Buick Opel Kadett Memo Uncovered

Sometimes one does not have to dig into the earth to practice a rough form of Archeology , or dig into an old archive in a library to find an interesting piece of history. Such is the case with a couple of garage sales recently visited. I purchased a couple of diagrams / schematics of automobiles or as it says on one a werkzeichnung. They were of Opel cars , sold in the United States appx from 1965 to 1975. The incomplete memo was sent by GM to select dealers as apparently as a sales guide. Opel's were being imported from the Opel Company in Germany that General Motors had a share in ownership. As the memo stated " to directly compete with the Volkswagen market share." It appears this memo may have gone to dealers in larger college markets. This memo from the Syracuse , New York region. They wanted the college student market. Hence , the memo advised the younger salesmen show to the Kadett fleet off the the younger crowd. It was further suggested such sales points be used as the term "GERMAN ENGINEERING. " Just like the VW. Unlike the VW this brand of cars with a watercooled engine actually had heat in the winter. The small Kadett also possessed a much larger trunk than the VW Beetle , perfect for packing off to college. The memo than began to talk about the Rallye Sport model as a quality and economic alternative to the much more expensive sports car market when there were no more remaining pages. Having driven an old Kadett , I have a certain fond memory of them. Or perhaps more a memory of youth but anyway the Kadetts are hardly seen today except in a classic car show or two. One still sees a VW Bug laboring by on occasion and are remembered much more fondly by the general public almost as a symbol of the era. The Opel Kadett left long behind.