Bitter SC |
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Wikipedia: Bitter Cars
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History
The following section is an excerpt from Wikipedia's Bitter Cars page on 6 July 2016, text available via the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The first SC model launched was the coupé in 1979, followed by the convertible in 1981 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and the sedan in 1984. 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). The SC was powered by a fuel-injected Opel 3.0-Litre in-line 6-cylinder engine of (177 hp (132 kW)) or a stroked 3.9-Litre version of (207 hp (154 kW)).
Along with the introduction of the convertible in 1981, a four-wheel drive version of the coupé was also added. The four-wheel drive system was developed by Ferguson Research who also offered it for installation into the Opel Senator/Vauxhall Royale.
In 1984, Bitter announced at the New York Auto Show that it would enter into a limited marketing agreement with GM to sell the sedan version in the United States, through participating Buick dealerships. By being able to offer a premium European product, GM had hoped to (re)gain 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, less than a dozen Buick dealers (mostly in the metro New York City area), would bear the Bitter signage as a result of which sales proved minimal. Bitter's failure was based on its business model, and the diminishing trend of rebodying other manufacturers' vehicles, which became unpopular by the 1980s.
Production by bodyshape:
Coupé: 461
Convertible: 22
Sedan: 5
| Drivetrain | F/R | F/R |
| Engine Type | 6-cylinder OHC | 6-cylinder OHC |
| Engine Displacement | 2968cc | 3848cc |
| Cylinder Bore/Stroke | 95mm x 69.8mm | 95mm x 90.5mm |
| Horsepower | 170-180 bhp at 5800 rpm | 210 bhp at 5100 rpm |