Opel's Role
Styling CD
Frua CD
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Under the new, inspired leadership of American Bob Lutz, Opel's stylists wanted to demonstrate their talents at the 1969 Frankfurt Show with a dream car they could build on the chassis of the recently introduced Diplomat. They used their top-of-the-range model because it had advanced suspension - independent front and De Dion rear - and it could take Chevrolet's V8 powerplant. The coupe, project name Astra, but called the Styling CD, was a stunning, refreshing offering greeted with great enthusiasm. Opel's styling team was headed by Chuck Jordan.
The sensational response to the car led Opel's management to consider making a sporting coupe. They had already developed a shortened Diplomat chassis for the Styling CD, but decided that the cost of producing such a car would be too high. It would have had to have been produced in sufficient numbers to justify the tooling cost, yet remain exclusive enough to camouflage what was sure to be an inflated price. The car would also have to live with an Opel badge.
In 1970 the Italian styling company, Frua, designed and built their own updated, more practical version of the Styling CD for the 1970 Frankfurt show. Frua's design retained the monocoque shape and the character of Chuck Jordan's car, but was fitted with conventional doors. The Frua CD was a handsome, masculine coupe, but like his predecessor, did not make it to production.
In 1971 Dave Holls replaced Chuck Jordan as Opel's styling chief and he, like many other top Opel executives, regularly used the car. Erich Bitter had seen the car many times and was smitten by the concept of its stunning styling and reliable, well engineered running gear.
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