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Manufacturer: Opel Division of General Motors, Germany
Production Year: 1938
Engine: Opel, 2.5-liter, 53-hp, six-cylinder, liquid-cooled, gasoline
Transmission: 4F1R
Brakes: Hydraulic
Length: 18-feet
Width: 6-feet, 5-1/2-inches
Height: 7-feet, 7-inches (to top of cargo area bonnet)
Weight: Approximately 2-tons
Armor: None
Armament: NONE on this example - Could be fitted with a 7.92-mm MG34 or MG42 machine gun
Maximum speed: Approximately 50-mph
Maximum Payload: 1-1/2-tons
Markings: German “Herman Goering” Division, Flak unit
Production of the Opel Blitz (Lightning) 2,5-32 began in 1938 at the Opel Russelsheim/ Main and the Brandenburg/Havel plant under the direction of Heinz Nordhoff whom, after WW II, became head of Volkswagen. Opel built 1-1/2-tons were, initially, one of many commercial type truck models which were procured by the German military prior to 1938. Since Opel was acquired by General Motors in 1931, many of the components were nearly identical to Chevrolet light-duty trucks manufactured in the United States and Canada during the same time period, including a reliable Buick motor. As a result of American engineering, Opel trucks featured a high-load-limit to low-net-weight ratio superior to Opel’s competitors of that era. In 1938, the Schell-Program introduced by General Adolf von Schell, Director of Motorization for the Wehrmacht (German military), cut back procurement of vehicles of all types to just a few standard models (from 113 to 30). The Opel 1-1/2-ton series survived the standardization, with only minor changes, to become the Opel Blitz 2,5-32, 4x2, cargo truck. The 1-1/2-ton Opel design was so successful, that production continued until 1951, with 15,000 units built.