Product Code Database
The Opel Calibra is a coupé, engineered and produced by the Germany automaker Opel between 1989 and 1997. In the United Kingdom, where it remained on sale until 1999, it was marketed under the Vauxhall Motors brand as the Vauxhall Calibra. It was also marketed as the Chevrolet Calibra in South America by Chevrolet, and the Holden Calibra in Australia and New Zealand by Holden.
The Calibra was introduced to belatedly replace the Manta and to counter the sporting coupés of the period. It employs the running gear of the first generation Opel Vectra, which had been launched in October 1988. Calibra production was based in the Opel factory in Rüsselsheim, Germany, and the Valmet Automotive factory in Uusikaupunki, Finland, where production was consolidated in November 1995. The Calibra was initially only available with front-wheel drive, but from November 1990, four-wheel-drive became available.
The Vectra A chassis and hatchback rear meant the Calibra was relatively practical compared to many other coupés of this size. It could seat four average-sized passengers (above 175–180 cm only compromised in the rear) and hold 300 liters of luggage.
An innovative design feature was the slim 7 cm high headlamp, which was possible to create using the then new ellipsoid technology developed in conjunction with Hella. The headlamp design was key to the sport coupé's unique design and aerodynamics.
When launched on 10 June 1989, the Calibra was the most aerodynamic production car in the world, with a drag coefficient (Cd) of 0.26. To reach the record Cd figure, the prototype Calibra had to be taken to the DNW wind tunnel in the Netherlands, where models could be tested above a rolling road simulating real life airflow. For the final design smaller alterations were made on the preliminary models: tapering the rear waistline and rear side windows by about 50 mm compared to earlier mockups gave about 0,035 Cd improvement, while another 0,035 improvement was reached by altering panel lines, transition points, integrated front spoiler in front of the tires, engine shield and a panel connecting the fuel tank and the lower edge of the rear bumper. The Calibra remained the most aerodynamic mass production car for the next ten years, until the Honda Insight was launched in November 1999, with a Cd of 0.25.
All later 16V, V6, 4x4 and turbo models had a worse Cd of 0.29, due to changes in cooling system, underbody, use of spoked wheels and glass detail.
This is how you can decode the vehicle identification number:
WOL : Adam Opel AG
0000 : Free #
85 : Model - Calibra
V : Year of manufacture : 1997
Followed by a
9 : Production plant : Uusikaupunki: Finland Valmet Automotive
1 : Production plant : Rüsselsheim Germany : Adam Opel AG
When buying, experts attach great importance to the Finnish built cars have a better build quality. The Rüsselsheim plant was notorious for saving on preservatives. This is assumed why "1" models tend to rust easier, as the inside of the wheel arches were either not preserved enough or not preserved properly at all.
In July 1990, after General Motors bought a stake in Saab Automobile, it was reported the Calibra would be badged as a Saab in the United States, but these plans did not materialise. There were also plans for a cabriolet version to be produced, but these too failed to materialise.
In the summer of 1994, the Calibra received a light facelift. Most noticeably, the manufacturer badge migrated from its place atop the leading edge of the bonnet into the front grille. Equipment and safety have been developed. Throughout the production run, several special models were launched.
In the United Kingdom, this began with the 'Tickford' conversion in October 1991, however, only 26 Calibras were ever converted. This was followed by Vauxhall's own Special Edition range the SE1 in 1993, and ran through to the SE9 in 1997. These limited run editions had often unique aspects. For example, solar yellow paint on the SE2, or "Icelandic" blue on the SE6. Neither colours were found on any other Calibra in the UK. There was also a Keke Rosberg edition first only available in white, in celebration of the Calibra's success in the German Touring Car Championship at the time. In other parts of Europe, special models included the "DTM" edition, the "Cliff" edition, the "Colour" edition, "Last" edition and some special editions only available on certain domestic markets. Some special models sold in continental Europe included lowered Irmscher suspension and a numbered plaque on the ashtray. "DTM" and "Keke Rosberg" featured yellow-gray pattern textile upholstery as standard to remind buyers the colors of Opel DTM racecars. According to different data sources, as well as numbered plaques usually seen on car meets and on the internet the "Keke Rosberg", "DTM", "Cliff" and "Last Edition" cars were produced in relatively low numbers (roughly around a thousand cars per edition).
The last Calibra Turbos were produced in the beginning of 1997, before a final run of Calibra Turbo Limited Editions were rolled out to the UK market. These were all finished in jet black paintwork with an Irmscher spoiler, BBS RX 16" alloys and colour coded body fittings. This final version was also lowered by 35mm on Irmscher springs and dampers. The interior was finished in heated cream leather, with a steering wheel trimmed in grey leather and a plaque showing the build number mounted on the centre console.
In continental Europe, the Last Edition was the final limited edition, offering basically all extras, plenty of colors and full Irmscher set including front bumper, sports suspension and BBS RX 16" alloys.
The Vectra A was replaced in September 1995, but Calibra production continued until June 1997. Although a smaller coupé (the Opel Tigra) was available, the marque was left without a mid-size car coupé until the Opel Astra was launched in the spring of 2000, and with the introduction of the Opel Speedster two-seater roadster in July 2000, three years after the Calibra was discontinued, Opel finally offered a sports car again.
There is different data available about production numbers: 238,164 or 238,647 or 239,118 have been built in total. 93,978 have been built in Valmet, Finland. Nearly 130,000 were fitted with 8V, 83,000 with 16V, 14,000 with Turbo and 12,000 with V6 engines. Around 100,000 were sold in Germany, over 40,000 in the UK, more than 27,000 in Italy, over 17,000 in Spain, around 13,000 in France and over 10,000 in Switzerland giving the major markets of the Calibra. Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands contributed 5,000 units apiece. Only a portion of the fleet remain on the roads: in Germany around 5,060 cars, in the UK around 450 cars, and in the Netherlands, around 750.
At the beginning of the production the standard equipment of the Calibra 8 valve was a 20 W two-speaker stereo with cassette player, sports seats front with adjustable height on the driver's side, split folding rear seats, ABS, power steering, electric side mirror adjustment, analog clock on the middle console, makeup mirrors in the sunvisors, lockable glovebox, tinted windows, 14-inch alloy wheels and bumpers in body color. Features like air-conditioning, electric windows, fog light, board computer and sun roof were optional.
By contrast better equipped facelifted models with larger engines offered air-conditioning, traction control, electric windows, a 30W 6 speaker stereo system (or 150 W Bose with 6 speaker plus additional subwoofer), CD-changer, central locking, immobiliser, leather upholstery with heated front seats, board computer, sunroof, two airbags with pre-tensioners, alarm system with motion sensors, 15 or 16 inch alloy wheels, etc.
| 119 Mistralgrau-Metallic / Mistral Grey | ✔ | |||||||
| 128 Astrosilber-Metallic / Astro Silver | ✔ | |||||||
| 138 Starsliber-Mineraleffekt / Star Silver | ✔ | |||||||
| 140 Rauchgrau-Metallic / Smoke Grey | ✔ | |||||||
| 144 Magicgrau-Mineraleffekt / Magic Grey | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| 146 Titaniumsilber-Mineraleffekt / Olive Grey | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 200 Schwarz-Uni / Jet Black | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| 262 Baikalblau-Metallic / Westminster Blue | ✔ | |||||||
| 265 Tech Violett-Metallic / Silk Violet | ||||||||
| 266 Novaschwarz-Metallic / Diamond Black | ✔ | |||||||
| 270 Spektralblau-Mineraleffekt / Spectral Blue | ✔ | |||||||
| 277 Karibikblau-Metallic / Caribic Blue | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| 279 Heliotrop-Mineraleffekt / Aurora / High Voltage | ✔ | |||||||
| 283 Nautilusblau-Mineraleffekt / Nautilus Blue | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 286 Keramikblau-Mineraleffekt / Ceramic Blue | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| 288 Magneticblau-Mineraleffekt / Magnetic Blue | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| 290 Nordkap-Mineraleffekt / North Cape | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 357 Neptuntürkis-Mineraleffekt / Forest Green | ✔ | |||||||
| 359 Dschungelgrün-Mineraleffekt / Velvet Green | ✔ | |||||||
| 366 Bermudagrün-Mineraleffekt / Bermuda Green | ✔ | |||||||
| 368 Islandblau-Mineraleffekt / Icelandic Blue | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 369 Rio Verde Grün-Mineraleffekt / Rio Verde Green | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 474 Casablancaweiß-Uni / Glacier White | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||||
| 547 Magmarot-Brillant / Flame Red | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |||||
| 568 Riojarot-Mineraleffekt / Rioja | ✔ | ✔ | ||||||
| 571 Amarena-Mineraleffekt / Amarena | ✔ | |||||||
| 631 Solargelb II-Uni / Solar Yellow | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
In the case of the Cliff Motorsport Edition the following color names were applied: Ocean = Magneticblau, Polar = Karibikblau, Barracuda = Keramikblau. Some late Keke Rosberg and DTM models were painted in colors from the standard palette. Colors and special editions offered may be different on certain domestic markets.
For 1992, a turbocharged 2.0 litre 16 valve engine C20LET (turbocharged version of the C20XE) was added to the range. With four wheel drive, a six speed Getrag manual transmission (F28/6) and a claimed top speed of 245 km/h (152 mph).
The Turbo model was also notable for the five stud wheel hubs and the extreme negative camber (inward lean) of its rear wheels.
In 1993, a 2.5 litre V6 (C25XE or SE4) was introduced, available with both manual and automatic transmissions. The V6 was not as fast as the Turbo, but was rather more civilised, and proved to be more reliable than the complex four wheel drive model. 1995 saw the introduction of the X20XEV Ecotec engine, a new version of the classic C20XE 16 valve or "red top" engine.
This marked a reduction in power from to for the 16 valve version, although the Turbo continued with the C20LET.
| !2.0 i ! colspan="2" 2.0 i Multi-valve !2.0 i 16V Turbocharger ! colspan="2" | 2.5 i V6 |
The transfer box in the AWD models — the same as used in the Vauxhall Cavalier AWD—was somewhat on the flimsy side, liable to suffer damage from conditions such as minor differences in tyre wear or tyre pressure between front and rear axles. Since front and rear tyres would naturally wear at different rates in normal driving, it was necessary to swap front with rear tyres every - recent user recommendations propose 3,000 miles (5,000 km).
All four tyres had to be of the same make and model, and all four tyres had to be replaced at the same time — if one tyre was damaged or punctured, the three remaining good tyres also had to be replaced. In addition there were other maintenance requirements which were both exacting and unusual. Neglect of these points through ignorance or a misconceived attempt to save money was common, and was likely to lead to very expensive failures of the transfer gearbox. Vauxhall Cavalier 4x4 Dos and Don'ts Special care and maintenance requirements for the Vauxhall Cavalier/Calibra 4x4 transfer gearbox
Since the beginning of 1993 all Calibras were delivered with a driver's airbag as standard, and co-driver's full size airbag was added in August. Amongst other small changes during the ongoing development program, other important safety features were added in August 1993: double steel tube strengthening bars in the doors as side crash protection, strengthened door sills, strengthened pillars and roof frame, and seat belt pre-tensioners also became standard for front passengers.
The car was powered by a Buick 3800-derived, 3.5-litre all-aluminium odd-fire V6, similar in specification to that used on the IMSA Corvette GTP. Built in the United States by Ryan Falconer, the engine retained its original single-cam, pushrod-and-rocker, two-valves-per-cylinder layout, but employed a Racetronics engine management system and Garrett turbocharger aspirating through a 52mm restrictor plate. The engine produced approximately 600 BHP (447 kW) in race trim. Power was delivered to a rear-mounted five-speed manual Hewland transaxle through a carbon-fibre propeller shaft. Fuel capacity was 40 litres, and double-wishbone suspension was used at both the front and rear ends of the car.
Driven by Michael Briggs, the car was campaigned from 1991 to 1993. A rule change for 1994 that banned turbocharged engines from the series, as well as the rapidly increasing popularity of Group A super touring cars, compelled DMC to retire the Calibra in favour of devoting its motorsport budget and resources to its two-car Astra super touring effort.
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