cute
Posted on 12/05/2014 10:03:29 PM PST by Olog-hai
It’s the end of an era as the last car rolls off the production line at Opel’s Bochum factory, making Friday a bitter day for the city and the factory’s 3,000 workers. […]
The last vehicle made in Bochum, an Opel Zafira compact van, will not be sold but will be dedicated to social work with details expected to be announced by the company on Friday.
Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors, is shutting down its former flagship factory due to overcapacity.
In its heyday, the Bochum plant employed 22,000 people. Now, it will only employ 700 to make auto parts for the car maker. …
(Excerpt) Read more at thelocal.de ...
“Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors,”
Well, there it is then.
Huge complex...
Opel work II and III, I think.
Went on a tour through the Russelshiem facility, circa 1998.
I’m surprised they were still in business.
that is a nice looking car; kind of reminds of a small version of Volvo.
oh crap! right hand drive — eeeewwwww!
My wife had a red one. Good, neat little car mechanically, but the floor pans and rocker panels were shot through with rust.
Like a Chevy 1/2 ton truck.
Same platform as the chevy cruze.
CC
I bought it from a friend who had bought it second hand.
I liked the looks and bought it for the heck of it, had a truck and car also at the time.
Kept it 4 years and gave it to my brother in law who was just starting out.
Great running little machine and that little Adams Opel engine never gave any trouble, just right for the 4 speed in it.
I thought about trying to repair it, but you could jam a finger in some of the worst sections. It was too far gone.
We traded it to an electrician for work on a building remodel.
Shame, little red corvette. I miss it, and her old Pontiac Bonneville with the huge engine & ‘Positrac’ transmission. That Pontiac ran like a scalded dog.
What they left China in March 2014, and were supposedly going to make Buicks. Seems like China they could not get ahead. Wonder how many other longstanding German Automakers will go down the tubes? What is left - Audi (VW), VW (VW) Lamborghini (VW), Porsche (VW), Skoda (VW), BMW, Mercedes Benz, Messerschmitt stop making cars in the 1950s.
Swedish maker Saab gone - But do they still make their planes (Scania)
Opel was a GM brand so was Saab. Seems to be GM is dying out.
I had a ‘74 Manta. Very fun car! They won their class races so often, other manufacturers wanted them banned. Mine had Webers, exhaust manifold, Abarth exhaust, and a hot cam. BMW killer! Lasted ten years in Wisconsin, killed by salt when I moved to Northern Ohio.
~I’m surprised they were still in business.~
Why not? They are a powerplant and a brain of GM actually.
Apart from classic American pickup trucks most Chevrolets are re-badged, re-styled Opel cars for a very long time.
All around that same time span of 10 years, I had a 1968 GTO, 1970 Torino Cobra and the Opel GT, wish I still had them all, especially the Torino Cobra with a 429, one kicka$$ machine :)
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