Admired and sought after by collectors today. Capitaine embodied the german economic miracle the boom years of the 1950 s. And sixtys it was a car that said ive made it a top of the line model the a pit of me of luxury. All models of the opal capitaine from 1938 to 970 are collected here this farm in northwestern germany owned by brothers yosef and. Is a treasure trove for local fans the brothers run a car dealership like their father before them and they collect opals preferably happy tanks as boys they had fun sitting at the wheel of a capitaine with wooden blocks under their feet so they could reach the pedals. I dont think this one has fantastic upholstery just like new. York. All star wars. The brothers are fascinated by a car that was once the admiration of the automotive world the opel capitaine was a showpiece of the west germanys Automotive Industry and a status symbol for its citizens as use of dignitaries it. By just all day was always the dream of our boyhood and teenage years a car that our father could barely afford or only temporarily as a demonstration model we were gay and. It was the fantasy luxury car of the 1950 s. And sixtys. About over and over and over. On the all 8 capitaine models spending 33 years are lined up here from oldest to newest. You can pretend its because the happy 10 offered the professional middle and upper classes the opportunity to own an executive class car or you know or all 3 should i they had 6 cylinder engines as smooth as silk lots of power in room and 4 doors on standard versions yet macys on death row and that was for a price far below 10000. 00 marks in the 1950 s. And the mock competition was only building a limited numbers of 6 cylinder cars because they were so much more expensive. Capitaine is qualities gave it an outstanding image and image shores what car buyers want to target with that help make up. To the left are competence from 1938 to 954 with lots of chrome and long codes like the big american cruisers. In 1954 the capitaine was given a punt on or all enveloping body fully integrating the fenders and headlights open developed its most famous model the p 26 piece stood for panoramic winch you. On obama scheiber panoramic windshield allowed broad visibility this trend spilled over from the United States the model acquired the nickname keyhole capitaine because the taillights looked like Old Fashioned keyholes it wasnt a big success at the time because the rear seat was too cramped and the big captains of industry couldnt fit in with their hats on so within just 9 months opel built a new model that was again here to get into and out of the back and i was the best selling carpeting of every i was built from the 1959 to the 1963 almost every one of those years more new campaigns were registered than all the other german 6 cylinder models put together. That through the. As for the swim. In the 1950 s. Most germans were still on foot the average wage earner could not afford a car. Under economics minister knew big west germanys economy was booming people wanted to show off their growing prosperity with a big car deal capitaine was the right car in the right place at the right time. Todays collectors are every bit as a namrud with a capitaine among them is Marcus Lerner from southwestern germany his own capitaine is in the paint shop to stop the rust from taking hold marcos is having the capitaine fixed up its the one he and his wife rode in on their wedding day. The animal the coveted 4 if you drove an opal kept saying it was Something Special but these were bakers butchers and Building Contractors for the rest of the 5 day 56. 00 cylinders place described at the top of the range. Marcuss capitaine is at christophes opens paint shop work has already begun. When the figure from the top of the marble. Floor youre going to know we can all come up with this really is what. If. It was because theres no distance in the original part isnt it you did a good job and thats it looked pretty bad. For that i was there but i had. Only a dozen which i had to polish everything out here. Theres still some way to go to restore the sudans former elegance but Marcus Lerner is optimistic and i think many people walk on by would have noticed in the car on the way with new cars remembering what was happy to see a vintage car in them ngs like spotting a familiar face in the crowd these cars of character especially this one. He wants his company tamed painted a metallic blue marcus had to get hold of the original spray out cards and recipes from switzerland no cars were ever sold with metallic paint in west germany and with prison both you have to realize right after the 2nd world war in germany nobody dared to order a car metallic paint it was expensive and made people jealous or always lived on is going to also. Marcus hopes to pick up his wedding coach with a fresh coat of metallic blue and a few weeks. With. All the versions of the noble capitaine were designed at knoebels west german headquarters in whistles im. George galleon is a former designer for opal the Parent CompanyGeneral Motors sent him to him from the United States and he settled in west germany George Gallion thoroughly enjoyed the ride in his fine 1956 capitaine for years the cars were assembled in this hall. Siraj writes very smoothly and quietly proceeding from you can turn the big Steering Wheel with one finger. This golden capitaine is one of a kind the 2 millionth opal made the car maker made sure its jubilee car was a capitaine opals best model at the time it rolled off the Assembly Line in november 19th to. 6. In the 1950 s. The k. 40 home was thought to be the worlds most advanced automobile Production Facility and it was west germanys biggest industrial home now it stands empty im sure in and thats why i remember for rolls of almost a half finished car stood here. Thats where the seats were installed and the next step was to put almost wheels for the raider. By the late 1950 s. 32000 people were working in production at the plant as a german subsidiary of General Motors focal enjoyed Great Success much of the credit goes to the capitaine it was the brands golden age. Local collectors montane and yosef dagon are are currently on the lookout for a very special capital not necessarily a gilded one. Says. I the family owns one of the largest private opel collections in europe its an expensive hobby considering that not even company tains in excellent condition fetch anywhere near the prices of other vintage automobiles even so these models counted together are worth millions of euros but to the brothers there sentimental value is in measurable. This 954 capitaine has a regal history. There so this is a capitaine that we picked up on the French Riviera or town for order as you. Point of. I dont know if you know anything. Off the paint is worn dulled by the. The sounds of the sahara. This cars papers show it was originally delivered to the Moroccan Royal family. Shouldst as i thought yes its great that its completed that is complete with minor flaws you cant drive it in Northern Europe it was made from north africa and didnt have a heater for. Kind of. Its engine puts out 68. 00 horsepower at the time that was king sized performance. If they can buy it from i think a moroccan king would probably also use a rolls royce for state occasion for every day driving this could have been a royal limousine at the time. But i dont know for sure the moroccan king wasnt as wealthy as other arab rulers of course but i could imagine he was satisfied with a noble copy 10 and actually drove it i think its possible but we dont know for sure. In the brothers repair Shop Mechanic lars make link manages to transform even rusty back into running Capital Gains is when theres another gas cap thats the gas cap weve just been talking about the examples for us of but they were actually looking for the taillights of the capitaine p 26. 00 record. So they quite see. That it costs a fraud all their money to find something here right away youre lucky but that doesnt happen very often. The total of 145616 of the best selling p 2 sixes were built quite a lot for an executive sedan so there are still plenty of parts around. The hobby i got him back you know there. Was excitement. Before long the mechanic is finished restoring yet another capitaine to 6 soon it will be back on the streets purring along smoothly and comfortably the familiar feel of a capitaine. Marcus linares wedding coach is also a 26 now the paint job is finished and its back home in its own garage. Its got lots of. Oh. Yes. Or no boxes to. Learn or sun florian helps him put in a new rear seat they dont have to do a perfect job just make sure its comfortable and roadworthy load on. This list. So. Elke a learner has brought along an old photo album. What would you like to compare the color to see if it really looks like all car are donning i know. This was the linares wedding coach when they got married in 2002. It was only make a lot for you know. The capitaine has been part of the family ever since. And its all been in resetting back on me and one of the headdress that had been removed so my beautiful bride could be seen and she could look straight ahead. The beginner brothers take a capitaine 51 out for a spin they like this model because its gained a certain notoriety as a gangster car it was the model of choice for the 1950 s. Gangsters who used it as a getaway car after robberies they knew full well the capitaine was ideally suited to the task. But its in the early postwar years the police were not nearly as well equipped as they are now wondering if these military vehicles that had just 18 horsepower and less capitaine had a good 58 horsepower. The cuff in water for months terms that was vastly superior to the size of play the police or the powerless against gangs trying to driving this car what they didnt stand a chance. I was in later years they tried lying in wait for the gangsters but then the gangsters parked trailer trucks on the highway they had ordering ramps and the gangsters would drive their capitaine up into the trailer. To close the tailgate the police didnt know where the capitaine and the gangsters that got it got what it was like terrorists that swallowed them up. Shot it out still or just got out didnt damage the reputation of the cafeteria not just the opposite approved its value was a fast im offended car so what is it although it would have us on the start to get almost old. The gangster competence design borrowed heavily from american models that was another key factor in its popularity. Of new. In front of the opal house and time retired designer george galleon inspects a row of capitaine in the 1950 s. West germans were crazy about everything that came from the United States opel took ideas from models by chevrolet buick and cadillac the Design Concept for the p 25 was no exception this is design here this design here is nearly identical to the design of the big chevrolet from 1958. Octane forms this month because you can see it here its got exactly the same windscreen and rear window as well. This is the 2 door version but the 4 door was no different and heres what they called a dogleg these. Are here you had to climb under this corner to get end of. The dog leg made it harder to get into the car and require the occupant to adopt a certain technique. They talk people to sit down 1st and then pull their legs then after thats no problem at all kind of George County and points out features that distinguish the various capitaine models. In 1954 they acquired what came to be known as a sharks mouth grill. 2 are in agreement hes a hes a bright gaping maw for the grill opening was characteristic of opal these arent fun for cooler of the sharks mouth at 1st appeared in 1953 in the usa on the Chevrolet Corvette corvette in the us open heart road of anger these are rich opal more or less adopted it for its larger models. And. Then the copy 10 was the model with the most distinctive version of this grill design these are who to get their design. Markets linares p 26 is finally ready for him to pick up. It took some time and effort to make it roadworthy again this is his 1st trip in the newly restored better when it was built in 1962 making it exactly the same age as its driver. Marcus lerner fell in love with the opel capitaine as a small boy and has never fallen out of luck. No fear of the engine runs very very quietly like a fine sewing machine. But it guzzles 11. 00 leaders of gas per 100 kilometers it puts out 90 horsepower in 3 speeds with a steering column mounted gear shift. And its although it decisive factor is the number of cylinders a car with 6 cylinders is going to drive a lot more smoothly than one with just 4 cylinders. You can get up to speed for 3rd gear and then accelerate on up to 165 Kilometers Per Hour but ive done that if thats how before. Marcus miller has a special purpose for his 1st trip in his newly restored capitaine hes going to pick up some wine from his favorite vineyard its on the opposite side of the rhine the capitaine boards the car ferry crossing. Marcus almost waxes in the stone jake when he looks back at the capitaine long history. The fly in the in their neighborhoods a cup at sun and later an opel admiral or opel diplomats were Something Special. Driving one didnt make you snobby fancy. There were days youd say drive in the comfort sanders understated but. I doubt if theyd been before. It had its prime but 1964 marked the start of a long slow decline for the capitaine the new model of the. Ople capitaine a was boxy and no longer the solo star on stage. This is the 1st of the big 3 the company 10 the 1st in a completely new opel line that will soon be lending mistreats their characteristic accent. The hope of the hood of the admiral sports the new symbol elegantly tamed power by the diplomat v. 8 retains the same profile but underscores its higher position with a vinyl roof that lends the elegance of its exterior a touch of sportiness. Sharp turns not just for fun. When you need to. Be 10 the admiral the diplomat v. A. The big 3 by opel. The once proud capitaine was suddenly just one of a team now it was just a matter of time in 1900 opel halted production of the capitaine germans were no longer impressed by cars that looked like big american boats especially not gas guzzlers. Cov intervals are closest in the executive class are cars images very important. So i think its and some points were missing here it was those final touches the capitaine was affordable so it was a bit more cheaply built than the other top range cars and that didnt help things how can you protect. Yourself digna composed a poem as a farewell to this motoring legend. Into iowa over its long years 33. They donned ropes gracefully for their 1st the long and pointed nose at the 1930 s. Close as 4 then came the sleek pantani body for bigger engine hale and hearty. By then qualifying the buyers will pick up a capitaine with sharks mouth grill pick up between the capitaine got current panoramic windshield in frys even panoramic and back now its really got the knack. To 6 took the fast lane it was the best selling capitaine these around this one id be willing as a 6 cylinder captain king. In front soon after came the big 3 i think happy 10 was all at sea with admiral and diplomat the capitaine just took his hat. Meanwhile the capitaine to 6 driven by Marcus Lerner has almost arrived at the vineyard. And. The lady of chateau vester house is Countess Ivana function book alcohol shes the great granddaughter of opals founder adam opel. And says nice weather i had to drive it myself. He drove yourself thats wonderful and im picking up the one myself this time to. Have it untasted. With the great time of it in view full condition. To fix it one candidate can do up to 160 kilometers an hour. Ok very brief mile yes with. The capitaine know the one time top of opals range has a special place in the countesss heart. As its magnificent and its got 50 years on it and its an outstanding condition that it makes me really happy to see it we also ridden it to all wedding that was a while ago but it was a very special moment is home and. The trunk by the way holds 406 liters very generous for a german car of that time Marcus Lerner makes good use of it as an iowa law. And he enjoys every single kilometer in his a cup attained a genuine motoring legend. In mombasa. Last. Week. Bob tomorrow laughs you rob. To be in good shape. A rosy complection the seductive look. The makeup industry constantly learns women with new promises. And many use it every day. To dream up can also become a nightmare. When can cosmetics be harmful. In good shape. Coming up on. View as clear as mud i dont want to get close to nature i want to dive right in that just won the conflict still dont have visits the much less. Exploring. Planet failing. Much as she came by i cant. Make calls specializes in enjoying has found. Chicken. Liver demons d. W. Its a deadly sin. And the whim of nature. Gives motivators. For instrument of. Greed. Insatiable desire. Good drives a. Constant danger its been one big no ive come to oppose a couple of small because i see the harm it is done to the world whats out there is duncan its the talk. We were. Run the risk of being the 1st form of water to be responsible for on expansion. While. We go in search of. Green starts make 21st on t. W. Morrow a symbol of a long come flicked in the philippines between the muslims and the christian population. As funders occupied the city center in 2017 president due to his response was. This is not the kind of freedom that any. How did morality become a gateway to islamist terror. An explosive report from a destroyed city. In the sights of i. R. S. Starts may 20th on g. W. This is news and these are our top stories russia has been marking 75 years since the defeat of nazi germany in world war 2 this years commemorations have been scaled back because of the coronavirus pandemic with the traditional large scale procession postponed. In bellerose ceremony