Opels with Panoramic Windshields

The fashion (fad?) of panoramic ("wraparound") windshields was launched in the 1954 model year on General Motors' Oldsmobile, Buick and Cadillac brands.  High-priced special convertible model Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs had such windshields in 1953, but fewer than a thousand of those cars were made.

General Motors' Opel brand in Germany finally got panoramic windshields several years later.  Opel's Rekord P1 was introduced in August of 1957 and the Kapitän P1 the following June.  A redesigned P2 was marketed starting August of 1959.  Panoramic windshields were eliminated on subsequent models.

Elsewhere in Europe the only significantly numerous cars with panoramic windshields were Vauxhalls, from GM's British subsidiary.

Images below are either factory publicity photos or are of cars listed for sale.

Gallery

On the left is an Opel Olympia Rekord, and on the right is an entry-level Opel Olympia.

Opel Rekord P1 (1957-59)
Most Rekords were two-door models such as this.  The grille and side trim are suggestive of similar features on Buicks.  Buick sold Opels in North America at that time, so similar brand identity features were considered useful marketing tools.

The A-pillar leans forward, similar to GM B-body Oldsmobiles and Buicks.  The C-pillar leans backwards, yielding a backlight window whose shape echoes, but does not quite match the windshield.  The chrome strip the fender is Buick's Sweepspear style.

The sharp tail light assemblies-cum-fender-tips added to the car's visual and actual length.

Side view of a four-door Opel Rekord P1.

Opel Kapitän P1 (2.5), 1958-59
This model was in production for only one year due to lack of market acceptance perhaps caused in part by the narrow rear door and possibly cramped rear seating.  Features including the front forward of the B-pillar and the backlight window seem similar to those of the Rekord.  As of the time this post was drafted, I do not know if there was true commonality.

The rounded crown of the passenger compartment is typical of mid-1950s General Motors styling.

As with the Rekord, the fenderline is lengthened by the tail lights.

Opel Kapitän P2 (2.6), 1959-63
The new P2 2.6-litre Kapitän's wheelbase is the same as the P1's, but the body is slightly longer.

The roof and the body abaft of the B-pillar are different, though it's possible that frontal components were shared with the P1.  Again, I don't know for sure.  But the front half has rounded features while the back half of the car is flatter, more angular.

Rear fenderline length is increased by mini-tailfins instead of tail lights.  Practicality matters aside, I prefer the design of the P1 Kapitän to the P2s.