Vehicle Description
The 1964 Opel Kadett is a car of small size but a mighty character.
After all, this is the same generation car as Richard Hammond's
beloved Oliver. And this car has an electric personality...
literally. This lightweight classic has been turned into a
well-done electric vehicle (EV). And while you're more likely to
find a Kadett imported from elsewhere (it was popular but not in
the USA) this little red runabout also comes with a nice
full-American history file. It was sold new in Georgia, and it
still carries the Buick/Opel deal tag on the rear. And it was then
sent to the desirable Arizona climate where it has spent the
majority of its life thus far. When it came time to invest in this
Opel, it wasn't just the EV upgrades. As you look at the whole
package, you'll see nice updates to the two-tone interior,
suspension, and more. So when a classic car is modernized this way,
it's a terrific way to look vintage while looking ahead to the
future.
HIGHLIGHTS
*Powered by a 144V 250A electric motor
*Direct-drive transmission means smooth delivery with no
shifting
*Regenerative braking to recharge batteries
*Exterior styling reminiscent of a fintail Mercedes
*Sharp-looking custom two-tone interior
*Very vintage stock dash
*Custom lower dash with EV system readouts
*Dealer invoice
*Owner's manual
*Service manuals
*Decades of maintenance records
An Opel Kadett is a great idea for an electric car. The few that
came to the USA never made much of a splash. It was underpowered
because it made about as much horsepower as the Beetle but without
the big benefits of the motor over the driving wheels. But
upgrading to electric power completely rectifies that. It has the
instant torque that makes this a ton of fun (call it a Kadett
Kart?) Plus, there's nimble handling and even upgrades like
Ridetech rear coilovers. This even features a regenerative braking
system that both slows and charges the car. So you can basically
practice the same one-pedal driving as brand new EVs. So this has
the look and feel of a true classic, but now with plenty of extra
power to truly upgrade the fun. Who says it's not easy being
green?
