My grandfather had a yellow Opel, its a new little wagon. Thanks for taking me back 40 years!!

back in the early 80's I had a friend with one of these, he loved it. In fact he loved it so much that he sold it and then went to the person he sold it to and bought it back, then drove it some more.

When I was in high school our garage burned, taking mom's 1963 Ford Country Squire wagon with it. That car was replaced with a 1969 Opel Kadett with a three speed. That's the car I had to drive after getting my license. I hated it, although once we got eight kids in it for a drive to the lake! Thanks for the memories!

Elephant theme was used in ads because their sales pitch was "runs on peanuts". The "L" is for Luxus (german for deluxe) and the LS was for Luxus Super". The engines were available in 1.1, 1.5, and 1.9 litres. Worked at a dealership from 1964 to 1974. We sold them from 1966 to the mid seventies. Good cars as I remember. I had a 66, really fun car to drive.

I showed my wife the Kadett and she said that was a very popular car in Germany when she was a child. According to her, lots of old people drove them back in the 70s.

Lots of treasures on that car lot. Nice to see parents that want to educate their kids instead of just leaving it to the school.

I fully agree about keeping the past, present. Sweet little wagon

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again. Your videos are so refreshing. It’s not just the cool cars but you got goat friends, cows , little pigs , such a pretty property there in the background and best of all by far, always got your kids there spending time together. It’s really a fun mix of those different things that make the videos fun.

Hi from Germany ! I don't know, if you're already aware of being lucky enough, having picked a rare example, equipped with the great 1900cc 90hp engine, making that little car go more than 100mph fast, when equipped with a manual 4-spd. gearbox. This engine was the top notch power plant of the larger Rekord series and the Opel GT Sports car and found it's way only into a very few little Kadetts, mainly "Rally 1900 Coupés" making a solid base for a really hot little competition car, that in the hands of the right guy at the wheel, were even able to put Posches in their places, back in those days ... never underestimate those engines. The "L" Letter (Kadett L) stands for the German term LUXUS and marks the "de Luxe" trim level from the standard level cars. I was born in the capital german City of Dortmund, not far away from the OPEL Bochum plant, where all Kadett series were mainly built and had the great opportunity to visit the plant several times, during those years. One of my long time neighbours, an Englishman named Keith Simpson, did spent his whole working life in the Bochum Opel plant, assembling Kadett models of all generations and retired only a few years before the plant was finally shut down in 2014. I hope, you'll have a lucky hand, getting the rare little L Caravan back on the road again ... and feel free to ask, if you're in need of support or assistance, concerning old Opel motor cars. kind rgds. from Western Germany, Klaus

My first car! I had a 1972 Kadett Wagon. It sat 10 years in the forest before we rescued it. Dad put a 1.9L out of a GT w/ the aluminum valve cover, and a weber in it, and it was a 4-speed. Copper/Bronze Metallic. It was super fun, even had some correct Hella chrome fog lights hanging on it. I drove it a couple years, and sold it to a friend when I got my hands on a Dodge Dart. The Dart had working factory A/C, so it was an upgrade. I wish I had never sold my Kadett, the kid that bought it crashed and scrapped it. My parents had many Opels in the '70's and '80's. I was brought home from the hospital in mom's Kadett. Dad had several Mantas. Mom had Kadetts and 1900s. Then in '84 they got rid of all of it, and got a new for '84 Plymouth Voyager. Until Dad pulled my Kadett from the forest in the early '90's.

My buddy in high school had the 2 door version if I remember right. We went everywhere in it, never failed us. I remember going to radio shack and putting some surface mount speakers on the rear deck to get that "premium" sound. Ah, those were good days.

Opel = GM of Germany. In the 70's we used to call the Opel GT "The Poor Mans Corvette"

So excited to see Vienna’s first video. When I meet her she was already an RC Cola junkie.

“That looks like the bathroom floor when I shave my back”. Dang, that made me spit beer through my nose!!!

Amazing. The car was on the road ten years, then abandoned for 42...makes me think of everything I've gone through/done in the last 42 years, while this car just sat and waited and rusted....great job sleeperdude.

Hi! I'm a german Kadett owner. The german automatic shifter is (P)ark-(R)ückwärts/Reverse-(N)eutral-(D)rive-(S)teigung/Slope/Uphill-(L)ast/Loaded. The "L" on the Kadett L emblem stands for the "Luxus/Luxury" trim level. The US only got the big CIH engines (65 to 106 horse) while home market models had also tiny 45 to 60 horsepower OHV engines. Don't be fooled by the small looking engine as the car is very lightweight and doesn't need that much power to drive the German Autobahn. The Luxury trim gave you striped vinyl seats, Overrider-bumpers, Chrom around the wheelarch, doors and windowframes + carpet floor instead of rubber. In Germany the Kadetts are loved as classic cars because they are super reliable and easy to repair/service. The color seems to be "Tropengrün/tropical green".

Very interested in this. Opel Kadettes were good sellers here in Ireland. My Dad had a '66 two door saloon (sedan) and a work friend had an estate (wagon) like yours. Reliable, if somewhat basic cars. Would be nice to see this survivor get the treatment. Nice channel.

Beautiful car man and beautiful your family,waiting for the next video......

This brings back some memories! I learned how to hold the flashlight for Dad on two 69 Opel Kadett coupes that he owned. Learned to work on these things till I turned 18 and joined the military. Great memories!!

These have a special place in my heart. My uncle had a couple when I was a kid and I loved riding in the back with my cousins. With the back seat down, we bounced around like superballs back there on country roads. Simple fun that would get you put under the jail now days.

Oh my lord that is the best car sales yard i have ever seen

At that time the Opel Kadett wagons were very common in Germany, very widely used. A great little car, very reliable and of great use. Three of my friends had a Kadett, though only one had an (earlier version) wagon. Have lots of fun!

My brothers first car was a 68 Opel. He tried to kill it to no avail. It became my first car I drove the crap out of it then sold it to a friend. That was a great car and absolutely bullet proof.

My dad bought my mom one brand new in 1968, that brings back some fond memories!

I remember those. We had a Buick/Opel dealer in our town in Massachusetts. Our neighbors bought a new 1970 GT. The sedans and wagons were ridiculously underpowered LOL

Wow, seeing those air-cooled and water-cooled VW's brings back a lot of memories. My first job out of high school (1981) was at a friend of the family's busy VW/Subaru repair shop. He taught me everything I know about cars and the importance of work ethic.

My first car was a 1971 Kadette wagon I bought in ‘77. I beat the holy hell out of that little car for almost two years and it never failed to deliver. Just about the toughest little car I have ever known.

When I was in high school, my best friend's dad bought a blue with black interior Opel wagon at a local Buick dealership that sold them. Remember it so well and that long gearshift that just came out of the floor with a rubber boot around it and no console of any kind.

We had one of these when I was learning to drive. I loved it. 4 banger engine and 4 speed transmission. We drove the heck out of it. Dad traded it for a Maverick 6cyl with 3 on the tree transmission. Loved that car too.

I'll be looking forward to the future videos on this car. I love learning about cars that I know absolutely nothing about.

My girlfriend way back in 81 drove a Kadett 2 door. Always a soft spot for wagons, especially 2 door wagons. Hope to see it running again.

My first car was a 1967 Opel Kadet Rallie 1.1 liter, two single barrel carbs 4 speed. Two door fast back, looked like the red one in your pictures with black stripes on the hood and sides. The engine and trans together weighed about 150 lbs. I bought it in 71 with no real miles on it. It drove like a mid 70's Honda Civic. but didn't have as much power. Gm sold the Opel as Buick, Geo metros and the Luv pickup as Chevy, because of the gas shortage to try and sell the smaller cars.

Congrats to your Opelfind. The L stands for luxus... I have had several Opels, also a -69 station wagon like yours. Your engine is a so called "Big Block" that comes in 1500, 1700, 1900 and also the 2 litre. The automatic is junk - swich to a manual, - there are 4- and 5-speeds that is only bolt-in. My -69 started life with a 1500 which had some rod-knock so it was swiched to a 1900 pretty soon. When that engine was worn-out I put in a 2litre. Also swiched carburettor to something unknown that had vaccuum secondary which was deleted to manual. The car drove some 40000 km before I sold it. I also swiched the rearend to one from an Opel Manta, used the Manta springs that gave a little "stance". Your roof-rack is gold! The trim around headlights were in Europa used for the Olympia-model that was a little fancier. Good luck with your rescue!

Sorry for being late to the video... How nice to value a car regardless of its condition... Each classic is like key people in your life who may no longer be around. That's why: FORBIDDEN TO FORGET THEM.Greetings and support from Argentina 👍

Ahh it wasn't a Mercury. But way way better a 1/2 scale wagon. What a cool project. Can wait to see you guys driving that one around.

this is somehow cool, this car. A german mini station wagon with 3 doors. Really excited to hear this thing run. 1,9 lt was a pretty big motor for it's time in germany. should be super solid, if not frozen, because it was under-stressed the whole 43k miles. there are some german combinations of weight to torque that run forever. before they figured out the planned obsolescence. most famous the Mercedes Benz 300D (W123) from the late 70s. 80hp out of a 3 l / 5 cylinder engine. those things go over a million miles and more. so fingers crossed that this little kadett is turning over. love it.

GOOD THERAPY Of all the car rescue channels I like yours the best. Besides the car rescues, you're a family oriented rescue channel with absolutely great humor and I love the animals too. When Ralphie drives a car it brings back memories of when I was 12 and had my first car, a 55 chevy 210 sedan that I drove in the mountains of Pennsylvania on coal mining roads that stretched for miles. YOU see the possible in the impossible and you're passing on great values to your children in that sense. It's great therapy for me these videos because they encompass more than car rescues. Thank you. Grandfather John Pennsylvania USA Disabled Veteran USMC Beirut Veteran

Congrats..! That Ole Girl will be on the road real soon. I remember when they were new although there weren’t many around even back then. Cheers from California.

Opels were actually great reliable Cars with excellent quality . I owned two of the Opel GTs in the day . Wish I had em now !

This brought back memories of another GM car from the same era. My dad had a 1967 Vauxhall Viva HB, made in England whereas the Opel was made in Germany. Later models like the Astra were the same but badged Vauxhall in UK and Opel elsewhere. The Viva was a different shape to the Kadett but may have shared some mechanical parts. The Vauxhalls had a bad reputation for rusting and I remember one day dad poked at a pinhole in the sill, this was when the car was 7 years old. He ended up with a hole you could poke your fist through!

Variety is the spice of life, this Kadett gets the recipe right. Good to see a non mainstream car get a second chance. Ably assisted by the pit-crew of course. Another gem of an upload!

In Australia we had that body style in 2 door coupe and 4 door sedan ,but we made them a little tougher for our conditions and the had a straight six in them. Look up the LC or LJ Holden Torana especially the GTR XU1 and watch some of the Bathurst races with them in . They certainly give the V8's a run for their money .

You know you are a good father when you do the ugly stuff. Cause life isnt all pink, and I enjoy old cars more than mobiles and shit. Props to you ! ( Am 17 rn )

Oh man, that is one cool little buggy. I knew a young lady who had one. It was no ball of fire but a ton of fun. Parts are gonna be tough though.

I know a guy in Germany with a field full of these if you need any parts 🙏🏻

The condition this one was in I would have passed on it. It just needs too much work to be much of a driver. Besides the Opels were a bit cramped for space. But you are a better man than me tackling a job like this.

Opels are cool! We had a bunch back in the 70s, couple Kadettes, bunch of Mantas, light, easy to service, fun to drive

The little Opel Kadet Wagon, the Germans used horse hair stuffing in their seat upholstery. I had a nice two door coupe, turquoise factory color, manual four speed trans, averaged 40 mpg. highway !!! They were imported from Germany, for sale through Buick dealerships. Like your videos, good luck with your Opel, they are cool cars. I had mine back in 1979, economical to drive to work. Kevin Phoenix , Illinois

It’s great to see the whole family involved 😎 another awesome video.

The Opal cadet is the German version of the Vauxhall Viva! This is rare as anything! Well worth keeping!! The engine is most likely a 1.3 litre! That will do around 45 MPG!! You could sell that in Europe for at least £4000 when running with seats! Love it!!!

My dad loved opels we had 4 of em in the sixties the last one was a 67 wagon in white with a red interior we went all over in them he knew how to keep them running they had flaws but he knew them front to back awesome memories of my childhood

Opels were sold at Buick dealerships from what I remember. Those Opels were really cool. That black panther kitten was really impressed. 🐈‍⬛

The 1900 engine was rated 90 DIN-hp. In Germany *barely* someone bought that with automatic (except handicapped) and A/C was not available. The factory 4-speed gearbox was quite nice and taken from the larger Opel Rekord. It did over 100mph on the autobahn. Front diskbrakes ... I drove several of those as well as Opel GTs, which have essentially the same technical base.

These were quite popular when growing up in Wilton/Ridgefield/Danbury Connecticut (1964-1984). Folks nearby our house had the Kadett wagon, 2 dr coupe, the Manta. and the Opel sports car.

Some more bits on Kadett B: the front axle is a family member to that of a Corvette. Double wishbones, transverse leaf spring (3-leaf for the CIHs), shocks attached to the axle body *not* on the frame or some strut tower. Axle frame also hold the steering rack *and* the motor mounts. The axle is bolted to the main chassis rails. If you remove the drive shaft, rear gearbox crossmember, shift lever, kickdown wire, exhaust tube, steering axle, all hoses, tubes and wires from the engine as well as the brake lines you could lift the body over the entire front axle / engine / gearbox assembly. :-) If you remove the rear axle as well the left over shell can be tilted by two adults onto a set of old tires (without rims) and work on the underside is fairly easy. The bare shell may weigh around 700 - 800 pounds with doors and windows but without inards. Even lesser, when a lot has rusted off already ... Rear axle is straight, yes, but the differential is fixed with a pushtube to the frame and the driveshaft runs on the last 1/3rd after the rear U-joint inside this tube. Two struts and a diagonal stabilizer (Panhard rod). Coil springs and the shocks in almost 45° tilt angle towards the middle of the frame. With new bushings and proper shocks and tires these things run pretty snappy. CIH engine: combines the advantages of camshaft in head with a lower profile and the ease of adjusting like a pushrod engine. Duplex chain driven cam with hydraulic tensioner. Red line is close to 6.000 rpm. The 19S - after my knowledge - doesn't have the hydraulic lifters. Cast iron block and head - therefore not really leadfree fuel compatible. Weak points: waterpump (stupid underrated bearing design), oil pump, where the pump gears marr the lower cover plate. Can be fixed however. Notoriously oily up front due to two missing bolts between cast head and aluminium chain case, which had been added for the later 2 Liter models. Carburettor: Solex DIDTA is a "register carb" - not a two barrel. It has a first stage for idle and lower rpm range, the second stage comes on either with a vacuum activator *or* a mechanical linkage. Both versions have been used on Opels. Ignition system: Bosch or AC Delco. Bosch has the brown cap with clip on holders, Delco the black one with screws. Yours seem to have the Bosch (lucky you !). Just for your amusement ... ;-)

I had a '74 Opel Manta for 10 years. It was still beautiful on the outside like this one, but the floor boards were rotten as can be. I couldn't drive it in the rain because it was just a shower on the inside. I guess they must have all rusted out on the inside. I least I know now mine wasn't an exception. The 1900 engine was a great engine but the manual transmission leaked oil like mad. I'd just run it until it howled and then fill it up again,. They used a torque tube from the transmission, half way back, and it was a major job to replace an oil seal.

Awesome little durable cars. My younger brother had an Opel Kadett coup, 4 speed. I like the GT model.

The factory carb is a two barrel, the second barrel is a secondary. Set the valves at .10mm. Same engine (cam in head design) that was in my '70 Opel Rallye. The Wagon and Rallye shared the same rear end ratio. I'll be watching with curiosity!

I had one of those back in the 70's. It was always breaking down and when it was running I could run faster than the car would go. I loved that little car.😂

I honestly had no idea the Opel Kadett made it to the US, ya taught me something new👍 and I absolutely love it it's got a strange l charm to it lol.

I had a 67, kaddet, had a 1.1 engine, and 4 speed transmission, I got 45 MPG out of it. No power, still a fun car to drive . Had a top speed of about 65, maybe 66 mph

Yo dude, what a great find👌 Looking forward to seeing more on this old beauty😉 Our European version is slightly different which eventually became the opel (Vauxhall) Astra

You and your family make me smile 👍 Thats because i love to see that at least SOME dads (like myself) have their family onboard for their hobbies (unlike myself) 😂 I'm working on it 🤷‍♂️ Keep it going brother 🙌

Another great video ya'll!! Those opals are cool little cars. Its so cool to see ya'll save a piece of history and talk history with the family. We had a blue opal 2 door wagon it was the economy model no air with 4gear prolly had 40 hp engine cause it was really low on power. But got killer gas mileage. Rear-end went out on a 300 mile trip called my cousin he came pulled us home hundred n fifty miles with a chain. I bought a wrecked 2 door car we loaded it in bed of 74 Ford long bed pickup hauled it home got a bunch of laughs n finger pointin lol . Thanks for sharing and bringin back lots of memories. Ya'll have fun enjoy ya'lls family and homestead

I always thought old Opels were cool. Can't wait to see you get it running!

Wow a deluxe version! Air conditioning and an automatic transmission!!!!!!!!

Man I drove these things in my days in The Netherlands, also Kadett C and Kadett D models. In England they are called Vauxhall. They were quite famous for their rusting capabilities in the 70ies, but also payable for the common man. We could clean out the carburator within 10 minutes when it stopped down the road 🤣 I believe Opel is/was a General Motors connected company, hence the sale at Buick dealerships. Barbara Strause is right about the naming. 'Sie hat recht' in German 👍🏻

Turd Sucker 9000...Oh My God! You killed me! Just found your site (X2) today and found myself bingeing on your vids. You're actually living my dream. What you do, and how you live, involving everyone that you interact with on the daily a part of your show is ingenious. Keep up the good work and may God bless you tremendously. Thank You.

You and Derek from Vice Grip Garage should do a video together! That would be classic!

You seem like such a great dad! Love your videos my man, keep them videos coming! Great content👍🏼

I look great in this Fairmont Wagon, Sleeperdude sweatshirt ! A true original and appreciate you all. Keep at it ! Tried to upload a photo, no luck...

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

Another cool video. That's a unique little wagon. Has to be hard to find parts for that engine...if it doesn't run, maybe its ripe for a low buck engine/trans swap? Almost anything has to be an upgrade.

awesome waiting all day for this..

That little song you were cleaning the interior to is a pretty cool little jam.

My very first car was a 1958 Opel. I was in the 8th grade. I was the only student in grade school that drove to school.

Great video! That jack is a widow maker!!!!

The Mrs and I love your videos! Just curious, how much do these cars usually cost? Best wishes to you and your family…

I'm 60 years old and I can remember the Buick Opel garage across the street from Adam's elementary school in Vandergrift, PA. Eddie

Had a 70 k adept. ..awesummm vid bro. In 1976. Driving 2 hb surfin in it

The “L” stands for the base model. L limited. GL mid range. & GLX For the top model!

My Grandfather years ago had a red one like that. Mabe a 65 or 66 with a 3 speed. I used to drive it in the 1980s. Motor was so small Like a lawnmower. One day I got stuck trying to go over the skyway bridge in Florida. would not make it. Scary

I drove them things back in the late 70's. A holley progressive 2 barrel like what came on a dodge omni will fit and work well on them and I don't know what will interchange underneath but if you flip an Opel and a Chevette over, they look really similar.

The seat stuffing is most likely Spanish moss. It was a very popular choice for car seats up until the 70s when they started using foam rubber.

It's extremely important in this day and age your kids and millions of others learn about our US History before certain elements in our society try their best to erase it.

To me the goat matches the car, takes someone special to appreciate both of them sad critters.

Cool little wagon. Hope to see more of it soon. Have not seen an Ople for awhile. All the best to you and your family

I have had 3 of these Kaddett wagons and various other Opels great cars a mid 1980s Chevy Celebrity tilt steering column is a very easy upgrade .I owned all of my opels in the early 2000s. They are very dependable.the wagons were only available in two door.

out of curiosity, you should look up the date code on the tires. If it has 42k miles, I would suspect the tires SHOULD be dated mid 70s

Love those old Opels...easy to work on but parts were a b---ch to find!

The silver rabbit pickup at 1:06 looks almost identical to mine!!! White snowflakes, trim ripped off the upper half, silver. Sooo neat!

Classic Opel,especially the color and roof rack.

Oh some Euro trash today. I had an Opal manta, called her Maude. That too was a bit of a heap of junk. the inside it vented for cooling. 🤣 History is OK when its your side writing it. 👍👍

They were a step up from a VW and were great econo cars super fun but rust took care of them just like the rest of that year and all the decades after, the best thing you can learn about these autos 50 years later is how simple they were, the only thing that ;beeped' on them was the horn.

Dad bought a ‘67 2 door wagon new. He traded in a ‘53 Ford with a flathead v8 that we had for 14 years. 😥. The Kadet had a 4 speed stick that was so fun to drive. Wish I had the 1953 Ford today…so many memories.

That tv with the picture frame around it was cool!

Hi i am from Germany and these cars also here pretty rare i hope give this beauty a new life

Here in sweden they are allmost rusted out so you dont see that many of them on the roads anymore. Soo im happy that you save one

I've been looking for one of those for 10 years. Opel were called the mini-brute, maybe that is the elephant theme. Buick and Opel were related in Europe. GM was Opel in Europe.

Can't wait to see the wagon done also great to see your kids helping you with the car