Car Back Catalogue | Opel

1978 Commodore

Brochure | GE

The 1978 Opel Commodore. Driving pleasure and travel comfort determine its value.

Whoever chooses the six-cylinder class shows that they have high standards. Standards that are not limited to performance data alone, but that concern the characteristics of driving, comfort, and safety.

The Commodore sets new standards in this regard:
There is the superior smoothness and suppleness of its 6-cylinder 2.5 L S-engine. 85 kW (115 hp) of power, without you hearing more than a gentle whisper. The chassis is a match for the powerful engine. The front axle with McPherson struts and the track- and camber-constant 5-link rear axle are perfectly coordinated. The high degree of pronounced driving comfort and at the same time sporty driving characteristics that the Commodore offers allows you to complete even long highway journeys in a relaxed manner.

When you drive the Commodore, many things that you have previously had to do without will seem self-evident. Everything fits together perfectly in a superior overall concept.

It's understandable if you suspect a car of this class would also be in a high price range. But in this respect too, the Commodore will surprise you very pleasantly...

1978 Opel Commodore Performance Highlights.

The safety of the Commodore.

It is a prerequisite for its superiority. Our engineers made no compromises.

The safety of a vehicle has two sides: active and passive. Active safety helps the Commodore's driver avoid dangerous situations from occurring in the first place. This is achieved through the powerful engine, which helps shorten passing maneuvers; its highly effective dual-circuit braking system with disc brakes in the front; its balanced chassis, which reacts benignly to most driving errors; and excellent all-around visibility.

But even in the "event of an event," the driver of a Commodore is protected as well as possible. This is thanks to standard three-point automatic seatbelts in the front, safety steering with a tear-off slide, folding element, and impact basket, the shielded location of the fuel tank, and a body that is designed to deform in a controlled way upon impact, both in the front and back, absorbing a large part of the impact energy.

Nothing is left to chance. That, too, is part of the Commodore's superiority.

Quality is more than a Promise.

Careful design, uncompromising testing, strict material selection, and meticulous manufacturing—all these factors determine the quality of an automobile. Our high standards set the benchmark here as well.

Even in the design of the Commodore, angles and corners susceptible to corrosion were largely avoided. A multi-layer primer provides long-lasting protection for the body. Joints and edges are carefully sealed. PVC coatings on the door sills and in the wheel arches protect these particularly vulnerable areas from stone chips. An additional stone chip protection primer is applied to both sides of the car's underbody from front to back.

The Commodore will bring its driver many years of joy.

Six-Cylinder Power Gives You Superiority.

A powerful car doesn't constantly need to prove its strength, and this is especially true in traffic. The powerful 2.5 L six-cylinder engine of the Commodore, with its 85 kW (115 hp), certainly allows for a high top speed. But that's its least important advantage.

Thoughtful drivers use its spontaneous acceleration to shorten passing maneuvers and avoid critical situations. The high torque and elasticity of the 6-cylinder inline engine provide this capability at any time. It's the performance reserves of this engine that make Commodore drivers so calm and safe. And, of course, there's the astonishing smoothness of this mature inline engine—a six-cylinder with all the typical characteristics of OPEL engines: long service life, easy maintenance, and fuel efficiency.

The sum of its excellent qualities makes the Commodore's engine a standout in its class.

1978 Opel Commodore. A Balanced Overall Concept That Delivers Superiority.

Of course, a great engine alone doesn't make a great car. The concept of 6-cylinder superiority demands comprehensive solutions, starting with the car's exterior design. The aerodynamic lines and large windows give the Commodore its unmistakable appearance. Wide protective strips with a PVC inlay reinforce this impression.

Whether you choose the Commodore or the Commodore Berlina in the 2- or 4-door version, you'll experience how meaningfully function and features are harmonized. You can see this in the large windows, which guarantee excellent all-around visibility; in the rear section, which is visible to the driver when maneuvering in reverse; in the low-slung front section, which offers little wind resistance and further improves driving performance.

The interior design also has special significance. Please turn the page.

1978 Opel Commodore. Everything for Your Satisfaction, and More

In the Commodore, there is ample space everywhere—for five adults and a large amount of luggage. The luxurious full-foam seats are designed with anatomical considerations. The front seats even have spring support to absorb any remaining vibrations. The backrests of the front seats are continuously adjustable to a reclined position. Front headrests are also standard, and their height and tilt can be adjusted individually.

The highly effective heating and ventilation system ensures a consistently pleasant climate. A 4-speed radial fan is available for all weather conditions. The system is individually adjustable yet easy to operate. This feature demonstrates that with the Commodore, function and comfort are a single unit.

Prominent halogen headlights integrated into the front define the face of the Commodore.

The fold-out armrest in the back offers additional comfort and side support for passengers.

The convenient storage compartment in the driver's door has space for small items you want to have quickly at hand while traveling.

6 J x 14 wheels underscore the car's distinguished and dynamic character.

Hinged side windows ensure plenty of fresh air for rear passengers in the 2-door Commodore.

The tail lights with integrated reversing lights and the option for installing a rear fog light.

OPEL-AUTOMATIC available as an option, for an extra charge.

1978 Opel Commodore Berlina. The Most Exclusive Version of a Demanding Vehicle.

The Commodore Berlina is the most exclusive version of this special car. Easily recognizable by the Berlina lettering and the wide 6 J x 14 steel wheels with chrome wheel trim rings, the Commodore Berlina offers a level of comfort that makes even long journeys a pleasure.

This is a car created for discerning individuals who have very high standards. Its elegant lines, carefully selected materials, and first-class craftsmanship are a perfect match for the special character of both the car and its driver.

1978 Opel Commodore Berlina. The Interior.

The interior of the Berlina immediately shows how much has been done to ensure a pleasant and relaxed journey for everyone. The seats and headrests are covered with high-quality velour. Carpets are found on the floor and also on the rear parcel shelf.

The 4-spoke comfort steering wheel is easy to grip. The front seats are adjustable for both length and backrest angle.

The lockable glove compartment and an additional storage area on the passenger side provide space for essential small items.

The exterior mirror can be adjusted conveniently and precisely from inside. Finally, additional noise-dampening measures are part of the comfort that will impress even the most discerning travelers.

Commodore — the name for 6-cylinder comfort.

Practical side pockets in the doors help keep things tidy.

The large trunk offers space even for extensive travel luggage.

The large, illuminated glove compartment is lockable.

Height adjustment of the driver's seat allows for optimal and quick adaptation for drivers of very different statures.

Chrome-adorned sport wheels (size 6 J x 14), the side trim, and the lettering signal the exclusive character of the Commodore Berlina.

The exterior mirror can be adjusted quickly and precisely from inside the car.

With those certain extras, you can give your Commodore a completely personal touch.

The interior of the Berlina immediately shows how much has been done to ensure a pleasant and relaxed journey for everyone. The seats and headrests are covered with high-quality velour. Carpets are found on the floor and also on the rear parcel shelf.

Headrests and 3-point seatbelts in the rear: Added safety for passengers in the back.

Sporty aluminum wheels: They underscore the car's noble overall impression.

Opel radios: You have a choice of six models. All are optimally matched to your vehicle, with a traffic broadcast decoder and integrated FM interference suppression. A special brochure provides detailed information.

Electric windows: The driver can open or close all the windows from a central control panel with the touch of a button. Additional switches are located on the rear doors.

Rear speakers: Recessed into the rear shelf to save space, they ensure optimal stereo sound.

Steel crank sunroof with ventilation setting: Provides plenty of extra fresh air without drafts. Also available with an electric drive.

Cruise control: This greatly relieves the driver, especially on long-distance trips. The desired speed is set using a lever on the steering column, and the computer then maintains it constantly. After necessary acceleration maneuvers, the computer precisely returns to the pre-selected speed. After braking, a simple tap of the lever is enough to accelerate back to the stored speed.

Power Steering Effortlessly easy steering with excellent road contact. Especially useful when maneuvering in tight spaces. (Image shows a 4-spoke comfort steering wheel in the Commodore Berlina).

Integrated Air Conditioning Cools, heats, dries, and filters the air. An ideal addition to the heating and ventilation system in all seasons.

Adjustable Exterior Mirror from the Inside Also available on the passenger side, it makes parking in tight spots easier and increases safety.

Central Door Locking When you lock the driver's door, all other doors are automatically and securely locked as well.

OPEL-AUTOMATIC No need for a clutch or shifting, allowing you to focus all your attention on the road. It's easy on both the engine and the driver.

Headlight Wiper/Washer System Dirty headlight lenses are cleaned in an instant with the push of a button. This ensures the road ahead is always optimally lit.

1978 Opel Commodore Features.

Body.
Self-supporting all-steel body with pre-programmed crumple zones at the front and rear. Extremely stable side pillars, roof frame, door sills, and front and rear side members. Excellent all-around visibility.

Rust Protection.
The unpainted body is phosphated, electrostatically primed, manually primed multiple times, and dipped in synthetic resin up to the waistline, with the inside of the doors flooded. The door sills are also coated on the inside with protective wax. The underbody is spray-primed and sealed with protective wax, with a special stone chip protection primer on the door sills from front to back. The underbody in the wheel spray area and the side floor panel are coated with PVC underbody protection. Welds and joints are sealed with a special compound.

Front Axle.
Independent suspension with McPherson struts and large-volume special support bearings. The guide bearings of the shock absorber pistons and piston rods are Teflon-coated. Torsion bar stabilizer. High suspension comfort due to a long wheel travel.

Rear Axle.
5-link rear axle with constant toe-in and camber for the rear wheels. Vertically positioned shock absorbers. Torsion bar stabilizer. High driving comfort due to large-volume link bushings.

Transmission.
Fully synchronized 4-speed transmission with sport shifting.

Brakes.
Dual-circuit braking system with brake booster, disc brakes at the front, drum brakes at the rear, and a brake force regulator.

Steering.
Easy-to-use recirculating ball steering with a 22:1 gear ratio. Safety steering with a 2-spoke polyurethane-foamed steering wheel. Energy-absorbing integrated Opel safety impact basket, lattice tube folding element, and telescopic spindle with a tear-off slide.

Lighting.
Parking lights, halogen headlights with adjacent turn signals, tail lights with two reversing lights and a provision for installing a rear fog light, parking lights integrated into the headlights and tail lights, and illuminated trunk, engine compartment, and glove compartment.

Instruments.
Padded instrument panel with a speedometer, trip odometer, quartz clock, fuel gauge, and temperature gauge. Indicator lights for turn signals, high beams, hazard lights, handbrake, clutch, dual-circuit braking system, charging current, and and oil pressure.

Seats.
Anatomically shaped full-foam reclining seats in the front with spring support and headrests. Backrest is continuously adjustable with a handwheel. Full-foam seats and a fold-out center armrest in the rear.

Heating and Ventilation.
Draft-free ventilation and extraction system. Air vents in the rear roof pillars. Fresh air heater with a 4-speed radial fan and a mixed-air system. Six nozzles on the instrument panel, individually adjustable for direction and airflow. The heating controls are illuminated. The four outer nozzles can also be individually temperature-controlled.

1978 Opel Commodore Standard Equipment.

Safety bumpers with a wide PVC overlay. Integrated front spoiler. Laminated glass windshield. Electric windshield washer system with intermittent wipers. Dirt-repelling exterior mirror. Comprehensive noise insulation. Wide side protection strips with a PVC inlay. Rear pivoting side windows (2-door). Lockable gas cap. Electrically heated rear window. Wide trim on door window frames and side windows (2-door), narrow trim on door window frames (4-door). Trim strips on the rain gutters. Trim on the front door window seals and rear door window seals (4-door). Trim on the rear and a decorative panel between the tail lights.

Padded instrument panel, with a color-coordinated lower section and a trim strip. Glove compartment with a lid. Integrated storage tray. Ashtray, plus two additional ashtrays in the back. Illuminated cigarette lighter. Two-stage windshield wiper switch on the turn signal lever. 3-point automatic safety belts (2-door with a 3-part belt guide arm with a swivel head). Fastening points for 3-point safety belts in the rear. Luxurious, high-quality seat fabrics with a striped pattern and solid-colored fabric in four shades.

Fold-out center armrest in the rear. Long tunnel console with storage compartments. Storage compartment on the driver's door. Two padded sun visors with a locking position. Black on top, with a vanity mirror on the passenger side. Tinted safety interior rearview mirror, tiltable. Interior light in the front roof. Side wall paneling. One grab handle on the front roof frame, two grab handles (or grab straps on the 2-door) on the rear roof frame, and two coat hooks on the roof frame. Perforated synthetic leather headliner. Internal door locks (4-door with child safety locks in the rear). Floor covering is color-coordinated loop pile carpet. Molded trunk mat. Spare wheel is upright on the side of the trunk.

1978 Opel Commodore Berlina Features.

(In addition to standard equipment):
Seat covers, front headrests, and carpeting in valuable velour. Carpeting on the parcel shelf. 4-spoke comfort steering wheel. Lockable glove compartment. Additional storage compartment on the passenger door. Height-adjustable driver's seat. Additional noise dampening. Wheel trim rings. Externally adjustable side mirror from the inside. Wide side PVC protection strip with "Berlina" lettering.

1978 Opel Commodore S Equipment.

Sport-tuned suspension (includes special front and rear springs, specially tuned front struts, rear gas-pressure shock absorbers), 6 J x 14 alloy wheels. Additional instruments: tachometer, oil pressure gauge, voltmeter. 4-spoke sport steering wheel. Side racing stripes. Black decorative panel on the rear. "S" emblem on the right and left fenders.

1978 Opel Commodore Technical Specifications

1978 Opel Commodore Porformance Specifications