1959 was a good year. Lolita topped the charts with "Zeemann." Mercedes hit the roads with a brand new car and Opel got a new Captain.
Most beautiful Opel ever
It was no secret that the P2 was designed on the same platform as the P1. The two cars had the same wheelbase, while the new one was a little wider, a little longer – and a little less American. The new Opel Kapitän was not only beautiful – it also sold better than any Kapitän before or after.
America inspired
It's been a long time since an Opel could compete with a Mercedes. It did in 1959 when both came out with completely new models. Mercedes' new models W110 and W111 – the so-called "Heckflosse" were perhaps the best series-produced car of their time. The year before, Opel had launched a completely new Opel Kapitän with large fins and panoramic windows at the front and rear. The P1 resembled an American car, but was too much for discerning Europeans. Many complained about poor visibility through the panoramic windows and tight access to the back seat because the rear window actually curved into the door opening. It sold so poorly that Opel management began designing a new Kapitän – the P2 – which was released in 1959.
Facts Opel Kapitän P2
Production time: 1959-1963
Engine: 2,6 liter inline six.
90 HP at 4100 rpm
191 Nm at 1900 revolutions
Front suspension: Double A-arms
Rear: Rigid rear axle with leaf springs
Brakes: Drums
0-100: 16 seconds
Top speed: 150 km/h
Consumption: 1.21 litres/mile
Source: Auto Zeitiung test of Mercedes 220SE against Opel Kapitän
About the pictures
The red car with a white roof was photographed while it was parked in the public parking lot at a Bendix event in Lunner. The yellow car was on display at the Ekeberg Fair in the spring of 2026.
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