Kadett K38 Cabriolimousine, WWII German Staff Car

Plastic model kit for building an Opel Kadett K38 Cabrio Limousine

• 1:35 scale
• Dimensions LxH (built): 111 x 43 mm
• 143 parts
• 4 marking options
• not built/not painted
• Paint and glue not included

The Opel Kadett K38 was a German small car manufactured by Adam Opel AG from 1937 to 1940. It represented a further development of the first Kadett model and benefited from modern design features, particularly the self-supporting all-steel body, which was still considered progressive at the time. With its 1.1 liter four-cylinder engine, the car produced 23 hp and reached a top speed of almost 100 km/h. Thanks to its low fuel consumption, simple technology and reliability, the Kadett enjoyed great popularity.

Visually, the K38 was characterized by a modern, streamlined design. The headlights were integrated into the fenders, the body appeared sleek and contemporary, and the front section was stylistically based on the larger Opel Olympia. The Kadett was offered as a two- and four-door sedan as well as a convertible sedan. A higher-quality equipment variant was sold under the name “Kadett Spezial”.

At the beginning of the Second World War, many vehicles were taken over by government agencies and the Wehrmacht. The Kadett K38 was primarily used as a courier, liaison and company car. Due to its compact dimensions and cost-effectiveness, it is particularly suitable for administrative tasks and use in the rear area. At the same time, it remained one of the most common civilian vehicles on German roads in the late 1930s.

Production of the Kadett K38 ended in 1940 when the Opel factory was converted to producing goods essential to the war effort. After the war, the production facilities and construction documents were sent to the Soviet Union as reparations. There they served as the basis for the Moskvich 400, which largely corresponded to the Kadett technically and externally. The Opel Kadett K38 occupies a special place not only in the history of German automobile manufacturing, but also in the development of the Soviet automobile industry.