Final Coat
Opel Motorwagen and Opel Kapitän shining in
Glasurit gloss
On September 6, 2008, two pieces of automotive
history were on display at BASF Coatings in
Münster, Germany. For the plant’s Open Day,
Opel Classics, BASF SE and BASF Coatings presented two milestones in the history of the car, an Opel
Motorwagen from the year 1908 and an Opel Kapitän
from the year 1958. Both vintage cars have been
restored and repainted.
Both 4-wheel vintage models were deliberately chosen
because their years of manufacture correspond to landmark anniversary years that are being celebrated in 2008
by the Glasurit paint brand of BASF Coatings. Just as the
two car models are 100 and 50 years old respectively this
year, Glasurit is also celebrating three special anniversaries. In 1888 Max Winkelmann established a company to
sell coatings and colorants. Ten years later, in 1898, Max
Winkelmann decided to market all the products under the
name Glasurit. Finally, in 1908, the firm was converted into
a joint-stock company (Aktiengesellschaft). The plant in
Münster-Hiltrup was opened in 1903.
Both vehicles were painted at the paint shop of Glasurit
customer Georg Büttner in Darmstadt. Both vintage cars
arrived at the paint shop dismantled in individual parts
and had to be carefully and progressively painted. The
work continued over several weeks after the original colors
had all been applied. CW
For the BASF Coatings’ Open Day, Opel Classics, BASF SE and BASF Coatings presented two milestones in the history of the car: an Opel Motorwagen from the year 1908 (left) and an Opel Kapitän from the year 1958. Both vintage
cars have been restored and repainted.
