Germany · German two-door Spezial sedan · 1938 model update

Opel Kadett K38 Spezial

The K38 Spezial wrapped useful family-car engineering in a tiny all-steel body and added an Art Deco nose for 1938.

Historic family cars

Exact 1938 Opel Kadett K38 body; the photographed placard supports model and year, but does not separately document the individual car's Spezial trim history.

Left-side exterior · Photo shows Exact 1938 Opel Kadett K38 body; the photographed placard supports model and year, but does not separately document the individual car's Spezial trim history.. Representative K38 cover for the K38 Spezial profile; individual chassis and original trim history are not documented by the file page.
1938 Opel Kadett K38 at the Erwin Hymer Museum · Alf van Beem · Public domain (PD-self)

Auction-based estimated value

Research pending

A matching completed auction sale has not been verified for this exact year, body, trim, engine, transmission and market.

Joyride shows this gap instead of substituting an asking price, unsold bid or mismatched special vehicle.

A place in vehicle history

More than a set of wheels.

Opel launched the first Kadett in 1936 as an affordable compact, then gave it a major update for 1938. The better-equipped K38 Spezial kept the clever front suspension and added extra trim, while the simpler KJ38 was the bargain version. This page is specifically the two-door Spezial sedan.

Look a little closer.

Its 1938 pointed grille was late Art Deco—an everyday small car wearing a little piece of design fashion.

Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.

A modern shell for an affordable car

Instead of placing a separate body on a heavy frame, Opel built the Kadett around a self-supporting all-steel shell. Opel says this saved weight, lowered the centre of gravity and let the factory join the body and mechanical parts on the assembly line using hydraulic lifts.

Source: Opel/Stellantis Media · 85 years of Kadett and Astra ↗

Small-car equipment that felt grown-up

The Kadett included hydraulic four-wheel brakes, direction indicators, opening triangular vent windows and an inside-access luggage compartment. The Spezial also retained Opel's Dubonnet-style front suspension while the cheaper KJ38 used a simpler arrangement.

Source: ALT-OPEL IG · Kadett 1.1 two-door sedan, 1938–1940 ↗

Where these facts come from

Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.

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