Spotted: an Opel Frontera – the original

We recently had the opportunity to travel to the legendary Nürburgring with the Ford Mustang Dark Horse. You can read the report about it here. Along the way, on the outskirts of the hamlet of Ahrtal, we came across a garage where time seems to have stood still. We had some time to spare so we made a quick photo stop. Soon the garage owner approached us. This turned out to be a very friendly man, who immediately gave us permission to look around and take pictures.

The spotted specimen

The car we are giving the lead role in this Spotted is this Opel Frontera. Recently there has been another brand new Frontera(road test), but this time we are dealing with the original from 1991. Although, original… Actually, this model has existed since 1989 and is not an Opel at all.

Endless rebadge variations

This rugged off-road vehicle is best known worldwide as Isuzu MU. This first model generation remained in production through 2003 and came under more than ten different brand and type names. General Motors had a majority stake in Isuzu, so it makes sense that the off-road vehicle also appeared as Chevrolet, Holden and Vauxhall. But did you know it was even sold in North America as Honda Passport as well?

Opel Frontera as a Japanese off-road vehicle

Back to the Opel version, the only variant that was officially delivered in Europe (with, of course, the Vauxhall version for the British market). The car was also produced in Europe, in the UK, in an Isuzu plant that otherwise made only light commercial vehicles. The Australian Holden version also came from this factory.

With the Frontera, Opel wanted to respond to the growing demand for 4×4 models in Europe, especially in the British market. With the basically Japanese Frontera, Opel and Vauxhall had the “ideal” answer to the mostly Japanese brands that dominated this market segment. It turned out to be a good move, because even outside the UK the Opel Frontera managed to record good sales despite stiff competition. In addition to the most common five-door version, you also had the Frontera Sport, the three-door version we spotted.

Second generation and succession

In 1998, a second-generation Isuzu MU appeared, which was also delivered again as a Vauxhall and Opel Frontera in Europe. This version remained until 2004, the Isuzu in other markets until 2005. A third generation did not come, because the various markets in which the car was delivered began to differ more and more. In Europe, for example, demand shifted from rugged off-road vehicles to tall models with more comfort and practicality. In other words, the SUV as we know it today. Its European successor was the Opel Antara, also available as a Chevrolet Captiva.

Bonus content: more cool old vehicles

Around the garage there were some other nice old cars and other old vehicles. For example, an Opel Ascona 2.0i sedan of facelift model year 1986, with seasonal license plates from the Düren/Euskirchen region (near the spot location). Further down the lot was another Opel Ascona of facelift model year 1986, but a Hatchback. Furthermore, we found a Chevrolet Blazer of facelift model year 1998, a David Brown 850 and a McCormick D-326 worth a photo.

Privacy laws in Germany are quite strict. Although it is a gray area to what extent it is necessary in this case, we made the “personal” part of any license plates unrecognizable just to be sure.