The Opel Kadett C GT/E Coupé was always more than a hot hatch. Introduced at the 1975 Frankfurt IAA, the two-door fastback became a credible Group 2 rally weapon through the late 1970s, its factory black-and-yellow two-tone livery transferring almost directly from the showroom floor to the special stages. This 1:43 scale model by Trofeu documents one of its final WRC appearances, rendered in the DSN43 resin series and limited to just 150 pieces worldwide.
The Last Rear-Wheel-Drive Opel on Stage
The Kadett C was the final rear-wheel-drive Opel to reach mass production, built at Bochum until July 1979 across 1,701,076 units. The GT/E Coupé body measured 4,127 mm in length and 1,580 mm wide; the C2 facelift of 1978 brought a 1,979 cc CIH inline-four with Bosch L-Jetronic injection producing 84.5 kW / 115 PS in road trim. For Group 2 rally specification, the same engine family was developed to approximately 160–180 hp, retaining rear-wheel drive and a 5-speed manual gearbox — a combination that rewarded precise, committed driving on mixed-surface stages.
March 1980: Class Honours at WRC Round 3
The 1980 Rallye de Portugal — Vinho do Porto ran 4–9 March, based around Estoril, covering 673.50 km of competitive distance across 47 special stages on mixed asphalt and gravel. Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer took the overall win in a Fiat 131 Abarth, but that result tells only part of the story. Car #44, driven by Portuguese privateer Pedro Queiroz Pereira — known universally by his phonetic initials pseudonym 'Pêqêpê' — and co-driver Manuel Jonet, finished 11th overall and claimed 1st in Group 2/3 class. The night-version specification, with auxiliary driving lights fitted for nocturnal stages, was standard practice on marathon WRC events of the era. The car wore the factory-derived black below the waistline and yellow above — among the most identifiable two-tone treatments of 1970s European motorsport.
Trofeu DSN43: Resin Construction at 1:43
Trofeu is a Portuguese manufacturer producing scale rally models since 1990, and the DSN43 series represents its current high-definition range, using 3D-printed resin rather than die-cast metal. The construction process allows accurate cockpit geometry, exact wheel profiles and precisely researched exterior detail — qualities that matter when reproducing a car as visually specific as the black-and-yellow Kadett GT/E. This release is limited to 150 pieces, placing it among the scarcest items in the DSN43 catalogue and making mint-boxed examples genuinely difficult to source once initial stock clears.
In the Display Cabinet
At 1:43, the model measures approximately 9.5 cm in length — compact enough to fit two or three examples across a standard 30 cm shelf without crowding. The black-and-yellow livery reads clearly even at this scale, making it visually distinct alongside other WRC machinery from the same period. Natural companions include Trofeu's own Kadett GT/E entries from the 1976, 1978 and 1979 Rallye de Portugal, as well as the Fiat 131 Abarth that took the overall win at this precise event, building a coherent single-event or Kadett-marque display.
Frequently asked questions
How big is the 1:43 scale model?
The Opel Kadett C GT/E Coupé measures 4,127 mm in real life. At 1:43, that translates to approximately 9.5 cm in length. Allow around 12–13 cm of shelf depth to accommodate the model comfortably with clear sightlines from the front.
Does the model have opening parts?
No. As part of Trofeu's DSN43 resin series, this is a sealed one-piece body with no opening doors, bonnet or boot. Detail is concentrated on the exterior surfaces: the two-tone black-and-yellow livery, auxiliary night-stage driving lights, accurate wheel profiles and cockpit geometry visible through the glazing.
What material is the model made from?
The model is built from resin using Trofeu's DSN43 3D high-definition moulding process. This technique allows finer surface resolution than traditional die-cast zinc alloy, which is particularly relevant for the slim body lines and aerodynamic details of the Kadett GT/E fastback coupé.
Why is the driver credited as 'Pêqêpê' rather than by his full name?
'Pêqêpê' is the phonetic rendering of the initials P.Q.P. — standing for Pedro Queiroz Pereira. It is the pseudonym under which he competed and is listed in period entry documents for the 1980 Rallye de Portugal. His brother Manuel Queirós Pereira competed under the similar pseudonym 'Mêquêpê', which is a distinct individual and a different entry.
