Dec 30, 2017  •  Uncategorized  •  13 Comments

Cam in Head: 1971 Opel Kadett B Wagon

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Other than being a fantastic band name, cam-in-head, or camshaft-in-head is the type of engine in this 1971 Opel Kadett B Wagon, the “big” engine for these cars. That’s probably the engine that most people would want, for those of you who would even want this car. I think it looks great so far, but I like my cars small and unusual. This l’il wagon is located in beautiful San Francisco, California and it’s listed on eBay with an unmet opening bid of $2,800 and there is no reserve.

The photos are all over the board on this listing. There isn’t one photo of the passenger side and there are none of the rear of the car at all. For being one of the most high-tech cities on the planet, and with this car obviously being owned by a young person (they talk about driving it “20-30 miles once or twice a week to the beach to go surfing”), why there aren’t better photos is beyond me. But, there I go again – back to the car. The seller talks about the body of the car a bit, saying that there is “some very minor rusting”, and they do show a couple of detail photos, one of them showing a wheel arch with some odd cracking and rust. The only other different photo showing a body part (hey, this is a family show) is one showing what looks like at least one good tire. I’m assuming that the other three or four, if there’s a spare, are in similar condition.

The front seat bottoms and the dash are cracked, San-Andreas-Fault-like, but as you can see from the front photos, the biggest bummer about this car is that it has a GM Turbo-Hydramatic 180 automatic transmission. I own a couple of handfuls of cars and only one of them has a regular automatic, the others are manuals and two are CVTs. I like manual transmissions in small cars especially, but they’re fun in everything. We’ve gone down this road too many times in the past. It isn’t a deal-breaker with this Opel wagon, but a 4-speed would sure be a better use of that sweet little engine. The back seat looks great and there isn’t any photographic evidence of this car even having a rear cargo bay interior, but I’m pretty sure that it does. I want to see photos of it, and of the rear hatch and the passenger side! World peace, global hunger, climate change, yadda-yadda… sellers, show us more photos and the world will be a better place! (just kidding, sort of)

Here’s that camshaft-in-head (CIH) 1.9L inline-four engine. This one obviously has had a Weber carb conversion like a lot of cars have. Boy, to have a nickle for every Weber carburetor and Interstate Battery that gets sold, wouldn’t that be great?! This little-big engine had around 77 hp from the factory. The seller says that it has a “minor oil leak (I think it’s the front seal)”, and the “muffler rattles, and right door hinge is loose.” This looks like a worthy project if a person were willing to do the work him/herself. For the record, NADA lists a low-retail value of $4,450.

Comments

  1. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember
    Dec 30, 2017 at 5:23pm

    I like this a lot. That trim piece on the front fender next to the headlight reminds me of the ’69 Nova, which had a similar piece. I think my ’67 Bel Air had it too.

    Anyhow, if it were close and $2800, I’d go have a look and take a test drive. I could see getting groceries in this car for sure.

    Like 1
  2. LAWRENCE
    Dec 30, 2017 at 7:11pm

    Rare in this nice of condition…not sure on price – not a real desirable car….know of two in the area – not as nice….

    Like 1
  3. SC/RAMBLER
    Dec 30, 2017 at 9:10pm

    I have loved Opels since my Dad had a 1958 Opel Record Olympia. Favorites are GT, RALLEY GT and MANTA RAY

    Like 1
  4. Metoo
    Dec 31, 2017 at 6:47am

    Does anyone else remember Johnny Weismullers Opel Kaddet commercials?

    Like 0
  5. Howard A Rube GoldbergMember
    Dec 31, 2017 at 7:09am

    What a find. I had several Opel’s, one like this, only a ’67 wagon with the small motor ( 1.1 ?) and 4 speed. I don’t think that’s a Weber carb on there, looks a lot like the stock Solex with a Weber type air filter. Anybody? They were junk and I replaced all my 1.9 Solex carbs with an Autolite Pinto carb, with much better results. Great cars, a bit “tinny” and didn’t get the best mileage for a 4 cylinder, but couldn’t kill ’em. That’s why I kept buying them, because they were good cars. Great find!!

    Like 1
  6. glenn
    Dec 31, 2017 at 4:05pm

    it looks like a early chevy chevette inside and some of its controls

    Like 0
  7. Will Owen
    Dec 31, 2017 at 6:19pm

    Had an older Manta with the automatic, and in cold weather coming to a stop with the tranny engaged would kill the engine … which of course could not be started except in Park. And then putting it in Drive would stall it again … while behind me the cars would be lining up, honking.

    The Manta is a lovely thing, but a wagon like this was what I wanted. Somehow I think a transmission swap would be a pretty easy thing in as production-friendly a vehicle as this; just finding a good one might be a problem.

    Like 1
    • Richard V
      Sep 19, 2018 at 2:14am

      The swap from auto to manual trans is very easy, I did that on my own ’69 Kadett 1900 wagon. Those engines respond very well to mods! The earlier higher compression 1900s (pre ’71) were worth 102hp out of the box.

      Like 1
  8. chad
    Dec 31, 2017 at 7:02pm

    right sz / right shape !!
    “…wagon like this was (is) what I want(ed)…”
    ‘pinto carb’ – holley/weber progressive 2v
    (holey 5200, web DGV 32/36) would B a great choice to pep it up…

    Like 0
  9. Gary
    Jan 1, 2018 at 10:54am

    where did Cam-in-head come from? This is a European car and the engines are known as Overhead cam or OHC here. Before that they were OHV or overhead valve.

    Like 2
  10. Little_Cars Alexander
    Jan 2, 2018 at 9:50am

    Base engine was indeed a 1.1. Teeny block. I rebuilt my 70 Opel motor over several weekends in my parents utility room/basement on a pair of card tables (remember those?).

    Like 1
  11. Jennifer Everett
    Jun 10, 2020 at 8:07am

    Oh!!! You have several! My first car was a 69 opel kadett wagon.
    Silver and had an automatic in it.
    I would love to have another!

    Like 1

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