1932 Opel 18C Regent Cabriolet

The General Motors Company grew rapidly during the 1910s and 1920s, expanding its reach outside of the American market in 1928 by purchasing a controlling stake in the German firm Adam Opel AG. Even though the world was in the grips of the Great Depression, General Motors was able to gain full ownership of the company by 1931, and within a few years, the investment had paid off, as Opel had become Europe's largest and most successful automaker.

The first new model introduced following General Motor's initial investment was the little car known as the Opel 18, which wore a similar resemblance to a scaled-down Chevrolet. This was understandable as much of the design work had been performed at design studios in Detroit. Under the bonnet was a 1,790 cubic centimeter side-valve inline six-cylinder engine breathing through a single Solex carburetor and backed by a three-speed gearbox. Later in production, the three-speed was replaced by a four-speed unit. The 32-horsepower engine was capable of propelling the Model 18 to a top speed of 53 miles per hour.

The Model 18C arrived for the 1932 model year with minor refinements to the mechanical specification and improvements to the coachwork. The Regent was the top-of-the-range and incorporated a trunk fitted behind the close-coupled body, upscale trimmings, and revised styling.

This 1932 Opel 18C Regent 1.8 Liter Cabriolet has been given a fresh and complete restoration. It is finished in glossy maroon paint with matching disc wheels, a matching interior, and bright chrome work. There is a meter found atop the radiator with an exposed rack and pinion operated need. Inside there is a frosted and cut crystal lamp. The 1,780cc side-valve 6-cylinder engine has a single Solex Updraft carburetor and is backed by a three-speed manual transmission. There are a leaf spring suspension and four-wheel drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2020