but all of this comes straight from the heart looks want to see it but it was no more illusion the mush for introductions to come up. from the 1st glimpse of the law to their final resting place the russians. documentary. it had a grill like a shark's mouth a panoramic windscreen lots of room and 6 cylinders the open cup attend it's still admired and sought after by collectors today.

to capitaine embodied the german economic miracle the boom years of the 1950 s. and sixty's it was a car that said i've made it a top of the line model the appear to me of luxury.

all models of the opal capitaine from 1938 to 970 are collected here this farm in northwestern germany owned by brothers joseph 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 don't think this one has fantastic upholstery just like new. york for 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 germany's 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 in 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 sixty's. about over and over and over. on the all 8 capitaine model spending 33 years are lined up here from oldest to newest. you can pretend it's because you're happy 10 offered the professional middle and upper classes the opportunity to own an executive class car 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. on death row and that was for a price far below $10000.00 marks in the 1950 s. dollars and the mock competition was only building

a limited numbers of 6 cylinder cars side because they were so much more expensive . capitaine is qualities gave it an outstanding image and image was what car buyers want to trade with might get off. 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 point on or all enveloping body fully integrating the fenders and headlights open developed its most famous model the p 26 piece stood for panoramic winching. on obama scheiber penner amec 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 wasn't

a big success at the time because the rear seat was too cramped and the big captains of industry couldn't fit in with their hats on so within just 9 months opel built a new model that was easier to get into and out of the back and i was the best selling capitaine ever 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. through the. sees them. in the 1950 s. most germans were still on foot the average wage earner could not afford a car. under economics minister. west germany's economy was booming people wanted to show off their growing prosperity with a big car the opel capitaine was the right car in the right place at the right time

. today's collectors are every bit as a namrud with the 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 it's the one he and his wife rode in on their wedding day. i am holding out the bid for if you drove an opal kept saying it was something special but these were bakers butchers and building contractors for the. big $56.00 cylinders place this car at the top of the range.

marcus's capitaine is at christophe's elton's paint shop work has already begun. with the figure for most of the marble. floor here and you know we can all come up with this reward even though. it wasn't just as notices in the original parts isn't that we did a good job and that it looked pretty bad. for them is also for those that. doesn't wish i had to polish everything out here. there's still some way to go to restore the sedans former elegance but marcus minor is optimistic i make it 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 ings like spotting a familiar face in the crowd these cars of character especially this one. he wants his capitaine 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 was

this and 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 those that big enough to also. marcus hopes to pick up his wedding coach with a fresh coat of metallic bobby blue and a few weeks. with. all the versions of the opal cup etain were designed at knoebels west german headquarters in whistles i'm. george kalyan is a former designer for the parent company general motors sent him to from the united states and he settled in west germany george county and thoroughly enjoyed the ride in his fine 1956 capitaine for years the cars were assembled in this.

siraj rides very smoothly and quietly proceeding you can turn the big steering wheel with one finger. this golden capitaine is one of a kind the 2 millionth opel 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 nov 19th to. 6. in the 1950 s. the k. 40 home was thought to be the world's most advanced automobile production facility and it was west germany's biggest industrial home now it stands empty on the shore and in the us where i remember seeing him for rolls of almost a half finished car stood here. that's 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 opel plant as a german subsidiary of general motors vocal enjoyed great success much of the credit goes to the capitaine it was the brand's golden age. opal collectors mancini and yosef dagon or are currently on the lookout for a very special copy 10 not necessarily a gilded one. says. i the family owns one of the largest private opal collections in europe it's 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 their sentimental value is in measurable. this 954 capitaine has a regal history. of this so this is a capitaine that we picked up on the french riviera or down from. the kid i don't know if you know it. off the paint is worn dulled by the sounds of the sahara . this car's papers show it was originally delivered to the moroccan royal family. shouldst as i thought the company it is it's great that it's completed and it is complete with minor flaws you can't drive it in northern europe it was made from north africa and didn't have a heater for. the kind. you know

it's an engine puts out $68.00 horsepower at the time that was king sized performance. thank you miles from i think a moroccan king would probably also use a rolls royce for state occasions every day driving this could have been a royal limousine at the time. i don't know for sure the moroccan king wasn't 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 it's possible but we don't know for sure. in the brother's repair shop mechanic lars make link manages to transform even rusty back into running capital gains is when there's another gas council that's the gas cap we've just been talking about. but they were actually looking for the taillights of the capitaine p $26.00. cord.

because see. that it costs. for all they might find something here right away you're lucky but that doesn't happen very often. are. let 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 x. i wrote. 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 a familiar feel of a capitaine. marcus linares wedding coach is also

a 26 now the paint job is finished and it's back home in its own garage. it's got less of a. threat . or no loss if the. learner son florian helps him put in a new rear seat they don't have to do a perfect job just make sure it's comfortable and roadworthy load on. this 1st. so. elke a learner has brought along an old photo album. for. you what would you like to compare the color to see if it really looks like all car adaline. this was the linares wedding coach when they got married in

2002. or was it mean they go back to you know. the capitaine has been part of the family ever since. and. it's all been in the reset and 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 it 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 it's in the early post-war years the police were not nearly as well equipped as they are now at these military vehicles that have just 18 horsepower and less competent at a good $58.00 horsepower. that's the cuff in water form its terms that was vastly superior to the blade size sickly the police or the powerless against gang strike driving this car what they did i 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 gotten ramps and the gangsters would drive their capitaine up into the trailer so they closed the tailgate the police didn't know where the capitaine and the gangsters it got it got it was like terrorists fall demopolis. shot it out stiff or just got it didn't damage the reputation of the cafeteria not just the opposite approved it's better here's

a fast time of the pentacle car so what is it although it would have us on the start to get most old. gangster competence design borrowed heavily from american models that was another key factor in its popularity . moon and. in front of the opal house and whistles 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 it's got exactly the same windscreen and rear window as

well. this is the 2 door version but the 4 door was no different and here's what they called a dogleg there's these exit here you had to climb under this corner to get end. the dogleg made it harder to get into the car and require the occupant to adopt a certain technique. brok they talk people to sit down 1st and then pull their legs in after that's no problem at all kind of george county and points out the features that distinguish the various capitaine models. in 1954 they acquired what came to be known as a shark's mouth grill. 2 are in agreement he's a he's a bride to molly gaping maw for the grill opening was characteristic of opal these are fun for cooler of the shark's mouth at 1st appeared in 1953 in the usa on the chevrolet corvette or. opal hot road of anger these are rich more or less

adopted it for its larger models. and the capital and are going to copy 10 was the model with the most distinctive version of this grill design our own crew 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 love. no fear 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 so 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 if you can get up to speed for 3rd gear and then accelerate on up to 165 kilometers per hour but i've done that if that's how before. marcus miller has a special purpose for his 1st trip in his newly restored capitaine he's going to pick up some wine from his favorite vineyard it's on the opposite side of the rhine the capitaine boards the car ferry crossing. marcus almost waxes and stone jake when he looks back at the capitaine some long history. of flight you know in our neighborhood

a cup at son and later an opal admiral or opal diplomats were something special. driving one didn't make you snobby fancy. there were days you'd say drive in the cup that sun is understated but. if they went to far. it had its prime but $964.00 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 comping 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

tried and true safety when you need it. can be 10 the admiral the diplomat v 8 the big 3 by opal. the once proud capitaine was suddenly just one of a team now it was just a matter of time in 1970 opel halted production of the capitaine germans were no longer impressed by cars that looked like big american boats especially not gas customers. caught in it was like was it in the executive class a car's image is very important for your team so i had to go 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 didn't help things

out in the time. of day ignorant 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 force for coffee bigger engine hale and hearty. by then calling the buyers will capitaine with shark's mouth grill a cup of tea and the capitaine got current panoramic windshield in fry's even panoramic and back now it's really got the knack. to 6 took the fast lane it was the best selling capitaine these were around this one i'd be willing as a 6 cylinder captain king. in flight soon after came the big 3 i think happy tames

was all at sea with admiral and diplomat the capitaine just took his hat. meanwhile the capitaine 26 driven by marcus lerner has almost arrived at the vineyard. the lady of chateau vester house is countess ivana function book while com she's the great granddaughter of opals founder adam opel. and. with. their father and sister nice weather i have to drive it myself. he drives yourself that's wonderful and i'm picking up the wine myself this time to. untasty

. with the great time and it shouldn't be usual condition. to take one but if you can do up to 160 kilometers an hour. ok very brief mile yes with. the capitaine the one time top of opals range has a special place in the countess's heart. as it's magnificent and it's got 50 years on it and it's 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 that's our law. and he enjoys every single kilometer in his a pople cup attained

a genuine motoring legend. in mombasa bomb. last. week. bob barr laughs you rob.

view as clear as mud i don't want to get close to nature i want to dive right in and that is just one the conflict in john and maybe the much flak. exploiting. the one failing. project he came by i can't win the last thing may cost specializing in chinatown chicken. in 30 minutes w. . didn't use

a clue bridge. between russia. and germany to malta 75th anniversary of the end of the 2nd world war i mean it was done in classical music experience in concert halls in berlin moscow and st petersburg. in 75 minutes on t w. we know that this is a scary time for the coronavirus is changing the world changing our lives so please take care of yourself a good distance wash your hands if you can stay at how we're d.w.b. for here for you we are working tirelessly to keep you informed on all of our platforms we're all in this together and run together and we'll make it through. to

save everybody stays steady state stay safe please stay safe. it's a deadly serious. and the whim of nature such as it motivates us to and from storm or some other greed. the desire for. motors that drives our. lives to change. planes why are we. going we go in search of answers in a documentary film. starts may 21st c.w. .

the to play. play play. this is news live from berlin russia commemorates its victory over nazi germany in world war 2 under lockdown. was. russian choirs sing patriotic songs online as the annual military parade is postponed due to the current.