CURVY 'Coke-bottle' styling was becoming popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s and in addition to Ford one of the main exponents of this sweeping form of styling was Opel with its attractive Commodore coupe.
The Opel Commodore A was manufactured from 1967 to 1971 and was based on the Rekord C saloon.
The Commodore coupe was initially available with a 2.2L-six-cylinder or a larger 2.5L six developing 120ps with single carburettor.
For 1969 the optional two-speed Powerglide automatic was abandoned in favour of Opel's new three-speed automatic transmission, an update that really ticked the box for this car.
In my early days as a motoring writer in the late 1960s I remember the Commodore being imported into Britain and offered at a number of dealerships.
As Opel was part of the giant American General Motors corporation it was competing with British stablemate Vauxhall but it did not matter one jot to GM.
In those days it was the more the merrier and the Commodore coupe was a breath of fresh air - even in a crowded marketplace.
It was the first six-cylinder car I road tested and as such it has always been a happy memory.
The version I drove was fitted with the three-speed automatic transmission and it was a very smooth drive - even by today's standards.
But the choice of tyres on the imported models was perhaps not quite right because scream was induced even on modest cornering which in one way was not too bad because it attracted glances, more of admiration than alarm.
From September 1969, the 2.5L-engine was pumped up to 120ps and at the same time, both remaining engines received hydraulic lifters for smoother running, a new exhaust system and six crankshaft bearings.
The handbrake lever was moved from its position under the dash to a location between the front seats and the fuel tank was enlarged to 70 litres.
An even more sporty model than the GS, the Commodore GS/E, hit the road in 1970 with Bosche D-jetronic fuel injection developing 150ps which gave a top speed of 123mph.
The GS/E was a popular drive in motorsport and in its final form the Commodore A was a fine ambassador of American-owned German technology.
More than 156,000 Commodore As were built and although they are a rare sight now due to the onset of rust, in my books the Commodore A remains in command of smart 70s style.