Our readers are the best in the world and Tiago Santos is one of them. He invited us for a ride on his Opel 1204 ; we get to know one of our readers and also his machine. It was a special day full of history that we bring you today. Ready for the trip? Come from there.
The meeting point was at Casino do Estoril on a fantastic late afternoon for a walk. Tiago Santos was about to share with us a usual moment: after work, he takes his classic from the garage and goes on his way, along the beach or through the mountains, whatever. After the appropriate introductions, we went out for some epic photos.
Tiago is a reader like any other. Simple, no frills and unconcerned with opinions, he likes to live his moment. “This one doesn't do much to crash…”, he said as he backed up next to a brand-new Mercedes SL 63 AMG. “I'm not very aware of the new models, I don't care much about them and if I could, I would go to work every day in a classic”.
The Opel 1204 was not just any car, those who judge it by its age, name or even the prejudice that only big “bombs” have a place in past memories are mistaken. This Opel 1204 may not be a “bomb”, but it is definitely a great machine and carries with it a great deal of responsibility.
Produced between 1973 and 1979, the Opel 1204 was the first Opel car to use the T-Car platform, General Motors' platform for a world car.
“There's some kind of vibe here, I have to see this” said Tiago as he changed the Opel 1204, ahead of him to the Serra de Sintra and its unmistakable beauty, a heritage of Humanity. It was the perfect place for the Thom V. Esveld to photograph the Opel 1204. The twists and turns of the old Rally de Portugal layout might not be the “beach” of this version of the Opel 1204, but it deserves the best. After all, 40 years don't happen every day and today, however short they are, he's going to stretch his legs.
The fearsome 70s German Jackal
The Jackal, fearsome and world-renowned terrorist, became famous for his dozens of different identities and for constantly jumping from country to country, evading the authorities. This Opel 1204 is not far behind.
Many will be those who have already called me ignorant, as I have not yet changed “Opel 1204” to “Opel Kadett C”. But I could tell you that I can also call it Buick-Opel, Chevrolet Chevette, Daewoo Maepsy or Maepsy-na, Holden Gemini, Isuzu Gemini, Opel K-180 and finally, of course, Vauxhall Chevette. This if they are in the USA, Brazil, Korea, Australia, Japan, Argentina or England, respectively.
In Portugal, the model was marketed as Opel 1204 , for reasons that many say were political and commercial. When the model was released in 1973, the name of one of Opel's models, the Ascona, dictated the change of its name to just Opel 1204. Unofficial sources say the Salazar regime did not accept the name "Ascona". for the profane pun it might generate.
The Opel Ascona was marketed in Portugal as the Opel 1604 and Opel 1904, depending on whether the cylinder capacity was 1600 cm3 or 1900 cm3. The Opel 1204 was the result of this option for the technical nomenclature, having a 1.2 engine. But why wasn't it called Kadett 1204 or 1004 (1000 cm3)?
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Here the reason will perhaps be commercial. The "legend" goes that Opel changed the name to Kadett because at the time there was a popular pun that tarnished the model's reputation: "If you want a cap, buy a Kadett". We cannot confirm this rumor.
Tiago Santos, owner of one of these models, thinks the pun is strange, as he believes that the Opels of the time were extremely reliable. However, he does not fail to stress that this "is a funny story".
The model was launched in six different bodies — City (hatchback), Sedan 2 Door (2 doors), Sedan 4 Door (4 doors), Caravan, Coupe and Aero (convertible, not sold in Portugal). Here we are in front of an Opel 1204 Sedan 2 Door, what many today would call a Coupé.
There were several engines available: 1.0 with 40 hp; 1.2 with 52, 55 and 60 hp; 1.6 with 75hp, not sold in Portugal; 1.9 with 105 hp, equipped the GTE until 1977; and 2.0 with 110 and 115 hp, equipped the GTE from 1977 to 1979.
This Opel 1204 has several extras from the catalogue: ATS Classic 13” wheels, fog lamps and long-range, glove box (very rare extra in Portugal), Opel electronic radio (not original, as an original and working radio is rare), headrests (they were standard on the more luxurious versions, this one was an extra), chrome trim around the side windows and a dial with a clock (optional on some versions and installed later). “Quadrants? I have two others at home, you have to be prepared!” says Tiago looking at his Opel 1204 with the Serra Sintra in the background.
bought by chance
“It was in a joke during an auction, let one see what this yields”. This was the spirit of Tiago and his father when in February 2008 they bid for the Opel 1204 during an auction. The car was in very poor condition and with the help of a friend who had a trailer, he picked up the Opel 1204 in Caldas da Rainha. Ahead they had a long restoration path. The luck of both was that Tiago's father was a mechanic and knew how to “tighten screws”, which made the process easier. Even so, it was four years of work.
work of father and son
Tiago Santos and his father, Aureliano Santos, set to work and decided to give the Opel 1204 a new lease of life. After dismantling the car, they came to the conclusion that the bodywork, which was a shame, would be a lot of work to stay in place. 100%. They went looking for a brother, an Opel 1204 with a bodywork in better condition and from the two cars, they built one.
The bodywork of the second was completely restored and with all the rotten treated after a year of sheet metal treatment on Saturdays, it was painted in the color Regatta Blu, the model's original and chosen from the official Opel color palette.
Once assembled, it was completely upholstered and in October 2012 it was ready to circulate. The engine has only 40,000 km of origin and this Opel 1204 has already participated in several events: at the Clube Opel Classico Portugal, Portal dos Classicos and in the regular TRACO rallies.
A tribute
This is a project for two, mine and my father. This reference in Razão Automóvel is, for me, a tribute to my father, for all the work and for the good moments that this car provided between father and son, which I enjoyed so much and which I remember today, behind the wheel of my Machine of the Past.
Our trip ends where it started, here are some photos of the Opel 1204 restoration process.
