A highly strung Opel Kadett GSI 16V Turbo has shown that despite its age, it still has the prowess to take on much larger, more powerful cars in the half-mile run. Guess how fast it was when it crossed the traps? Watch below.
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The Superboss in South Africa is the holy grail for Opel. Loved for its lightweight body and humbling performance, the peppy front-wheel drive model would frequently upset mainstays from its rivals. This highly tuned Kadett GSI 16V Turbo does more or less the same, except it takes on some rowdy, tuned supercars and brute V8s.
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The Opel Kadett E, the second-to-last iteration of the Kadett series, occupies a significant place in the history of the German automaker. It marked the shift from the iconic Kadett nameplate to the equally renowned Astra. Produced from 1984 to 1991, the Kadett E carried forward the legacy of its predecessors while also introducing various innovative features and design elements. With updated styling and impressive powertrains imparted onto the model, it served as a sporty and potent taste of what Opel had to offer. This specific iteration has been turned to 11 though.
Perfectly modified within to remain in the realm of a sleeper, this Kadett GSI 16V Turbo only has visible mods to the discerning viewer. A massive intercooler is a dead giveaway. The other is the bucket seats and roll cage on the inside – this means business! That is because a substantially modified 16-valve four-cylinder engine rests beneath the bonnet. Although specific details are limited, it’s known that this engine has been turbocharged to churn out an impressive 900 hp (671 kW) with a peak boost of 2,4 bars. Like the original, all of this obscene amount of power is directed solely to the front wheels.
Torque steer and lack of traction would immediately come to mind but the lightweight Opel surprisingly manages its power well when pitted against a stock Dodge Challenger. Thereafter the little Opel is out for blood and goes up against a 1 200 hp McLaren 720S with impressive results against the multi-million rand supercar.
At the Race1000 event, it manages a blistering 297,76 km/h in the half-mile run. This feat secured the car’s victory and the title of the fastest front-wheel-drive vehicle at the event.
