1982
August 30th:
Start of the production of the front wheel driven Opel Corsa in the
new plant in Zaragoza/Spain. The range contained first a
3-door hatchback and a 2-door saloon (TR). With its compact
dimensions (overall length 3622mm, TR 3955mm) the Corsa ranked among
the class of the small vehicles not served by Opel since nearly five
decades.
The Corsa was shown
officially for the first time on the motor show in Paris on
September 30th to October 10th 1983.
In the beginning it
is sold only in Spain and France.
Three already
well-know modernized carburator engines were offered. The OHV engine
10S with 33kW as well as the OHC engines 12ST with 40kW and 13SB
with 51kW. The 1.0 and 1.2-l-models were equipped with a
4-gear-transmission and as an option with the 5-gear-gearbox, as
used in the 1.3-l-model.
The chassis had,
similarly as the Kadett (Astra) and Ascona (Cavalier), independent
McPherson suspension in the front with exchangeable shock absorbers.
In the back a torsion beam axle with doubleconical mini block spring
was installed. All models had disc brakes at the front and drum
brakes at the back.
There were 3
equipment variants: Corsa, Corsa L (Luxus) and Corsa Berlina.
As a parallel model
to the Corsa, Vauxhall Motors sold from September 1983 on the
Vauxhall Nova.
November: At
the competition "Golden steering wheel" the Corsa wins its class
1983
February 25th:
Official presentation of the Opel Corsa in Germany
March: Start
of sales of the Corsa in Germany. In the range was offered the sport
version SR with the 13SB engine.
August: The
13SB-Motor was equipped with digital idle operation control.
September: All
models received self-adjusting drum brakes at the rear wheels
With 220.000 vehicles
the Corsa A was the most exported car of Spain.
1984
September:
Introduction of the model 1,3S with the 13S-engine, whose power
output was 55kWand a torque of 130Nm.
December:
Special series "Corsa Swing" with low-priced equipment
In Spain the Corsa
reaches within its class a market share of 24%, the European market
share exceeds 10%.
November: The
500.000th Corsa is produced
1985
April: Range
extension by the 4-tuerige Saloon and the 5-door Hatchback versions
with the configurations LS, GL and GLS as well as GT for the sporty
1,3-l-model. In addition a new model 1,2N with the OHV engine E12GV
is available, which has a power output of 33kW and 80Nm at 2200RPM.
September: New
model 1,3i with regulated catalyst, the C13N-Motor has a Multec
Single-point injection, digital engine management and overrun
cut-off, power output is 44kW.
Because of leakage,
the front crankshaft sealing ring is changed at all 1,2-l-engines.
In addition two
particularly sporty versions are presented: Sprint C and Sprint DR,
developed in co-operation with Irmscher.
Also new: The open,
4-seater Corsa Spider.
The ONS Opel Junior
Cup is started and rises to one of the most renowned new generation
racing series.
1986
February: New
model 1,3N, classified as low-pollution. The carburator engine 13NB
has 44kW and a maximum torque of 96Nm at 3200RPM.
August: On
replacement parts, e.g. engine, transmission, starter, generator
Opel grants 1 year warranty.
September: The
1-Millionth Corsa comes off the production line.
November: New
model Corsa GT with sporty equipment and the engine C13N
Six-year warranty
against body corrosion introduced, retroactively starting from model
year 1987 without special treatment regulations, e.g. subsequent
treatment.
Special series "Cup"
with juvenile design and sporty attributes is presented to the
prelude of the football world championship in Mexico.
1987
February: The
Corsa Cup is sold as inexpensive entry model, three-door Hatch with
1.0-l-engine, as an option with the 1.2-l-engine.
October: New
model variant Swing, in addition GL and GT, GLS is dropped. Swing
model as a 5-door with height adjustable seat belts in front, GL
with velour cushions as well as asymmetrical split rear seat.
All hatch models with
pushbutton latch for the rear lid. The Saloon are no more sold in
Germany.
1988
February: New
model GSi (1.6i) with 74kW fuel injection engine, low-pollution
according to euro standard by Bosch LE Jetronic and electronic
engine map controls. On high output co-ordinated chassis. Exclusive
equipment with sport seats, tachometers and auxiliary instruments,
sport rims and wider tires
June: Special
series "Steffi Special" as acknowledgment to the successes of Steffi
Graf.
1989
March:
Production end of the model 1,2 N
New 1.6-l-engine with
53kW. These C16NZ-Motor were equipped with the Multec single-point
injection and possessed a regulated catalyst.
October:
Production end of the two models 1.3S with 13S and 13SB-engine as
well as the model 1.3i with the C13N-engine. But 3 new models
appeared: 1,4S with the 14NV-carb-engine (53kW) as well as the 1.4i
with C14NZ-engine with Multec single-point injection and catalyst
(44kW). Furthermore there is the new C16SEi-engine with
electronically regulated Motronic engine management and
self-diagnostic function, with catalyst. For the GSi the maximum
output is 72kW. December: The 2-millionth Corsa leaves the plant in
Zaragoza. New advertising spots with Tom & Jerry. These reached cult
status
1990
February:
Production end of the model 1.2S
July:
The first Corsa models were exported into the DDR.
September:
Production end of the model C16NZ
In the economically attractive 1.2-l-class
appears the new model 1.2i. The OHC engine C12NZ offers 33kW owing
to Multec single-point injection of newest generation,
characteristic engine map controlled ignition system including self
diagnostic system, catalyst with Lambda regulation. The vehicle was
offered in the equipment variants City, Swing and Joy, the latter
one replaces the GL variant.
All models with revised front without change of
the main body: New grill, headlights, larger turn signals and new
bumpers. In addition body mouldings and a spoiler on the boot lid
for the prevention of contamination of the back window. Improved
equipment, new instrument panel with round instruments, rotary
switches for heater, ventilation and heater blower in the centre
console.
October:
Production end of the 1.3N model
1991
The first Corsa ECO generation reached an average
consumption of only 6.1 litres per 100 kilometre and belonged
thereby to the most economical models in Europe.
1992
October: On
October 1st 1992 the 3-millionth Corsa came off the production line
in Zaragoza
The Corsa fascinated
more and more the female customers : Almost 63 per cent of all German Corsa buyers
were women,
approximately the half of them were between 18 and 29 years.
| Production
figures 1982: |
21865 |
| Production
figures 1983: |
246340 |
| Production
figures 1984: |
259998 |
| Production
figures 1985: |
277101 |
| Production
figures 1986: |
284196 |
| Production
figures 1987: |
271652 |
| Production
figures 1988: |
322940 |
| Production
figures 1989: |
350473 |
| Production
figures 1990: |
350473 |
| Production
figures 1991: |
369820 |
| Production
figures 1992: |
340322 |
|
Total production
figures: |
3.105.430 |
| Diesel: |
168.287 |
|
Turbo-Diesel: |
50.176 |
From the newcomer model to the top seller
In September 1982 it
was finally presented: the new OPEL Corsa A. Already
at first sight the Corsa A, produced in Spain (Saragossa), gets much
attention. With its compact body, the convincing proportions and the
distinctive fender enlargements, the Corsa was a genuine eye catcher. Remarkably
was also its
generous space in the interior and the easy entrance to the rear
seats, an advantage to the competitors!
Technically the Opel
Corsa A with front
wheel drive convinced by new developed, economical and low
maintenance engines and with exemplary aerodynamics. Thus the cw-value for
the base versions in the equipment packages Standard, Luxe and Berlina
was only 0,36.
High attention was
paid on passive security. The Opel Corsa A had one of the safest compact bodies with
form-stable passenger space and pre-defined deformation zones in the
front and tail. The seats and the belts were also optimized. For the first time supporting ramps in the front
seats and on the seat framework fastened belt locks prevented the
diving effect of the occupants at frontal collisions.
And it was successfully
too: in 1984
256,192 Corsas and Novas were sold and the market share rose
to 10%. Already in 1986 the millionth Corsa was built, 1989 already the
two millionth.
