Opel Kadett D: From German Streets to Indonesian Taxis

The Opel Kadett D was the car that transitioned Opel to front-wheel drive. From German streets to Indonesian taxis, this compact icon proved its global versatility. A true milestone in automotive history!

Posted by Tom Schwede on 21st Jan 2025

From a German Icon to a Global Workhorse: The Journey of the Opel Kadett D

When Opel launched the Kadett D in 1979, it marked a turning point for the brand. After years of relying on rear-wheel drive, Opel transitioned to front-wheel drive in the compact class—a move that defined the next era for the company. The boxy Kadett D stood out for its practicality and space efficiency, but in Germany, its angular design felt dated by the mid-1980s. Opel replaced it with the more streamlined Kadett E in 1984. Yet the Kadett D’s story didn’t end there; in fact, it lasted until 1995 in Indonesia.

A Common Sight on German Roads

Recently, I stumbled upon a Kadett D parked by the roadside. It sparked memories of a time when these cars were ubiquitous in Germany. Even into the early 1990s, the fourth-generation Kadett was a familiar presence. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, many Kadett Ds found new homes in Eastern Germany, where they were sold at inflated prices. Vehicles that once seemed destined for the scrapyard suddenly tripled or quadrupled in value, a stark lesson in market economics for the former East Germans.

From Market Leader to Challenger

The Kadett D debuted during a challenging period for Opel. The 1970s had been kind to the company; in 1972, Opel briefly dethroned Volkswagen as the market leader in Germany, boasting a 20.4% market share. But by the late ‘70s, VW had rebounded with its successful transition to front-wheel drive and water-cooled engines, epitomized by the Golf. Opel’s response was the Kadett D, based on General Motors’ “T-Platform 1979.”

This new platform allowed Opel to expand the compact car’s dimensions, offering a 4-meter-long vehicle that dwarfed the first-generation Golf. The Kadett’s interior felt significantly roomier, giving it a distinct edge. But VW quickly countered with the Golf II in 1983, matching the Kadett in size and adopting a more contemporary design. By comparison, the Kadett D’s boxy shape, firmly rooted in 1970s aesthetics, felt old-fashioned.

Longevity Beyond Germany

Though the Kadett D’s production ended in Germany in 1984, its story continued worldwide. Vauxhall built the model as the Astra in Ellesmere Port, UK, until 1986. In South Africa and Yugoslavia, local production extended its life further. The longest chapter, however, unfolded in Indonesia.

“PT. Garmak Motor,” an Indonesian company owned by the younger half-brother of President Suharto, began assembling Kadett Ds from imported kits in 1984. Later, they acquired machinery from Opel’s Antwerp plant, enabling full-scale production. By the mid-1990s, the Kadett D was a staple of Indonesian roads, particularly as a taxi. Its robust design, paired with local manufacturing expertise, ensured its longevity in a country where durability mattered more than modernity.

A Lasting Legacy

Despite its eventual obsolescence in Germany, the Kadett D laid the groundwork for Opel’s future compact cars. Its GM T-Platform persisted through three more generations, underpinning the Kadett E and the first two iterations of the Astra. It’s a testament to the Kadett D’s innovative engineering that its DNA endured for nearly two decades.

Today, the Kadett D is a rare sight, a relic of a time when Opel dared to challenge the norms of compact car design. Whether remembered as a pioneering front-wheel-drive model or as a practical taxi in Jakarta, the Kadett D’s impact remains undeniable.


Picture credits: Tom Schwede