1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E 1987 Bitter SC 39E

1987 Bitter SC 39E

Bitter SC 39E

  • 1987
  • 144.196 km
  • Original
  • CH title
  • CH taxes paid
  • Sold

A highly original example of this increasingly desirable Bitter, the SC we present here was delivered new in Switzerland to its first and only owner, in September 1987.

One of the last SC's built, this Bitter is equipped with the high-torque 3.9 litre engine in combination with an automatic transmission. Adding to its appeal is the original color scheme of dark Blue over a full creme leather interior as well as color-coded bumpers.

The car was regularly serviced at the local Opel dealer between 1987 and 2005. Since 2005, it has been properly stored in a heated garage and started on a regular basis. Naturally its full tool kit, Owner's Manual and Service folio are all present.

The Bitter SC project started in 1977 while the CD was still in production. Opel had decided it would stop production on the Diplomat, and once that happened, no matter how successful Bitter's car was, the platform would disappear.

In 1978, Opel launched a new technologically advanced car, called the Senator. The new Opel was not only lighter, but also powered by a more efficient 3.0-liter fuel-injected inline six-cylinder engine.

Bitter started talks with Opel's management about using the Senator's engine and running gear for his new car and since Opel had been very impressed with the CD they were pleased to supply Bitter with the Senator platform and mechanics as well as technical help.

Unlike the CD, Bitter had to develop the new car himself at a cost of two years development time and DM 8 million. The finance was raised by inviting and receiving investment from a Swiss industrialist and a handful of investment partners.

Initially Erich Bitter considered a design embodying strong frontal overtones of the CD with a more practical, but less attractive, back half using a more compact estate car style. Bitter dropped this concept in favour of the rough SC design which he sketched in the late sixties.

Bitter's design was finally refined for production by Opel stylists Henry Haga and George Gallion. At the outset of the detailed SC design programme Bitter enlisted the help of Italian stylist Michelotti to carry out the engineering detailing for the body. The SC was aerodynamically tested in Pininfarina's wind tunnel.

The arrangement Erich Bitter had with Baur of Stuttgart to build the CD for him came to an end when the last CD's came off the production line at the beginning of 1979. As no Bitters were built for almost two years in 1979 and 1980, Baur took on other work to fill the gap left by CD production and Bitter had to find another company to build the SC.

Bitter could not find a German company to produce the bodyshells and interiors for the SC, and turned to Italy. He formed a company called "Bitter Italia" to organise and finance the manufacture of SC bodies and interiors ready for their mating to the Opel mechanical components at Bitter's works at Schwelm.

The fabrication of the body panels and their subsequent assembly into body shells was sub contracted to Turin based OCRA. After only 79 units, the contract was pulled from OCRA due to quality issues and given to a second Italian builder, Maggiore in early 1982.

Maggiore was also Turin based, but were long established and had an excellent reputation. At that time they were producing shells for Maserati and Bristol. Another Turin company, SALT, produced the beautiful nappa leather interiors.

From 1981 to 1983 Bitter's assembly staff mated the Opel engine, transmission and suspension components with the Turin supplied bodies and interiors. Bitter was initially able to build only one car a week, but output doubled later in 1982.

Erich Bitter was looking to expand. The prototype SC Cabriolet was already on the scene and he had plans for a 4-door version, as well as a new compact convertible called the Bitter Rallye which was to be based on Opel's Manta.

The one acre site in Schwelm was unable to cope with the projected expansion, and Bitter started to look for production elsewhere. It was determined that outsourcing the final assembly was the only viable option and from 1983 on, all Bitter's manufacturing was being handled by Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria.

All SCs were still delivered to Schwelm for final inspection and test drives, but no manufacturing was being done at the headquarters. By this point, three to four cars a week were being built, and the SC could certainly be deemed a success. Bitter built 461 Coupés, 22 Convertibles and 5 four-door sedans of the SC-series.

A four-wheel drive version of the coupe and convertible was also available, fitted with a system developed by Ferguson Research and also used in the Chrysler-powered Jensen Interceptor FF.

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