1962 Opel Kapitän Coupe – Motorworld Classics Bodensee 2022

The Opel Kapitän’s design story includes a rare footnote. The Darmstadt-based coachbuilder Autenrieth produced a very limited two-door coupé variant based on the Kapitän P 2,6 L. Most sources suggest that only two examples were built, making this version exceptionally rare and largely unknown outside specialist circles.

Technical Details:

In 1962, the Opel Kapitän on sale belonged to the Kapitän P 2,6 generation, produced between 1959 and 1963. Technically, the car followed a conservative but well-developed formula aimed at comfortable long-distance driving rather than dynamic performance. At its heart was a front-mounted inline six-cylinder engine (Sechszylinder-Reihenmotor) with a displacement of 2,605 cc. This engine delivered 90 PS at 4,100 rpm, providing smooth and consistent power delivery rather than sharp acceleration. The drivetrain layout was traditional, with rear-wheel drive transmitting power to the rear axle.

With a top speed of around 150 km/h, the Kapitän P 2,6 was well suited to sustained cruising on Germany’s expanding Autobahn network. The body was built using self-supporting steel construction, a standard approach for Opel in this class. One of the most relevant technical updates for the 1962 model year was the introduction of optional power steering (“Servolenkung ab 1962”), a significant comfort and usability improvement for a large four-door sedan of this size and weight.

Transmission options further emphasized ease of use. Opel had already introduced a three-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission as an extra from the summer of 1960, making it entirely plausible to encounter a 1962 Kapitän equipped with this period-correct automatic. Contemporary documentation supports this: a German-language owner’s manual dated January 1962 exists for the Kapitän P 2,6, including a Hydramatic supplement, and Opel Hydramatic workshop manuals with early 1962 issue dates are referenced in period and enthusiast sources. Together, these details underline that by 1962 the Kapitän P 2,6 was a technically mature product within Opel’s lineup.

• Manufacturer: Opel
• Model name: Kapitän P 2,6
• Year of manufacturing: 1959-1963

Design:

The Opel Kapitän was Opel’s long-running large saloon, positioned in the upper-middle or executive class, and produced from late 1938 until 1970. Over its lifetime, the model steadily moved upmarket, eventually becoming part of Opel’s flagship KAD family (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) in the mid-1960s. The P 2,6 generation sold in 1962 is visually defined by its strongly US-influenced styling.

The most distinctive design feature of the P generation is the panoramic windscreen, or “Panoramascheibe,” which wraps around the front corners and became central to the Kapitän’s marketing identity. Chrome trim, broad body surfaces, and subtle tailfin elements reinforced this transatlantic look. Large glass areas created a light-filled cabin and contributed to a sense of space and status. As standard, Opel offered the Kapitän P 2,6 exclusively as a four-door limousine; no two-door coupé version was available directly from the factory.

That said, the Opel Kapitän’s design story includes a rare footnote. The Darmstadt-based coachbuilder Autenrieth produced a very limited two-door coupé variant based on the Kapitän P 2,6 L. Most sources suggest that only two examples were built, making this version exceptionally rare and largely unknown outside specialist circles. By the early 1960s, however, the Kapitän’s chrome-heavy, American-influenced styling was increasingly viewed in Europe as dated, even though it still communicated size and presence.

Historical Significance:

The Opel Kapitän had developed into a genuine sales success in the executive class during the 1950s, and the introduction of the P 2,6 in 1959 marked the peak of that trajectory. Its styling followed the then-fashionable trend of panoramic windscreens and hinted tailfins, while the proven 2.6-liter inline-six engine now delivered 90 PS. Importantly, Opel managed to keep the price just under 10,000 Deutsche Mark, giving buyers a large, six-cylinder sedan that was widely regarded as excellent value for money.

Technical options such as the automatic transmission from 1960 and power steering from 1962 further strengthened the Kapitän’s appeal. By the time production ended in 1963, more than 145,000 examples of the Kapitän P 2,6 had been sold, making it the most-produced Kapitän variant overall. Despite this success, sales began to decline around 1961 as market tastes shifted away from US-inspired design. As a result, the 1962 model year represents a transitional moment: the Kapitän was still widely recognized across Europe as a legitimate executive-class car, even as its styling language began to fall out of step with emerging trends.

Quirks and Pop Culture:

In enthusiast writing and period commentary, the Opel Kapitän of the early 1960s is consistently described as a comfort-oriented cruiser rather than a sporty sedan. Its six-cylinder engine is praised for smooth torque delivery, while long gear ratios and soft suspension tuning encourage relaxed driving. Many owners and testers note that the Kapitän feels almost “shift-lazy,” a character trait that aligns with its intended role as a long-distance family and business car.

Beyond its driving manners, the Kapitän occupies a distinct place in postwar social history. In German and French automotive commentary, it is often cited as a symbol of success during the Wirtschaftswunder era. For professionals and families, owning a Kapitän signaled upward mobility and financial stability. Within German classic car culture today, it is affectionately referred to as “Einfach Kult,” reflecting its enduring appeal as a representative of its time rather than for outright performance or innovation.

Display and preservation:

The vehicle was exhibited at Motorworld Classics Bodensee in 2022. This event, held in Friedrichshafen, is a popular gathering for classic car enthusiasts in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The 2022 edition featured over 800 exhibitors spread across multiple halls and open-air spaces, offering a vibrant mix of vintage automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and aircraft. Visitors could explore restoration workshops, parts markets, and club presentations. A key highlight was the live vehicle auctions and dynamic driving demonstrations on the event grounds. The show reaffirmed its reputation as a hands-on celebration of classic mobility culture.

Conclusion:

The 1962 Opel Kapitän P 2,6 captures the essence of Opel’s executive-class ambitions at the start of the 1960s. With its smooth 2.6-liter inline-six engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, optional Hydramatic automatic transmission, and newly available power steering, it offered a refined and comfortable driving experience. Its panoramic windscreen and US-influenced styling defined the P generation, even as tastes began to change. As the most-produced Kapitän variant and a recognized status symbol of the Wirtschaftswunder years, the Kapitän P 2,6 remains an important reference point in Opel’s history and in the broader narrative of German large saloons of its era.