Opel Ascona
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The Opel Ascona was a mid-sized car produced by Opel, the German subsidiary of General Motors. It had three generations produced from 1970 to 1988.
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[edit] Ascona A
In the fall of 1970, Opel presented its completely new vehicle range in Rüsselsheim (internal project code 1.450). The Opel Manta coupé was launched on September 9, followed by the Opel Ascona on October 28 in two and four-door sedan forms, plus a three-door station wagon, called the Caravan or Voyage. These models were positioned between the existing Opel Kadett and the Opel Rekord.
The Opel Ascona was developed to as a competitor to the successful Ford mid-sized car, the Taunus). The Opel Ascona A stayed in production until 1975. At that time, almost 692,000 vehicles of the first series were produced.
The range featured petrol engines from 1.2 L to 1.9 L, with power between 60 PS (44 kW) and 90 PS (66 kW). The 1.2 L had an OHV head, while the 1.6 L and 1.9 L adopted SOHC. All used a single barrel carburetor. Even with this simple design, the Ascona 1.9 SR had a successful career in motorsports, with Walter Rohrl winning the European Rally Championship in 1974. Tuner Steinmetz developed a special version of the Ascona SR, with two single-barrel Solex carburettors, lifting power to 125 PS (92 kW).
A small number were exported as the "Opel 1900" to the United States, sold through Buick dealerships as the Buick-Opel. They were eventually replaced by versions of the smaller Opel Kadett.
[edit] Engines
- 1.2 S - 1196 cc, 60 PS (44 kW)
- 1.6 N - 1584 cc, 60-68 PS (44-50 kW)
- 1.6 S - 1584 cc, 75-80 PS (55-59 kW)
- 1.9 S - 1897 cc, 88-90 PS (65-66 kW)
[edit] Ascona B
The second generation Opel Ascona B was presented in the 1975 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was available as a two or four-door sedan. There were related two and three-door coupé models in the Opel Manta range. There was no estate body.
The Ascona B retained the same engine range as its predecessor, although the 1.9 L was increased to 2.0 L in 1978, and versions with higher compression ratio and needing 98 octane gas, dubbed S, were available alongside the 90 octane models. The 2.0 E model had a Bosch L-Jetronic electronic fuel injection, and a 2.0 L diesel motor was added to the Ascona B range in 1978.
In the United Kingdom, the Vauxhall Cavalier badge was used on both saloon and coupé models, which came out of the same factory in Belgium—the first Vauxhall to be built abroad. The front ends were different, featuring Vauxhall's trademark "droop snoot", as designed by Wayne Cherry.
A version of the Ascona B, featuring the front end of the Manta B, was sold in South Africa as the Chevrolet Chevair. This was in addition to a Chevrolet Ascona, identical in most respects to the Opel.
Over 1.2 million Ascona B units were produced worldwide until 1982.
[edit] Timeline
- August 1975 - Start of production of the Ascona B.
- January 1976 - Laminated window glass available as an option without extra cost.
- September 1977 - New 2.0 Liter engine (20S with 100PS) from the Rekord E with hydraulic tappets replaces the 19S engine. New boot lock with turn handle available as special equipment.
- January 1978 - New 2.0 Liter engine (20N with 90PS) introduced. All models now have electric windscreen washers.
- January 1979 - Introduction of the Ascona 400 with 2.4-liter engine (16 valve, 144bhp). This was the Rally version.
- February 1979 - The 1.3 OHC engine replaces the previous 1.2 OHV engine.
- January 1980 - New fuel-injected 2.0E engine with 110Hp now available in the Ascona.
- January 1981 - Adjustments made to the 19N and 20N engines.
- August 1981 - Production ends.
[edit] Engines
- 1.2 N - 1196 cc, 55 PS (40 kW)
- 1.2 S - 1196 cc, 60 PS (44 kW)
- 1.3 N - 1297 cc, 60 PS (44 kW)
- 1.3 S - 1297 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.6 N - 1584 cc, 60 PS (44 kW)
- 1.6 S - 1584 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.9 N - 1897 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.9 S - 1897 cc, 90 PS (66 kW)
- 2.0 N - 1979 cc, 90 PS (66 kW)
- 2.0 S - 1979 cc, 100 PS (74 kW)
- 2.0 E - 1979 cc, 110 PS (81 kW)
- 2.1 D - 2068 cc, 58 PS (43 kW)
[edit] Ascona C
The Ascona C was launched in August 1981 as part of General Motor's J-car project. This was Opel's second front-wheel drive car since the introduction of the Kadett D in 1979. This car was manufactured in Russelsheim, Germany, Antwerpen, Belgium and Luton, England, and was sold in the UK under the name Vauxhall Cavalier. The Cavalier Coupé was phased out, but the Opel Manta was retained in the UK (the last car to be badged as an Opel in the UK before it was phased out in 1988). There were no longer sheet metal differences between the Opel and Vauxhall models after 1982. The Ascona C won the Golden Lenkrad at the end of 1981 and was West Germany's biggest selling car.
The range added an option of a five-door hatchback bodystyle, named CC in a few markets. All engines were now SOHC. The base model was the 1.3 L introduced in 1978 in the Ascona B, with 60 PS (44 kW), followed by a 1.6 L with 75 PS (55 kW). S versions with higher compression ratio had power increased by as much a 20 percent. The top of the line was the sporty GTE model, with electronic fuel injection, pushing power to 130 PS (96 kW). Diesel power came from an Isuzu-developed block, with 1.6 L. Catalytic converters were optional in the larger petrol units starting from 1986. Once more, there was no station wagon version of the Ascona C. Only Vauxhall in the UK brought in the rear ends of the Holden Camira wagon and adapted them to the Cavalier. There was also no Coupé version in Europe. A version sold in Brazil, known as the Chevrolet Monza, included a locally designed three-door Coupé.
Opel continued to use the Ascona nameplate until the Vectra was launched in 1988, although the Cavalier name was retained by Vauxhall until 1995.
[edit] Timeline
- September 1981 - Introduction of the Ascona C as the successor for the Ascona B. Available bodystyles for the Ascona included 2- and 4-door Sedans, a 5-door Hatchback (the CC) and later on a 5-door Estate. Intial engine choice included the 1.3N (60bhp), 1.3S (75bhp), 1.6N (75bhp) and 1.6S (90bhp), all of which had a four-speed gearbox or optional three-speed automatic transmission for all except the 1.3 N. Trim variations included Base, L, Berlina and SR.
- 1982 - Introduction of the Ascona Diesel with a 1.6 (55bhp) engine. Introduction of the Ascona CD with higher level of equipment. New 1.8E engine with LE-Jetronic (115bhp) and five-speed gearbox. Optional power steering, electric windows, electric mirrors and computer available at extra cost.
- 1983 - Modified ignition switch and door locks. Improvements made to water pump, valve seals and radiator hoses. New Ascona Convertible available. Optional central locking and heated mirrors. Optional Sports suspension available for SR and 1.8 E engine. Automatically adjustable rear brakes now standard.
- 1984 - All models have facelift with new CD-style radiator grille, new wheel trims, new front seat mountings, modified center console, remote-adjustable door mirrors and height-adjustable steering wheel. 1.3S engine now has new start-stop system. Improved clutch damping and headlight seals. Model names also changed: Base becomes LS, L becomes GL, Berlina becomes GLS, and SR becomes GT.
- 1985 - 1.8i engine with three-way catalyst introduced. One-way catalysts available for all engines. Modified clutch lining and door seals.
- 1986 - All models have facelift, this time with clear front indicator lenses, dark taillight lenses, colour-keyed radiator grille, air vent, and front spoiler. GT now has front and rear spoilers.
- 1987 - New engines available: 1.6i and 2.0i with three-way catalysts. 1.6 has Multec-central Injection system and 75bhp, while 2.0 has Bosch Motronic Injection system and 115bhp. Non-catalyst 2.0i gives 115bhp.
- August 1988 - End of production for the Ascona C, replaced by the Opel Vectra A.
[edit] Engines
- 1.3 N - 1297 cc, 60 PS (44 kW)
- 1.3 S - 1297 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.6 N - 1598 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.6 E - 1598 cc, 75 PS (55 kW)
- 1.6 S - 1598 cc, 82-90 PS (60-66 kW)
- 1.8 N - 1796 cc, 84 PS (62 kW)
- 1.8 E - 1796cc cc, 100-115 PS (74-85 kW)
- 2.0 E - 1998cc cc, 100-115 PS (74-85 kW)
- 2.0 GT - 1998cc cc, 130 PS (96 kW)
- 1.6 D - 1598 cc, 54 PS (40 kW)
[edit] External links
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