It was the most fuel-efficient car in the world: photos of a unique Opel that consumed only 0.6 liters per 100 km were posted online
Rare photos of the 1973 Opel P1 have been published. This car set an efficiency record that lasted for 45 years.
The unique Opel P1 project was born during the fuel crisis. Gasoline prices skyrocketed and automakers began looking for ways to make cars more fuel efficient.
The basis was the 1959 Opel Olympia Rekord station wagon. To reduce its weight, part of the roof was cut off at the back, turning the car into a pickup truck. In addition, the windows, interior trim, passenger seats, suspension parts, and even the engine radiator were removed.
The rear wheels are twin – located side by side. In addition, the Opel P1 received tires made of thick rubber with a low rolling resistance coefficient.
The engine was transferred to the back of a pickup truck and placed in a special isolated compartment. The 1.5-liter gasoline four was equipped with a small carburetor from a lawn mower, which allowed less fuel to flow through. In addition, it was redesigned to work without a carburetor.
50 years ago, in October 1973, the Opel P1 was tested on the runway of an airfield, where it showed a fuel consumption of 0.625 liters per 100 km at a speed of 48 km/h.
Only in 2018 was this record broken by a prototype specially built by Duke Electric Vehicles, and it ran on hydrogen.
The Opel P1 was bought after the record by the France family, which owned the NASCAR racing series. After that, the car changed hands several times and appeared at auctions.
