Spotted: a 1981 Opel Rekord 2.0 S
The spotted specimen
In the center of Hoorn we spotted this original Dutch Opel Rekord 2.0 S from 1981. The RDW has few details to report, but the owner’s history is interesting. In 1983, for example, the car went to a second owner, but he continued to drive it until 2004. The next owner also drove it for a long time, until 2021. After that, the owners succeeded each other in quick succession, both individuals and companies. The current owner has owned the Opel since March of last year.
Opel Rekord as top model
The Opel Rekord was the predecessor of the Opel Omega. Extending that line to the more recent Opel offerings, the Rekord would have ranked above the Insignia again. That still did not make it the top model, as the Senator was still above it. The example we spotted is a Rekord from the last model generation, which was delivered from 1977 to 1986.
The 2.0 S
We have discussed the Opel Rekord before in this column, when we saw one driving past the editorial office in 2024. Therefore, we now focus on the specific version. The 2.0 S we spotted is pretty much the middle of the range. In the Dutch offerings, most versions were powered by this 2.0-liter four-cylinder, with another 1.9-liter four-cylinder underneath and a 2.3-liter four-cylinder diesel next to it.
The 2.0-liter gasoline engine came in three power variants. A base version with 66 kW (90 hp), the 2.0 S with 74 kW (100 hp) and the 2.0 E with 81 kW (110 hp). The latter version further distinguished itself with fuel injection instead of carburetors. Via a four-speed manual transmission, the front wheels were driven.
Thus, the “S” in the type designation only indicates the more powerful engine variant. That there is no further addition (such as De Luxe, Sport, De Luxe Sport or Berlina) indicates that the first owner opted for the base model apart from the engine. The specimen spotted still looks nice and simple. However, it did once get the hood of a diesel version. Because the diesel engine was slightly higher, the hood was given a “hump” and the spotted gasoline version also has one.
Bonus spot: a 1994 Pontiac Firebird figures in the background of the photo below.
