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Opel Rekord C 1.9 S (90 Hp) Manual 4-speed
Overall Rating
Opel Rekord:
The Opel Rekord is a large family car which was built in eight generations by the German car manufacturer Opel. Between 1953 and 1986, approximately ten million were sold.
The Series D and E Rekords also spawned derivative versions manufactured by Opel's British sister company Vauxhall and in the case of the Rekord E, GM's Australian arm Holden. In 1986, the Rekord nameplate was replaced by the Opel Omega.
The Rekord name evolved into the main name of the model; at first the name was used in close relationship with the Opel Olympia name, which pre-dated the Rekord but was also reinstated in a separate model in 1967....(Read more on Wikipedia)
C Overview:
Opel Rekord (C). With 146 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Weighing only 1045 kg, it’s quite light. Rear‑wheel drive offers dynamic handling and sporty feedback. The top speed reaches 160 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Opel Rekord C was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP and modern crash testing standards. Safety features were basic, typical for vehicles of its era, focusing on structural integrity rather than advanced occupant protection systems.
1.9 S (90 Hp) Manual 4-speed Verdict:
Performance Verdict
This combination of the strong 90 Hp 1.9 S engine and a 4-speed manual gearbox was arguably the sweet spot for performance and driver engagement in the Rekord C lineup.
Fuel Economy
With 12 l/100 km, it offered a good balance of power and economy. The 4-speed manual allowed drivers to optimize fuel use more effectively.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious and comfortable interior for its class and era
- • Wide range of engine options to suit various needs
- • Robust and generally reliable mechanicals (for its time)
- • Classic, appealing styling that has aged well
- • Good value proposition as a family car
Cons:
- • Basic safety features by modern standards
- • High fuel consumption compared to contemporary vehicles
- • Older automatic transmissions were inefficient and unrefined
- • Prone to rust, a common issue for cars of this era
- • Limited performance in base engine and 2/3-speed automatic configurations
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(B Coupe: 1965 - 1966).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Opel |
| Model: | Rekord |
| Generation: | C |
| Modification (Engine): | 1.9 S (90 Hp) Manual 4-speed |
| Start of production: | 1966 |
| End of production: | 1971 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 90 Hp @ 5100 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 47.4 Hp/l [1mm less] |
| Torque: | 146 Nm @ 2500-3100 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | 19S More details about the engine 19S |
| Engine displacement: | 1897 |
| Number of cylinders: | 4 |
| Engine configuration: | Inline |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Carburettor |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Valvetrain: | CIH |
| Engine oil capacity: | 3.3 l |
| Coolant: | 6.1 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Longitudinal |
| Cylinder Bore: | 93 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 69.8 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 12 l/100 km |
| Maximum speed: | 160 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 11.6 kg/Hp, 86.1 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 7.2 kg/Nm, 139.7 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1045 |
| Max. weight: | 1480 |
| Max load: | 435 |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 55 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 4550 mm mm [1mm less] |
| Width: | 1758 mm mm [68mm more] |
| Height: | 1453 mm mm [54mm more] |
| Wheelbase: | 2668 mm mm [29mm more] |
| Front track: | 1400 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1400 mm |
| Minimum turning circle (turning diameter): | 11.74 m [above average] |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the rear wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Rear wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Manual |
| Front brakes | Disc [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Steering type | Cone worm with recirculation balls |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | Front wheel tires: 175/75R13 |
| Front suspension | Double wishbone |
| Rear suspension | Rigid axle suspension, Trailing arm, Coil spring |
Every driver has a story. What’s yours with the Opel Rekord?