Opel Ascona (Ascona A, 1970 to 1975)

The Ascona A was the first generation of the Opel Ascona, launched in 1970 and sold across Europe as the first mainstream Opel to carry that name. Opel presented its new range in Rüsselsheim in the fall of 1970: the Manta coupé on September 9, then the Ascona on October 28 as a two- or four-door saloon and a three-door estate called the Caravan or Voyage. It sat between the Kadett and the Rekord and had no Vauxhall sister model. It stayed in production until 1975, by which time almost 692,000 had been built, with petrol engines from 1.2 L to 1.9 L and 60 to 90 PS. From 1971 the 1.9-litre car was exported to the United States as the Opel 1900.