Oldtimer picture gallery. Cars. Opel-Kapitän
Opel-Kapitän (Model 3800)
Years of production: 1938 - 1940, 1943 (continued in 1946-47, 1948-50)
Overall production: 25374 built (including 248 chassis, mostly supplied
for 2-seater cabrios by different body-tailors)
4x2 4-5-seat front-motor rear wheel drive car with unit-construction
body of Ganz steel
Body modifications (price in ReichsMarks):
2-door 4-light limousine (body symbol - LZ, 3575 RM), 3422 built
4-door 6-light limousine (LV, 3975 RM), 17144 built
2-door 4-seater cabriolet (C4) (various bodies by Opel (4-light - 4325 RM), Gläser, Hebmüller and others, 2-light (? examples
produced) and 4-light (4560 examples) types),
Engine: 55hp/3600rpm, straight 6-cyl 4-stroke OHV, 2473cc,
block and head from grey cast iron
Maximal turning moment (Nm/rpm): 145/1600
Length: 4620mm, width: 1660mm, height: 1640mm (by other source -
1575mm)
Wheelbase: 2695mm, clearance: 200mm
Front wheel track: 1348mm; toe-in: 0 ... 1,5mm; camber: 0 ... 3/4o; caster: 0 +/- 1/2o
Rear track: 1326mm
Turning radius: 5,50m
Bore/Stroke: 80/82 mm
Pistons typeand material: EC, Autothermik
Hot clearance between tappet and valve stem:
intake - 0,20mm, exhaust - 0,30mm
Compression ratio: 6 : 1
Carburettor: Opel, downdraft vertical,
Dimensions (in mm and conditional units): diffusor - 23mm; main jet - 54cu; sprayer jet - 79cu; idling jet (sprayer tube/calibrated
hole) - 70cu/50cu; accelerator jet - 50cu; between float's top and bottom of float chamber lid - 10mm
Water cooling with pump and ventilator
Air filter: oil bath type (metal shavings, moisturized by oil)
Ignition system: battery (Bosch, 6V), battery capacity - 75 A*h
Interrupter-distributor type: VJ 6/1; TK-6/1 or VJ 6/4;
contact clearance: 0,4 - 0,5 mm
Generator type and power: DJ/6ERS43; 130W
Starter type and power: CJ 0.8/6 ARS 24P; 0,8hp
Spark plugs type: W 145/0; 14mm; electrode clearance: 0,7 - 0,8 mm
Cylinder firing order: 1-5-3-6-2-4
Clutch: dry single plate with a spring dampers
Clutch pedal clearance: 25-30mm
Gearbox: Opel, 3-speed
Ratios: I - 2,94, II - 1,66, III - 1,00, rear - 3,78
Differential ratio: 4,3, bevel gear with spiral tooth
Front suspension: independent, leveral on cylindrical coil springs
Rear suspension: whole axis of Banjo type with longitudinal semielliptical springs
Hydraulical all-wheels shoe brakes
Weight: 1180kg (by other source - 1230kg)
Maximal speed: 126 km/h
Tyres: 5,50-16 inches
Tyre pressures (atmospheres): front - 1,60, rear - 1,70 (with 2 passengers) or 2,00 (with 4 passengers)
Fuel capacity: 50+5 L
Fuel consumption: 13,4 L/100km
Cooling system capacity: 11,0 L
Oil carter capacity: engine - 4,00 L; gearbox - 1,10 L; differential - 1,50 L
Pre-index of chassis and engine No:
Year Chassis Engine Chassis numbers I really met
1938 ? ? 38-9007, 10174
1939 KAPT-39 39- 14045, 16986, 18375, 24229
1940 KAPT-40 40-
Productionnumbers by Eckhart Bartels:
Year 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 Total
KP38 664 23755 952 - - 3 25374
Opel-Kapitän replaced Opel Super6 in factory production program. Export version of this car still carry previous model name - Opel Super 6, as "military" German name sounded not good for neighbour countries. Kapitän has the same engine as Super6 and 1,5-ton Opel-Blitz 2,5-32, but body wasn't based on frame like on Super6, it was of modern unit-construction. This fact didn't allow to built Wehrmacht kübel-version on this model like on it's predecessor. After the war Opel-Kapitän appeared again on the production line in Rüsselsheim, almost without changes (?only round headlights instead of 6-angular?), post-war Opel-Kapitän. Later Kapitän received new appearance, with different grille, fenders, etc..
Photos are from:
Martin Vorwahl, collector of oldtimer photos, Oldenburg, Germany.
Victor Levine.
Opel archive.
"Die Chronik des Automobils", Hans-Otto Neubauer.
"Personenwagen der Wehrmacht", Reinhard Frank, PODZUN-PALLAS.
RitzSite, the Netherlands.
Thanks for help to Viesturs Radovics, Jurmala, Latvia.
If you have to add, ask or correct me, you are welcome to write me by E-mail Contact. Andrei Bogomolov.
Entrance Gallery Cars Opel Sale Links
Last updated 27 VII 2002.
produced) and 4-light (4560 examples) types),
Turning radius: 5,50m
Water cooling with pump and ventilator
Cylinder firing order: 1-5-3-6-2-4
Rear suspension: whole axis of Banjo type with longitudinal semielliptical springs