1987 Cabriolet 1987 Hardtop 1991 Cabriolet

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Opel Omega

In 1986 Erich Bitter still wanted to build a compact sports car at a lower price and in higher volumes than the Bitter SC. But with the imminent demise of the Opel Manta the plans for the Bitter Rallye were also burried.

After seeing the chassis and mechanics of the new Opel Omega in Russelheim, Erich Bitter started working on his plans to build a new compact sports car based on a shortened Opel Omega chassis. The car would be slightly longer than the Bitter Rallye and was named Bitter Type 3.

Besides a cabriolet, optionally with a hardtop, Bitter also planned to build a 2+2 coupé and even a 4-door limousine on a lengthened Opel Omega chassis.

The Opel Omega dashboard and interior would be transformed into a typical highly finished Bitter palace with plenty of wood and leather. Different motorisations were considered for the Type 3, i.e. 3.0 litre engine from the Opel Omega 3000, the 3.9 litre engine built by Mantzel and later even a 4.0 litre Irmscher engine with 272 bhp.

At the start of the project Erich Bitter worked together with American Isuzu Motors Inc. The financial support and dealer channel of Isuzu would allow an annual sales of 10.000 cars. In 1987, however, Isuzu stepped out of the project.

The plans for the 2+2 coupé were dropped soon. A wooden rolling model of the 4-door limousine was built but without interior or running gear. Four prototypes of the Type 3 Cabriolet were built, i.e. a yellow, a red, a black and a green car. The latter one was used for homologation and crash tests and is no longer existing.

The other three cars are still existing but have changed body parts and/or color and/or interior trim now. At least one of them can occasionally be seen on car shows or club meetings.

In 1991, after receiving some criticism about the original design of the Type 3, Erich Bitter presented a facelifted Type 3 Cabriolet on the Frankfurt Auto Show. MGA Developments from Coventry in the UK was responsible for the stylistic improvements and had changed the bumpers, grille and lights.

At that time Erich Bitter was negociating a 51% share participation with the Japanese company FEDCO. In 1992, however, the financial situation of FEDCO was unstable and the plans for cooperation were canceled. The plans for the Bitter Type 3 Cabriolet were also dropped but Erich Bitter did not give up his plans for a 4-door limousine.