Opel is a German automobile company that was founded in 1862. Initially, it started as a manufacturer of sewing machines, hammers, and bicycles and then transitioned to producing automobiles. Today, it is a premier automobile brand that produces a range of vehicles, such as sedans, minibuses, and others. It has offices in more than 60 countries in the world.
The Opel logo is known for its distinctive lightning bolt design, and it has undergone numerous transformations since the inception of the company in 1862. In fact, it has more than 30 logo iterations, which represent the values of the company, audience preferences, and market dynamics of the day. This article explores the key milestones in the evolution of the Opel logo. It highlights the significance of the logo changes that have undergone over time.
The Genesis of the Opel Logo (1862 – 1886)
Opel’s first logo was introduced in 1862, which featured a medallion-type design with stylised letters “A” and “O” in red and grey, representing Adam Opel. The design was elegant, with smooth curves and a sophisticated look, and reflected the focus of the company on quality sewing machines.
(1886 – 1899)
In 1886, Opel changed from producing sewing machines to bicycles. Consequently, the redesigned logo featured a vertically-oriented oval shield with ornamentation on both the top and bottom. The inside of the oval shield had the wordmarks “VICTORIA BLITZ” and “ADAM OPEL” donning the top and bottom, respectively. And at the centre of the shield was the image of a bicycle rider and an angle playing above. Further, the top and bottom ornamentation had the words “OPEL” and “Russelsheim” in an elegant sans-serif typeface.
(1888–1899)
In 1888, the logo was redesigned to feature a geometric crest or shield-like element enclosed within a vertically oriented hexagon with four circles at the corners. Executed in light silver, the hexagon had a heraldic image in black at the centre with the wordmarks “ADAM OPEL” and “RUSSELSHEIM.” written at the top and bottom, respectively. The heraldic image displayed two rampaging lions on the sides and a crown on top.
(1889 – 1893)
With the launch of automobile production in 1899, Opel introduced a new logo—a black and white ornate vertical oval featuring diagonal lettering. In the upper part of the vertical oval frame was written “ADAM OPEL,” while in the bottom was mentioned “RUSSELSHEIM.” in a bold sans-serif font.
(1899)
In 1899, Opel began producing automobiles, and the logo iteration of that era showed a black shield with a black and white outline. The shield had the diagonally placed wordmark “Motorwagenfabrik Rüsselheim a.Main” in white, which was executed in a strict sans-serif typeface. However, this monochrome logo remained the visual identity of the company for a few months only.
(1899 – 1902)
Within a few months of the monochrome logo variant, a colourful one was redesigned. Looking like a crown, the logo had light green flower-like ornate vignettes on the sides and a stylish “OPEL” placed on an orange background. Besides, there were the wordmarks “1899” and “Fahrrader” mentioned at the top and bottom of the crown-like element.
(1902 – 1906)
In 1902, the logo design was in the shape of a rugby ball, which was executed in thick red and white outlines. At the centre of the rugby ball-like shape was the word “OPEL” in an elongated, thin sans-serif typeface placed. It was surrounded by a triple red and white outline. Finally, inside the periphery of the rugby ball-like geometric figure were mentioned the words “Motorenwagenfabrik Rüsselheim” in red.
(1906 – 1909)
The logo iteration of 1906 looked like a fancy art-deco panel and was executed using a gold and black colour palette. At the centre was the stylish word “OPEL” in gold, placed against a black background and surrounded by curved and smooth vignettes.
(1909 – 1910)
The logo iteration of 1909 featured the brand name in cursive styling and gold colour. Positioned a little diagonally, the letter “L” of the brand name was protruding backwards to appear as underlining the wordmark.
(1910 – 1937)
In 1910, the logo evolved into an eye-shaped medallion encircled by laurel leaves, resembling Ancient Greece. The medallion appeared in a blue and light gold colour palette, while the wordmark was executed in white, where the individual letters had a golden outline. This emblem remained largely unchanged for nearly three decades and symbolised success and prestige within the automotive sector.
(1921 – 1928)
During this period, Opel simplified its logo to a narrow oval figure with a yellow and black design. The curly and stylish letters of the brand name were of uneven sizes, that is, the smaller ones on the sides and the bigger one appeared in the middle. Besides, the logo did not have any intricate details but maintained a Greek-inspired aesthetic. This change aimed to create a more robust visual identity.
(1928)
In 1928, an alternative logo was created for motorcycles. It was a square-shaped logo with rounded corners in beige and white colours. The square was further divided into four segments, where each letter of the brand name was housed in one of the segments. For instance, the letters “P” and “E” were housed in a square with a white background, while “O” and “L” were housed in a square with a light beige background. Although stylish, this version did not last long.
(1928 – 1937)
In 1928, the eye-shaped logo in yellow was enclosed within a red circle with a yellow outline. The individual letters of the brand name were displayed within the eye in a stylish yellow outline. Although in 1929, Opel became part of General Motors, the logo continued till 1930.
(1930)
In 1930, Opel introduced a black and yellow emblem drawn in the shape of an eye. The periphery of the emblem had a surrounding black band with a geometric interior framing consisting of several triangles. At the centre of the emblem was mentioned the stylised black and bold wordmark “Blitz Rad” in capitals. Appearing cool, the logo evoked a sense of friendliness and modernity.
(1930 – 1936)
In 1930, Opel became a manufacturer of Blitz trucks, which necessitated a logo change. In this iteration, the eye shape was retained, and the wordmark “BLITZ,” especially the letter “I,” had a lightning streak coming out of it in two directions. The colour palette of the logo was black and silver.
(1936)
The 1936 logo featured “Opel Blitz” in black uppercase and rendered in a modern sans-serif typeface. The letters were massive, and both wordmarks were joined together by a lightning flash-like sign, which emanated from the lower part of “O” and ended at the upper part of “Z.”
(1936 – 1952)
The logo of 1936 was simplified and featured diagonally placed wordmarks “OPEL” and “BLITZ” in white and in two levels. Also, both wordmarks were set against a light grey background.
(1937)
In the logo iteration of 1937, a light grey and white rocket-shaped figure was introduced. The same was placed on a grey ring with a white background. Pointed to the left, the rocket-shaped figure appeared modern and resembled the art-deco column.
(1937 – 1947)
The design of 1937 saw a left-oriented grey rocket fitted within a yellow ring with a white background. Interestingly, there was no wordmark attached to the logo.
(1937 – 1950)
In 1937, the redesigned logo featured a vertically oriented oval with a thin black outline split into two halves (white and yellow). It had the brand name “OPEL” placed over it in a bold and black uppercase lettering and using a thick serif typeface.
(1938 – 1947)
In 1938, the grey rocket and the ring were redrawn to make them look heavier with fewer white elements. The tail of the rocket was made thinner and sharper, thereby adding a sense of speed to the new logo.
(1947 – 1954)
This logo iteration saw the previous logo design being refined using thinner lines and a light grey and white colour palette. The multiple layers to the ring were done away with in favour of a single outline.
(1950 – 1970)
The previous logo variant with a vertically oriented oval split into two halves of white and yellow was given a few subtle changes. These include making the outline thicker and the wordmark compact.
(1951)
In 1951, the rocket appeared in two parts of grey and white. Besides, it featured a triangular grey wing at the top interspersed with three thin, rounded lines in white. Also, the grey ring showed a double outline.
(1952 – 1964)
In 1952, the Blitz or lightning bolt symbol with a grey gradient was incorporated into the visual identity of Opel. The symbol appeared against a white background and did not have any additional wordmark or framing. Looking modern and distinct, it evoked a sense of growth.
(1953)
The grey winged rocket and ring of 1951 made a comeback with thin white lines. Interestingly, the horizontal rocket was divided into two halves using a thin white line at its centre.
(1954 – 1959)
The winged rocket with a ring appeared in a gold and white colour palette and set against a white background. And below the emblem appeared the wordmark “OPEL” with individual letters spaced apart in an arched shape.
(1956)
In 1956, the winged rocket with a ring was made black and white. The white element that formed part of the emblem became considerably thinner, while the shape of the emblem was made bolder and bigger.
(1956 – 1957)
During this year, the winged rocket was stretched horizontally to make it appear thinner and longer. And although the emblem did not have any wordmark, it was visually identifiable and looked great as a badge on Opel cars.
(1957 – 1959)
The winged rocket with a ring emblem had the white accents on its wing withdrawn. However, more white stripes were added to the body of the rocket and the ring around it. The whole logo in black and white gave the impression of an art decoration, which is timeless and classy. Besides, the minimalist emblem appeared exquisite from the design perspective.
(1959 – 1963)
The previous logo in black and white was redesigned with a golden colour. The ring was stretched at the margins, while a thin white stripe at the centre of the rocket made the object appear sleek and modern.
(1963 – 1964)
The most iconic transformation occurred in 1963 when Opel adopted the lightning bolt (Blitz) as its official emblem. This design in black and grey emphasised speed and strength and symbolised Opel’s commitment to innovation in automotive engineering. The lightning bolt became synonymous with the brand and has remained central to its identity ever since.
(1964 – 1970)
In 1964, the logo featured a white square with a thin black outline. In the upper part of the square was placed the brand name in uppercase using an extra-bold sans-serif typeface. Below it was placed a slightly smaller lightning bolt symbol with a ring in black.
(1964 – 1970)
In 1964, the lightning bolt symbol with a ring was drawn in a grey and white colour scheme. The lightning bolt “blitz” symbol with prominent white accents on the margins gave the logo design a sense of speed and elegance.
(1968)
In 1968, the lightning bolt “blitz” emblem depicted in the previous iteration was made sleeker, sharper, and longer to evoke a sense of power.
(1970 – 1978)
In this period, the lightning bolt and the ring symbol that formed the logo featured bold black lines against a pale yellow background. The symbol had the “Opel” wordmark in capitals underneath, written using an elegant and classy sans-serif typeface. This design aimed to convey strength and reliability.
(1978 – 1987)
In 1978, the logo underwent further refinement with brighter yellow tones and a more defined black outline with rounded angles around the lightning bolt and ring symbol. The wordmark “OPEL” was enlarged and modernised using a smooth and contemporary sans-serif typeface.
(1987)
In 1987, Opel experimented with a minimalist version of its emblem by simply using the outlines of the lightning bolt within a circle in black to reflect contemporary design trends.
(1987 – 2002)
In 1987, lightning bolt with a ring “blitz” symbol was set against a smaller pale-yellow background and enclosed within a larger white square with a black outline. At the bottom of the blitz symbol was placed the brand name in capitals using a grotesque font.
(1991 – 1995)
During this time, the blitz symbol, including the ring, was rendered in white and placed within a solid black circle. This powerful emblem represented the progress and authority of the company.
(1995 – 2002)
In this logo iteration, the colours of the emblem as depicted in the previous logo were reversed. So, the blitz symbol became black, while the background was made white. Moreover, the brand name in black capitals and written in a clean sans-serif typeface was placed underneath the blitz symbol.
(2002 – 2007)
In 2002, the logo was redesigned in a light silver metal colour palette and made to appear three-dimensional. The emblem was accompanied by a bright yellow wordmark “OPEL” beneath. The overall colour palette of the logo evoked loyalty and made it look fresh.
(2007 – 2009)
In the 2007 iteration, the previous logo was given more volume, and the colour palette was given a subtle touch. For instance, the three-dimensional silver emblem depicting the Blitz symbol acquired green and purple accents. At the same time, the yellow wordmark got more gradient and the hint of a shadow.
(2009 – 2017)
In 2009, the three-dimensional Opel logo became more minimalist and elegant compared to its previous variant. The green and purple accents of the previous logo were replaced by black accents to highlight motion and volume. The wordmark was depicted along the periphery of the ring using a black and bold sans-serif typeface. This made the emblem appear more metallic and stylish.
(2016)
The three-dimensional silver emblem with the brand name in a sans-serif typeface depicted along its periphery was made a little thinner. This added elegance and sophistication to the logo.
(2017 – 2020)
The logo was changed after the company was acquired by the PSA Group. Now, it depicted the blitz symbol with a circle in black against a white background. The wordmark was removed, and the whole logo design was changed into a monochrome emblem.
(2020 – 2023)
In this logo redesign, the elements within the emblem were made thinner. Also, the wordmark in an uppercase custom sans-serif typeface was brought back and placed underneath the emblem.
(2023 – Present)
The latest version of the Opel logo features the blitz symbol and the circle split into two parts. The ends of the blitz symbol were given diagonal cuts, and the individual strips were elongated. The wordmark in black did not change from its previous avatar. In fact, each part of the logo reflects the other and resembles trapezoids to create a sense of direction. The disconnected logo conveys a sense of openness.
The logo was unveiled at the Munich Motor Show and focused on electrification. It was a modern take on the classic blitz symbol that aligns with Opel’s goal of becoming a fully electric brand by 2028. This new emblem symbolises Opel’s commitment to innovation as it adapts to changing automotive landscapes.
The Elements of the Opel Logo
Font
The bold, uppercase wordmark of the Opel logo features a modern sans-serif typeface with distinctive contours on the capital letters. The fonts that most closely resemble the one used in the logo are likely Verbatim Wide Bold or Hanley Pro Sans Wide Extra, with slight modifications to the letter shapes.
Colour
Regarding the colour palette, the official Opel logo is typically presented in monochrome. However, when displayed on the brand’s cars, the emblem appears in a glossy silver finish.
The History of Opel
Opel was founded by Adam Opel on January 21, 1862, in Rüsselsheim, Germany. Initially, the company produced sewing machines and made a name for itself in the market. However, by 1886, Opel had expanded its product line to include bicycles and quickly became one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in Germany. The success of these ventures laid the groundwork for future innovations.
In 1899, following the death of Adam Opel in 1895, his sons ventured into automobile manufacturing. They partnered with locksmith Friedrich Lutzmann to acquire his motor car factory, which marked Opel’s entry into the automotive sector. The first vehicle produced was the Opel Patent Motorwagen. Although early sales were modest, this marked the beginning of the automotive journey of Opel.
By 1901, Opel had signed a licensing agreement with Automobiles Darracq France to produce vehicles using Darracq chassis. However, it wasn’t until 1902 that the company launched its first fully designed vehicle at the Hamburg Motor Show. Soon, the company became known for its innovative assembly line production techniques in the early 1920s. This made it the first German manufacturer to do so.
In 1929, General Motors (GM) acquired an initial 80% stake in Opel and eventually took full control of the company by 1931. Under GM’s management, Opel thrived and became the leading car manufacturer in Germany by the early 1970s. In doing so, it captured over 20% of the market share. During this period, models like the Olympia and Rekord gained popularity and showcased the advancements made by the company in design and technology.
After the Second World War, Opel faced significant challenges but managed to rebound by producing popular models like the Kapitan and Rekord. The company focused on quality and affordability and appealed to a broader consumer base. The late 1990s and early 2000s brought difficulties for the company due to economic downturns and increased competition. By 2008, amid the global financial crisis, GM announced plans to restructure Opel, which led to uncertainty about its future.
In 2009, GM opted not to sell Opel despite multiple bids from companies like Magna International and Fiat. Instead, Opel continued under GM until it was sold to Groupe PSA in 2017 as part of a broader restructuring strategy. Today, Opel is focused on electromobility and sustainability. By 2024, every model is expected to have a battery-electric variant as part of its commitment to make all models in its lineup future-proof.
Interesting Facts About Opel
- Opel was established in 1862 as a manufacturer of sewing machines in Russelsheim, Germany. Thereafter, it began manufacturing bicycles. In fact, the company became the largest bicycle manufacturer in the world. It was only in 1899 that it came out with its first automobile after acquiring a motor car factory from Friedrich Lutzmann.
- The first car produced by Opel was the Opel Patent Motorwagen.
- Opel was the first German manufacturer to introduce large-scale production techniques in its factory.
- Opel was part of General Motors from 1929 to 2017.
- Opel is the first European car brand to produce a concept car. It introduced the concept car, the Experimental GT, at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1965.
- Open started manufacturing electric vehicles quite early. For instance, the first hybrid version of the Chevrolet Volt was introduced in 2011. Incidentally, in 2012, it won the European Car of the Year award.
- Opel is known for producing some of the iconic small cars, such as the Opel Astra and Opel Corsa.
- Opel has a successful stint in motorsports, especially with models such as the Opel Manta, Ascona, and Kadett.
- Opel produced the Opel Blitz, a light truck for the German military during the Second World War.
- The Opel company has been acquired by PSA Group and Stellantis.
- Several Opel cars are sold in the United Kingdom under the Vauxhall brand.
- Opel aims to become a fully electric car brand by 2028.
Finally
The Opel logo and its various iterations over the years reflect not just changes in design aesthetics but also shifts in corporate identity. The logo continued to change consistently as the company transitioned from sewing machines to bicycles and finally automobiles. Each logo iteration has contributed to making Opel one of Europe’s most recognisable automotive brands. The logo showed the company is firmly rooted in innovation and its ability to adapt as it moves towards an electrified future.