Opel Blitz, forty-five years of lightning
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Il 1930 this is not one of those years that world history recalls with special interest: Sean was born Connery and Clint Eastwood, Minnesota Packaging Factory Launches Invention, Duct Tape, Uruguay wins the Cup of Rome, and Edda Mussolini, daughter of the Duce, marries Galeazzo Ciano.
However, in Germany or rather in Rüsselsheim, a city in Hesse, Opel launches a commercial vehicle destined to create an era and stay in production for over forty years, Blitz.
Son of the Great Depression
The Great Depression of 1928, which began in the United States, also hit Europe hard and certainly did not spare it. Germanywhere the situation is not brilliant anyway. Amid the general economic crisis, Opel, which a year earlier lost 80% to the American General Motors (the remaining 20% will cross the ocean next year) successfully, despite a number of serious problems, don't close factories and make the assembly lines work, albeit on a narrow gauge, keeping the company alive, preparing it for a restart.
Great competition
And this precisely for the purpose rerun that Opel management understands that I old trucks than in the background twenty years, including the Great War, they dominated the working machine scene, they begin outdated. The market needs to be “attacked” with light, manageable and fuel efficient vehicles.
It was with this idea that in 1930 the Company issued national competition choose name new light truck, with 4 cylinders, 2,6 l each which will be released to the market next year. First prize this is a car Opel 4/20 HP, from the second to the fifth Motorcycle Opel Motorcycle club.
IThe success of the initiative is enormous: one and a half million people are participating in the competition. of people. Jury chooses the name Blitz ("Lightning Strike"), named the Victoria Blitz bike, built by Opel exactly 40 years ago, and designed for go down in history German House as a graphic symbol your brand.
Glory that lasts seventy years
This is the beginning legendary glory light truck Blitz, a fame that lasts until the second half Seventiescontributing to the global development of the company. The Blitz's design characteristics are at least early schooling. typically American: engine, six-cylinder petrol engine, is Buick built under license in Germany.
From his frame they are obtained countless settings, from classic to freight transport in closed van versions for vehicles equipped with a body and tarpaulin, for converting to bus versions or for special purposes, for example, for fire trucks or ambulances. Demand is growing so fast that a few months after the launch, Opel is forced to open new establishment, in Brandenburg, where trucks of 2,0 and 2,5 tons were assembled.
The 3 ton standard version is here
в 1936, comes the Blitz S (where the "S" stands for "Standard"), a 3-ton truck equipped with Admiral engine 3.600 cc traction initially only rear and only in 1940, mainly in accordance with government regulations which clearly gave an idea of the projects for the militarization of the vehicle fleet for military use, is being prepared version (type "A") with switchable front wheel drive.
One is also done half-track versionnamed "Maultier" (mule) with rear wheels replaced with tank rolling stock and intended mainly for SS battalions and, in particular, for the Russian front. 1931 to 1944 Opel In total, more than 130 thousand copies of the Blitz were built. When the Brandenburg plant is destroyed from 1945 to 1949, Mercedes-Benz builds it in-house. creation Mannheim, in 10.400 copies.
1946, resumption of production
Manufactured by Opel Blitz, renewed in 1946 in Rüsselsheim. The Opel Blitz has proven to be an indispensable means of restoring German industry and craftsmanship, with sales soaring from 3.219 units in 1947 to 11.574 in 1949 in XNUMX.
In 1952 a new one was introduced. 1,9 ton version, characterized, among other things, by more modern and rounded lines, but still more "American". Produced until 1960 in 89.767 units, it is the ideal base for numerous drugs.
In 1960 was Significantly updated Blitz: 1,9t light truck. available in 2 different pitches (3.000 and 3.300 mm). Equipped with Captain Plus engine 2.605 hp at 70 cubic meters., then raised to 80 hp. It is capable of speeds up to 100 km / h. And also offered with diesel, economical 2.100 cc yes 60 CV, di A Peugeot derivative that was soon replaced 4-cylinder 70 hp from Opel Record.
Latest Bedford models
The 1,9-ton Blitz was produced until 1972, when Opel's light commercial vehicle production was moved from Rüsselsheim. at British factories Bedford, brand Vauxhall Group, which, in turn, is XNUMX% controlled by General Motors, and within a few years, part of the production of Blitz will "go out" under the Bedford brand.
Arrival of the Opel Blitz in Italy in some cases at the end of the 60s, these are models of the 300-350-375 DL series with diesel engines of 2.112 and 2.490 cc. cm, respectively, with a capacity of 67 96 hp. or petrol engines with a volume of 1.897 cc. cm and 83 hp. Opel Blitz production finally ends in 1975.
