Opel 1955 and 1958 - Geoffrey Guillaume

Opel Rekord coach, 1955 - Geoffrey Guillaume

After a facelift in 1950, the popular Opel Olympia was totally redesigned and presented as the Opel Olympia Rekord, " Star seiner Klasse" at the Frankfurt Motor Show of 1953. It was an instant success:74.419 units were sold during that first year alone. Opel's reputation for durability and economy, a pleasant new pontoon body and an attractive price ( 6.250 Mark-74.750 Bfr) largely contributed to that success.
The 1953 and 1954 models had a "sharkteeth" radiator grille. This was changed to a more conventional oval design,with a mesh structure (as seen on this particular car) in 1955. In 1957 the mesh structure within the oval was again replaced by thin vertical bars as on the contemporary Opel Kapitän. After the launch of the series, the Olympia became the basic model,the Rekord a somewhat better finished and slightly more expensive version and a "Karavan" station wagon was added to the range.
The engine of the Rekord was a 4 cylinder ohv 1488 cm3 of oversquare design ( 80mm X 74 mm) developing 52 hp at 4200 rounds per minute on a compression ratio of 6,9:1.Top speed was 120 kph, and fuel consumption ca 8 liters/100 km. Price of the Rekord coach in Belgium was 78.500 Bfr.The series was replaced by the again totally redesigned Rekord of 1958 with the panoramic windshield.
This particular car saw hard service in the Congo where it was operated in the Boma/Tshela area of the lower Congo region, where Geoffrey was employed at the S.C.A.M. Ginou can be seen on the left (picture 3) and Carole (diving) on picture 4

Opel Rekord coach , 1958, owned by Geoffrey Guillaume

The successfull middle-class Rekord line from Opel was totally reworked for 1958.The car became lower, longer (wheelbase of 2,541 m) and wider ( width of 1,616 m). Styling responded to American standards of the period with panoramic windscreen and rear window giving largely improved visibility. In spite of this extensive modernisation the Rekord still kept its proven oversquare 1,5 litre 4 cylinder engine ( 1488 cm3 , 80 mm X 74 mm) developing 52 SAE hp at 4200 rounds per minute on a compression ratio of 6,9 :1.
Top speed was 125 kilometer per hour for a weight of 910 kg. As from 1959, a larger 1,7 litre (1.680 cm 3) would become available.
In 1960 Opel added a 4-door sedan to the range following pressure from the export markets where coaches were not as popular as in Germany. 1958 also saw an attempt to launch this model in the United States by the Buick dealership.
In 1958, a Rekord coach sold for 81.500 Belgian francs.The example pictured here was operated in the Congo untill the Congolese Independance of 1960 (Ginou can be seen at the wheel).
In the transportation pavillon of Brussel's World Exhibition of 1958 , one could test its driving skills on a large screen sitting in front of the all new Rekord dashboard .Quite an experience for a schoolboy then !