre, both cars featuring the then newly fashionable streamlined style. The 1.3 litre was nevertheless significantly shorter than even the short wheel base version of the 2-litre, with a 2,474 mm (97.4 in) wheelbase compared to the 6 cylinder car’s 2,642 mm (104.0 in) wheelbase. At the same time, the 1.3-litre had a wheel-base that was nearly 200 mm (7.9 in) longer than the 2,286 mm (90.0 in) wheelbase of the smaller Opel 1.2 litre. With its elaborate suspension and new robust chassis the 1.3-litre was also, at 700 kg, more than 20% heavier than the 1.2-litre in base chassis form, and nearly 30% heavier once Opel’s standard two door saloon/sedan body had been attached. Despite this, the 24 PS (18 kW; 24 hp) maximum output from the car’s engine was just a single 1 PS (1 kW; 1 hp) higher than on the smaller engined car. The 1.3-litre came with a listed top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) which was not unreasonable for its size and class, but it nevertheless acquired a reputation for being seriously underpowered. [6]
Commercial
In slightly under two years till production ended in October 1935 GM’s German daughter produced 30,758 Opel 1.3-litres [7] making it one of the leading contenders in the German auto-market during its short life. Few survive. It was replaced by the Opel Olympia, already in production since April 1935. The first Olympia came with the same 1288 cc engine and the same 24 PS (18 kW; 24 hp) claimed maximum power level, but its modern unitary body was 110 kg (nearly 11%) lighter, making it faster and more fuel efficient. Presumably the Olympia was also simpler to produce, since the two door saloon/sedan version was advertised in 1935 at 2,500 Marks whereas the equivalent Opel 1.3-litre was by then offered at 2,850 Marks., [8]
In many respects the Olympia was the car that the 1.3-litre might have become, but both its novel chassisless construction and the manufacturer’s decision to give it a name chosen with marketing considerations – and the forthcoming Olympic Games - in mind, rather than a few hard to fathom digits suggested that with the Opel Olympia the company was more interested in the future than the past.
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