Rare Car Archive

Makes › Opel Germany › Speedster · Rare production · 2001–2005 Limited Production

Opel
Speedster

Lotus-built (Hethel) mid-engined two-seater; with the Vauxhall VX220 about 7,200 built.

Opel Speedster (Wikipedia article: Opel Speedster)
Opel Speedster (Wikipedia article: Opel Speedster)
Photo: Unknown author · Public domain
7,207BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
7,207 Built
Years
2001–2005
Engine
Mid-engined, four-cylinder, in-line · 2,200 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2.2 L
Power
110 kW / 149 PSFactory: 147 hp · converted
Top speed
217 km/hFactory: 217 km/h
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Opel Design (Hans Seer, Director of Design); chassis engineering with Lotus Engineering
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Speedster was Opel's first mid-engined sports car and the first Opel to use an aluminium chassis and composite body, and it came out of a cooperation with Lotus Engineering based on the original Lotus Elise concept.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityLimited Production 7,207 · Built1
Specification rarityNot yet assessed
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Total model productionCombined Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 production ('discontinued on July 22, 2005 after 7207 copies built') 7,2071 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The Speedster concept was shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999, and Opel decided to put the two-seater on sale quickly, cooperating with Lotus Engineering. The production car went on sale in Germany in March 2001 and is assembled by Group Lotus at Hethel, England, with Opel quality engineers working alongside Lotus staff.

Opel specified a 147 hp 2.2-litre ECOTEC engine, a kerb weight of 945 kg including the driver, 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 217 km/h. About 800 dealerships were appointed to sell and service it across Europe.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Speedster.

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyECOTEC (all-aluminium, with two counter-rotating balance shafts)2
Engine codeNot yet verified
LayoutMid-engined, four-cylinder, in-line2
Cylinders42
Displacement 2,200 cc / 2.2 LFactory: 2.2 L2
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
Fuel systemNot yet verified
Power 110 kW / 149 PSFactory: 147 hp · converted2Rating: manufacturerPress release also gives 108 kW; the "hp" is kept as stated by the manufacturer.
Power at 5,800 rpm2
Torque 203 NmFactory: 203 Nm2
Torque at 4,000 rpm2

Transmission & drivetrain

GearboxFive-speed manual, cable-operated shift, three-shaft design2
Gears52
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisBonded extruded aluminium sections2
Front suspensionDouble wishbones2
Rear suspensionDouble wishbones2
BrakesFour ventilated 288 mm discs, ABS standard2
SteeringUnassisted2
Body constructionComposite bodyshell of bonded glass-fibre reinforced panels2
Wheelbase 2,330 mmFactory: 2,330 mm2
Length 3,786 mmFactory: 3,786 mm2
Width 1,708 mmFactory: 1,708 mm2
Height 1,117 mmFactory: 1,117 mm2
Front track 1,450 mmFactory: 1,450 mm2
Rear track 1,488 mmFactory: 1,488 mm2
Kerb weight 945 kgFactory: 945 kg2Includes 75 kg for the driver.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 217 km/hFactory: 217 km/h2
0–100 km/h 5.9 s2
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

A plaque on the instrument panel carries the production number of each Speedster. The car has a visible aluminium chassis in the cabin, a composite body of bonded glass-fibre reinforced panels, large air intake ducts behind the doors, two vertically arranged exhaust pipes and 17-inch aluminium wheels with 175/55 front and 225/45 R17 rear Bridgestone Potenza tyres.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Motor Car History – Vauxhall VX / Opel Speedster Level C
    • 7207 Combined Opel Speedster and Vauxhall VX220 production ('discontinued on July 22, 2005 after 7207 copies built')
    Accessed 2026-11-12
  2. 2
    Opel Speedster - The Essence of Dynamic Driving Level A Opel / GM Media archive press release (archived 2015) · 2015-07-14
    • first member of the all-new, aluminum ECOTEC engine generation
    • mid-engined two-seater
    • 2.2-liter, four-cylinder ECOTEC engine
    • four-cylinder unit
    • 108 kW/147 hp at 5800 rpm
    • Maximum torque is 203 Nm at 4000 rpm
    • 203 Nm at 4000 rpm
    • five-speed gearbox with high-precision, cable-operated shift
    • five-speed gearbox
    • chassis made of bonded, extruded aluminum sections
    • double wishbone suspension at all four wheels
    • Four ventilated, 288-millimeter disc brakes
    • unassisted steering
    • composite bodyshell made of bonded panels reinforced with glass fiber
    • wheelbase 2330 millimeters
    • length, 3786 millimeters
    • width of 1708 mm
    • At 1117 millimeters, its roof
    • front and rear tread of 1450 and 1488 mm
    • 945 kilograms (including 75 kilograms for the driver)
    • top speed of 217 km/h
    • zero to 100 km/h in only 5.9 seconds
    Accessed 2026-11-13

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