1930, The Blitz. The Opel Truck With a Very Long History

1930, The Blitz. The Opel Truck With a Very Long History

The Opel Blitz truck has a very long history going back to 1930. Unless you are in and around trucks, you tend not to know a great deal about them. They look great at shows and events, but I confess to being largely ignorant.

But the Opel Blitz is a bit different. It was watching the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark which made me think of them. Apparently, they used an old Opel Blitz in the explosion scene in the city when Indy is chasing Marion who’s in a basket.

They crop up all over the place, but often not identifiable as they were probably only a chassis with different bodies put on them. Due to the period, these bodies could even be made of wood and be sort of correct. After the Second World War the shortage of metal meant alternative materials were used. When Mercedes-Benz resumed production of the 170v, they did exactly that.

The Opel Blitz truck has a very long history going back to 1930. Unless you are in and around trucks, you tend not to know a great deal about them. They look great at shows and events, but I confess to being largely ignorant.

But the Opel Blitz is a bit different. It was watching the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark which made me think of them. Apparently, they used an old Opel Blitz in the explosion scene in the city when Indy is chasing Marion who’s in a basket.

They crop up all over the place, but often not identifiable as they were probably only a chassis with different bodies put on them. Due to the period, these bodies could even be made of wood and be sort of correct. After the Second World War the shortage of metal meant alternative materials were used. When Mercedes-Benz resumed production of the 170v, they did exactly that.

But what about the Blitz. Well, back in November 1930 Opel launched the truck with its 55hp six-cylinder petrol engine. It wasn’t the first though. Opel are one of the few manufacturers to date back to before 1900. Early delivery vans were built based on the Patent Motor Car “System Lutzmann” which was the first car to be built in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

As early as 1907 the first commercial vehicles appeared. A three quarter tonne truck with pneumatic tyres, a prop shaft and a choice of two or four-cylinder engines.

During the first world war the military specified standard trucks up to four tonnes. These remained on sale until the early 1920s. In 1923 a new range of commercial vehicles were introduced containing a payload of one to two tonnes.

Back to 1931 and the new range was known as express delivery trucks. Economically times were hard, but Opel still managed to present modern, well developed vehicles.

But what about the Blitz. Well, back in November 1930 Opel launched the truck with its 55hp six-cylinder petrol engine. It wasn’t the first though. Opel are one of the few manufacturers to date back to before 1900. Early delivery vans were built based on the Patent Motor Car “System Lutzmann” which was the first car to be built in Rüsselsheim, Germany.

As early as 1907 the first commercial vehicles appeared. A three quarter tonne truck with pneumatic tyres, a prop shaft and a choice of two or four-cylinder engines.

During the first world war the military specified standard trucks up to four tonnes. These remained on sale until the early 1920s. In 1923 a new range of commercial vehicles were introduced containing a payload of one to two tonnes.

Back to 1931 and the new range was known as express delivery trucks. Economically times were hard, but Opel still managed to present modern, well developed vehicles.

The promotional material that accompanied the announcement of the new truck contained a competition to name it. It was specific. It must be a concise term, pronounceable in any language. Oh, and it must have only five letters.

To generate a sizable response Opel offered a 4/20 hp limousine as the grand prize. Four Opel Motoclub motorcycles were for the second to fifth prizes. By the closing date of October 6th, 1930, they had received 1.5 million entries. Sales Manager Andersen announced the winner during the Opel Dealer Conference on November 24, 1930 in Frankfurt. The name Blitz had been used before on a range of Opel bicycles from 1889, but was chosen as it seemed fitting. A name “which equally symbolizes the origin, power and performance of our new product”.

Performance was an important part of the presentation of the new Blitz. It had a decent range of offerings for the time. The two most basic trucks could be either 1.5 to 2 tonnes with three different wheelbases and two engines. The express transport truck promise was delivered with the 2.6 litre four and the 3.6 litre six-cylinder engines. The Marquette six engined version was known as the Blitz 6.

The range received constant development over the following years. This was successful. Within five years from the launch, Opel had to build a new commercial vehicle plant to keep up with the demand.

Opel Blitz 1,5 1930

Expansion In The East

With the manufacturing plant at Rüsselsheim, Opel’s headquarters, there was a need to expand. Rather than trying to fit more in where they are, Opel decided to go to Brandenburg an der Havel. On April 7, 1935, the ground breaking ceremony for the new factory took place. This was to be a state of the art 850,000 square meter facility, designed purely for the manufacture of trucks. not only that, but it was also Opel’s first purposed designed plant for assembly line production.

in July 1937, the 25,000th Blitz truck rolled off the production line in Brandenburg. That year Opel also updated the range of engines available for the passenger cars. The three tonne truck then received the more modern 3.6 litre six cylinder engine from the Opel Admiral. Overhead valves and a gear driven camshaft were features of the 75 hp powerplant. The top speed was now up to 90 km/h and was faster than quite a few passenger cars.

The Opel Olympia also shared its engine with the Blitz. The 1.5 litre four cylinder OHV engine, with 37 hp was used in the two tonne truck which could do 80 km/h.

Opel Blitz 3,0 to 20867

Only ten years after the creation of the new plant, in 1945 production of the Blitz came to a halt permanently. The building sustained heavy damage and all the remaining production equipment and facilities went to the Soviet Union by way of war reparations.

The lines for the Kadette passenger car suffered the same fate too. The Kadette went on to be manufactured as the Moskvich in Moscow. The Blitz facilities were never rebuilt.

Returning To Rüsselsheim West Germany

When production restarted at the Rüsselsheim plant it was with a truck. The first Opel produced after the Second World War was a Blitz. On Monday, July 15, 1946 a ceremony was held to celebrate the restart of production. A 1.5 tonne, 2.5 litre, six-cylinder fast transport truck drove off the line to a small fanfare. The commander of the 3rd US army, General Keyes cut a yellow ribbon to mark the occasion.

The first customer, a Wiesbaden businessman, spent 6,600 marks on his new truck. It wasn’t identical to the one available before the war. The platform truck had an increased gross weight, up by 200 to 3,400 kilograms. Payload was now at 1,725 kilogrammes. The Kapitän based six was now 55hp.

By the end of 1946, 839 Blitz fast transport trucks were produced. By the time it was finally discontinued in 1951, total production 37,117 units.

Daimler-Benz were producing the 3 tonne truck since August 1944 manufacturing it under license. The L 701 as it was known was produced at the Mannheim plant. It started with a very basic, simplified, standard cab which reverted to the original type by 1948. The original cab was supplied by Opel, manufacturing it in Rüsselsheim.

In 1947 Opel took over the production when the L 701 successor was introduced. They also took all the remaining unsold cars and parts. From then until 1954, the last 467 examples of the ow famous truck was produced in Rüsselsheim, with it’s original name and the badge returned to the front. 

Opel Blitz 1,5 to 1946 7005

The Opel Blitz German Economic Miracle

The new 1.75 tonne truck was the replacement of the 1.5 tonne and was very popular around Europe. the new wider grill and deep shaped fenders were influenced by American styling trends of the 1950s. The 2.5 litre six cylinder limousine engine made the truck stand out from the typical competition. Coupled with an increased load capacity, the 1955 model, had a two tonne payload which was more than it weighed.

Many specialist body builders made the truck into buses, removal vans, delivery trucks and even into fire engines. The two platform lengths of 3,300 to 3,750mm gave a wide range of possibilities.

Opel Blitz 1,75 to 1952 - 1956 24791
Front emblem Opel Blitz, 1952 / front emblem of 1952 Opel Blitz

Every year some 20,000 units of the Rundschnautzer, or roundnose, were produced. By the time the model was replaced in 1960 the total production was 89,767 vehicles.

The sixties brought a new 2.6 litre six cylinder engine and the truck now featured a shorter bonnet that sloped down. The new panel van was effective and seen as somewhat elegant. Due to the plant at Rüsselsheim operating at full capacity, the cabin and load structure were built by coachbuilder Voll.
Opel Blitz 1,75 to IAA 1957 511980
Opel Blitz 1963 27116_0

Opel unveiled a new Blitz at the 1965 IAA show with a complete makeover. More horizontal lines were a feature of the front reflecting changing automotive styling trends of the time. A new four cylinder engine joined the line-up. A 1.9 litre petrol engine with a chain driven in head camshaft. This new generation engine for 1965 with 70hp first debuted in the Opel Rekord B.

In 1966 the 2.1 and 2.4 tonne variants got a new straight six engine that got the truck up to a top speed of 110 km/h. By the end of the sixties this was one of the most popular trucks in Germany. With nearly half of all petrol trucks up to three tonnes gross vehicle weight was an Opel.

In 1969 another step forward was the introduction of a Diesel engine. Between 1965 and 1975 Opel produced 47,368 petrol and 7,374 Diesel trucks.

It wasn’t long ago when people wouldn’t entertain the idea of a petrol truck or van, but more recently they’re coming back…

Opel Blitz 1965 26789

Blitz production came to an end in Germany on January 10, 1975.417,211 units had been built in both Rüsselsheim and Brandenburg. The Blitz truck after a long life disappeared from the catalogue. But the name didn’t disappear. A new compact commercial vehicle was introduced in 1973, the Opel Bedford Blitz. Here in England it was simply known as the Bedford CF and had been launched in 1969 to replace the aging CA.

Opel mainly focussed on passenger cars in the 1970s with growth in all segments. All commercial production moved to the Luton plant in the UK.

Opel Diesel and Vauxhall petrol engines powered the new range. These unitary construction vehicles were much more car like in construction. McPherson strut front suspension and much more car like handling. It formed the basis for many camper conversions and could be seen all over Europe. Some 20% market share was taken by the new Blitz. Heavy Bedford trucks were also offered, up to 10.2 tonnes gross weight with the Blitz name.

This new Bedford Blitz and a new 2.3 litre engine was the backbone of Opel’s commercial range from 1980 to 1987.

The Blitz name was finally retired after 57 years.

Opel Bedford Blitz 1973 28077
Opel Bedford Blitz 1980 29693

Many thanks to Opel for all the images.

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Simon

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