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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Opel Kadett spans two distinct eras: an original model introduced in 1936 and built until 1940, then a post-war line of five generations from 1962 to 1991. The A-to-E Kadetts traced a shift from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, while changing body styles, packaging and performance. In 1991, Opel replaced the Kadett name with Astra; the Astra F continued the company’s compact-car lineage.
Two eras of Kadett production
Opel introduced the first Kadett in 1936 as an affordable four-seat car. Its production ended in 1940. The Kadett name returned in 1962 with the A generation, beginning a sequence of five post-war generations that ended with the Kadett E in 1991. The chronology and figures below are reported by Opel/Stellantis Media in its retrospective published 28 July 2021.
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The original Kadett is separate from the later A–E sequence: there was no Kadett generation named between the 1940 production end and the A’s 1962 launch. After the E, Opel introduced the Astra F as the Kadett’s successor under a new name.
Opel Kadett generations at a glance
| Model | Production period | What distinguished it |
|---|---|---|
| Original Kadett | 1936–1940 | Affordable four-seat car; unitary all-steel body and 1.1-litre four-cylinder engine. |
| Kadett A | 1962–1965 | Name revived; compact car with a 993 cc engine and Caravan wagon added in 1963. |
| Kadett B | 1965–1973 | Fastback-influenced styling and major production and export success. |
| Kadett C | 1973–1979 | Rear-wheel-drive range spanning family, coupé and sporty GT/E versions. |
| Kadett D | 1979–1984 | First Opel compact with front-wheel drive and a transverse powertrain. |
| Kadett E | 1984–1991 | Front-wheel-drive hatchback noted by Opel for its aerodynamic development. |
The original Kadett: 1936–1940
Opel’s first Kadett paired a 1,073 cc four-cylinder engine rated at 23 hp with a unitary all-steel body. The manufacturer reports that 107,608 were produced. The structure drew on Opel components and production methods; Opel says the body design helped reduce weight and improve performance, fuel consumption and passenger-cell rigidity.
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A substantial update followed in 1938, including a radiator mask with late Art Deco styling. Opel’s retrospective quotes the Braunschweiger Tageszeitung of 5 December 1936 describing the car: “As the first test drives have confirmed, the Kadett is certainly not an ordinary vehicle in this price range.” The quotation is attributed to the newspaper through Opel’s retrospective, rather than independently verified against the original newspaper page.
The post-war Kadett generations
Kadett A (1962–1965): the name returns
Opel restarted the Kadett name in 1962 and built a dedicated plant in Bochum for the model. Its water-cooled 993 cc four-cylinder engine produced 40 hp. The car combined compact exterior dimensions with passenger room and a useful trunk, and the Caravan wagon joined the range in March 1963. Opel reports nearly 650,000 Kadett A cars built.
Kadett B (1965–1973): a high-volume export car
The Kadett B grew beyond four metres and adopted a fashionable fastback-influenced shape. Its basic 1,078 cc engine made 45 hp; the higher-compression 1.1 S was rated at 55 hp. Opel reports that more than 2.6 million B-generation cars were produced from September 1965 through July 1973. Exports accounted for 50 percent of output in 1966, and buyers came from 120 countries, according to the manufacturer.
Kadett C (1973–1979): rear-wheel drive and varied roles
The C retained rear-wheel drive and came in body styles suited to family use as well as coupé and sporty GT/E versions. Opel reports 1.7 million built and identifies a double-wishbone front axle as a generation feature.
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At the performance end, Opel gives the GT/E a 1.9-litre engine with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, 105 hp, a top speed of 184 km/h and a weight of roughly 900 kg. These are manufacturer-reported figures, not independent test results.
Kadett D (1979–1984): front-wheel drive arrives
The D brought the largest mechanical change in the post-war line: it was Opel’s first front-wheel-drive model, using a transverse engine and transmission. Opel says the car was shorter overall than the C but offered a longer interior. The station wagon provided up to 1,425 litres of load volume.
The sporty GTE arrived in 1983 with a 1.8-litre engine rated at 115 hp. Opel reports total Kadett D production of 2.1 million.
Kadett E (1984–1991): aerodynamic development
The E carried forward the front-wheel-drive layout in a new hatchback design based on its predecessor’s engineering. A wagon and, from autumn 1985, a notchback broadened the range. Opel reports a drag coefficient of 0.32 for the Kadett E after 1,200 hours of wind-tunnel refinement; it gives the GSi a figure of 0.30. These figures describe Opel’s reported development results, not a comparison across all contemporary cars.
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Opel reports 3,779,289 Kadett E cars built over the generation’s lifetime. The company also says the E won “Car of the Year 1984” and recorded 625,000 new registrations across Europe in 1987. Registrations are not the same measure as production or sales.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What replaced the Kadett?
The Astra F premiered in 1991 as the Kadett’s successor. Opel described the change as a new name for its compact line, aligning with the Astra identity that Vauxhall had already used in the UK for the Kadett D and E. The Astra F is not a Kadett generation, although it continued Opel’s compact-car lineage. Opel reports 4.13 million Astra F cars built between 1991 and 1997.
How the Kadett changed over time
The clearest technical divide is between the C and D. Kadetts C and earlier used rear-wheel drive; the D adopted front-wheel drive with a transverse powertrain, a layout continued in the E. Across the generations, Opel also expanded the range through wagons, coupés, hatchbacks and a notchback, while the E’s wind-tunnel work made aerodynamics a headline feature of the manufacturer’s account.
All production, engine, performance and registration figures in this history are Opel/Stellantis Media figures from its retrospective of 28 July 2021. They document the manufacturer’s chronology and specifications; they should not be read as independent market comparisons or test measurements.
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