SC
The first SC model to be launched was the coupé, which was first shown in 1979 although sales did not start until the spring of 1981. It was followed by the convertible, first presented in 1981 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and going on sale in the spring of 1983. The final version to arrive was the sedan, shown in 1984 and becoming available in 1985. Like the CD, the SC was based on Opel's largest model at the time, the Opel Senator. It remained in production until 1989.
Exterior styling design echoed that of the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 first shown in 1972, and later marketed as the 400 (1976) and 412 (1979). Bitter originally considered using a V8 engine; the 2.5-liter V8 from the Lamborghini Urraco and a Holden V8 both underwent benchtesting. However, emissions levels, fuel consumption, and high costs precluded their installation.[2]
The SC was originally powered by a fuel-injected Opel 3.0-Litre in-line six-cylinder engine of 180 PS. The power was acceptable but not quite sufficient for a car of its price class. Overheating concerns precluded fitting a turbocharger and instead Erich Bitter opted to add displacement.[3] He had Opel-tuners Mantzel drastically increase the stroke, from 69.8 to 90.5 mm, creating a 3848 cc version. Referred to as a 3.9-litre (engine code M39E, the "M" for Mantzel), this version appeared in 1984 and produces 210 PS while also offering fifty percent more torque.[3]
Bitter had hoped to maintain their relationship with Karosserie Baur, who had built the Bitter CD, but that company had meanwhile received a contract for building the BMW M1 and had no capacity to spare. Instead, Bitter went to a small, northern Italian coachbuilder called OCRA (coachbuilder), near Turin. OCRA, however, did not have the means or experience to series produce bodies and lost the contract in early 1982, after 79 examples had been built.[4] The bodywork on these early cars suffered from quality issues, in particular being very rust prone.[3] Bitter then contracted with Maggiora to build the cars. As earlier, the painted bodies were sent to the Bitter factory in Schwelm where they underwent final assembly. As volumes picked up, however, assembly was handed off to Steyr-Puch in Graz, Austria in 1983.[4]
Along with the introduction of the convertible in 1981, a four-wheel-drive version of the coupé was also added.[5] The four-wheel-drive system was developed by Ferguson Research who also offered it for installation into the Opel Senator/Vauxhall Royale.[6] Only a handful of these were built.
In 1984, Bitter announced at the New York Auto Show that it would enter into a limited marketing agreement with GM to sell the coupé version in the United States, through participating Buick dealerships. By being able to offer a premium European product, GM had hoped to regain market share lost to BMW at the time. The option of importing Opel cars was dismissed on the basis that it was perceived to be an entry-level brand, relative to BMW's premium status. Ultimately, fewer than a dozen Buick dealers (mostly in the metro New York City area) would bear the Bitter signage, resulting in minimal sales.[7] The American introduction of the car was handled by Bitter Automobile of America, which was headquartered in Chicago and co-headed by Erich Bitter and Chicago business mogul Lee Miglin.[8] The failure was based on its business model - with costs increasing and car manufacture becoming ever more complex, the market for rebodying other manufacturers' vehicles had been diminishing for decades.
1984 model cars were made to meet federal emissions standards by an independent importer, but engine components were melting and the cars were not making advertised power. For 1985, Bitter received help from Porsche and the cars were fitted with an oxygen sensor and a catalytic converter from Porsche. The version cleaned by Porsche develops 200 hp at 5100 rpm and 236 lbft at 2400 rpm.[4]
- Total production by bodyshape
