Opel Commodore review: a 1970s German classic that essentially does not exist in Bahrain
2.5/5MotorsSouq Editorial Team
There is no honest way to review the Commodore C as a Bahrain used-car purchase, because it functionally is not one — this is a European classic that a handful of collectors might import for its engineering and history, not a car with parts, service or resale infrastructure on the island. If you find one, budget for shipping parts from Europe, expect to do your own research on the specific engine and trim, and buy it as a hobby, not as transport.
Pros
- Genuine 1970s German inline-six engineering with real road presence
- Mechanically simple by modern standards, straightforward for a hobbyist to learn
- Rare enough to draw attention at any classic-car gathering in the Gulf
- Shares its floorpan with the well-documented Rekord E, aiding research
Cons
- No Opel presence, dealer or parts network anywhere in Bahrain or the GCC
- Never sold new in the region; every example is a private classic import
- Parts sourcing means European specialists, forums and shipping, not a local shop
- No established resale market or price benchmark on the island
The Commodore C sat above the Rekord in Opel's 1970s lineup, using the same floorpan but stretching the nose to fit an inline-six engine — the 2.5-litre unit making around 115 PS was the volume choice, with carburettor and later fuel-injected GS/E variants adding genuine pace for the era. It is a proper rear-wheel-drive executive sedan of its generation, with the road presence and mechanical simplicity that made 1970s German saloons easy to work on.
Why "Bahrain used market" does not really apply
Opel withdrew from meaningful Gulf distribution decades ago, and the Commodore specifically was a European-market car that was never sold new in Bahrain or anywhere in the region. Nothing about that has changed since — there is no local dealer history, no parts network, and no established resale market to describe. Any car of this age and origin found on the island today arrived through a private classic-car import, almost certainly by a collector who already understood exactly what they were taking on.
For that collector, the appeal is genuine: a mechanically straightforward inline-six saloon from a manufacturer whose engineering from this era is well documented internationally, even if nothing about owning one locally is convenient. Parts sourcing runs through European classic-Opel specialists and forums rather than any Gulf channel, and routine maintenance requires either significant DIY knowledge or shipping the work to someone who has it.
This is not a car to cross-shop against anything else on a Bahrain classifieds site. It belongs in a heritage-and-collector category of one, bought by someone who wants a piece of Opel's history rather than a daily driver.