Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH (Bitter) is a premium sports-luxury automobile marque produced in Germany and later Austria. Founder Erich Bitter, a former racing driver turned automobile tuner, importer and ultimately designer began crafting his own vehicles after business ventures with Italian manufacture Intermeccanica ended.

Bitter specialises in rebody-ing other manufacturer's vehicles and its initial production was between 1973 and 1989, selling vehicles in Europe and the United States. Thereafter, several prototypes followed with possible future low-volume production, but none arrived until the launch of the Bitter Vero in 2007.

The CD was first shown in prototype form on 9 September 1969 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, as the Opel Coupé Diplomat ("CD") derived from the sedan version. It was designed by Charles M. "Chuck" Jordan (Opel's Design boss between 1967-1971 and later vice-president of General Motors (GM)) and Opel designer Dick Ruzzin, with the assistance of George A. Gallion, David Holls, Herbert Killmer and Hideo Kodama, as well as Erhard Fast (Director of the Opel Designstudios 3 for Advanced Design from 1964). The tail was inspired on a proposal by Erhard Fast's for the 1969 Opel Aero GT.

Thanks to the positive reaction to the CD prototype, Opel considered developing a production model. The doors would adopt a conventional opening system and the bumper bar, windshield wipers and other parts would be derived from the Opel Diplomat in order to facilitate production and maintain costs. Robert "Bob" Lutz, who was the Head of Opel at the time and was keen to produce the car, commissioned Pietro Frua to advance the concept and produce two road-going prototypes.

In 1971, it was David R. "Dave" Holls (Opel design boss since July 1971; previously assistant to Chuck Jordan) who encouraged Erich Bitter to build the Bitter CD. As a result, Bitter GMBH was formed in 1971 to market the CD. He based his company on a 4,000 m² site in his home town of Schwelm, Germany.

opel cd concept

Bitter’s German engineering heritage meant that like Audi or BMW, it’s cars were tough and built for the long haul. Unlike a typical Audi or Mercedes, Bitter cars had a bit of Italian flair about them. The company’s first car was actually born from a Opel. Opel teased buyers with a futuristic concept that never quite manifested in it’s car line. For Opel, it’s stunning Opel Coupe Diplomat (CD) concept car at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show would get another lease on life with someone else.

Opel never committed to bringing the CD to market. Sensing that it was too good a thing to let go, Bob Lutz, then head of Opel commissioned Pietro Frua, one of Italy’s small coachbuilders to develop a prototype that they saw as an experiment. This is when Erich Bitter worked out a deal to start a new company that would build the CD.

After design modifications from Bitter and Fura, Bitter’s company took the Opel concept and made it into a sleek low volume luxury GT. Final production would be done by Baur in Stuttgart Germany. Interestingly, Opel still had a lot of input in the development of the car hence the name sometimes used name Opel Bitter CD.

When the final product was ready for 1973’s Frankfurt Motor Show, it did not resemble the original Opel show car from 1969 save for the overall profile. Compared to similar cars like the Iso Grifo, the Bitter CD was just as beautiful, and nearly as powerful despite it’s humble Opel Diplomat donor chassis. It was said that the CD was quite the star of the show, getting 176 orders wealthy showgoers. Bitter had hoped to produce as many as 200 units a year at about 54,000 DM or about $34,000 USD. That was a lot considering that a more powerful Maserati Ghibli or Ferrari Daytona could be had in the low 20s. Due to the oil crisis and inflation, only 395 units were made by the end of production in 1979.

cd

The Bitter CD, a three-door hatchback coupe featuring a 227 hp  Chevrolet V8 with a 327ci displacement, was built between 1973-1979.

In 1971, it was David R. "Dave" Holls (Opel design boss since July 1971; previously assistant to Chuck Jordan) who encouraged Erich Bitter to build the Bitter CD. As a result, Bitter GMBH was formed in 1971 to market the CD. He based his company on a 4,000 m² site in his home town of Schwelm, Germany. Bitter based his original CD designs on those of Frua, before making alterations closer to production. The basic design changes to Frua's CD design vis-à-vis the 1969 Opel CD consisted of a truncated rear end, modified windshield and less chrome application.

The Bitter CD was displayed, with great success, at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, where Erich Bitter took 176 orders for his stylish new coupe. However, the 1973 oil crisis led to the cancellation of most orders. Despite this, production commenced later that same year at Baur GmbH. The target of 200 units a year was never realised, and Bitter sold 395 units in total. The purchase price in 1974 was DM 58,400.

Total production by year   1973  1974  1975  1976  1977  1978   1979  Body in white

                                                              6          99        79         73       71         30         37                5

sc

The first SC model launched was the coupé in 1979, followed by the convertible in 1981 at the Frankfurt Auto Show and the sedan in 1984. Like the CD, the SC was based on Opel's largest model at the time, the Opel Senator. It remained in production until 1989.

Exterior styling design echoed that of the Pininfarina-designed Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 first shown in 1972, and later marketed as the 400 (1976) and 412 (1979). The SC was powered by a fuel-injected Opel 3.0-Litre in-line 6-cylinder engine of 177 hp  or a stroked 3.9-Litre version of 207 hp.

Along with the introduction of the convertible in 1981, a four-wheel-drive version of the coupé was also added. The four-wheel-drive system was developed by Ferguson Research who also offered it for installation into the Opel Senator/Vauxhall Royale. In 1984, Bitter announced at the New York Auto Show that it would enter into a limited marketing agreement with GM to sell the sedan version in the United States, through participating Buick dealerships.

In 2003, in an attempt to resume its small-scale production, Bitter presented a modern reincarnation of the CD, known as the CD II. It was based on the Australian-made Holden Monaro but rumoured to feature a V12 engine.  Investors were sought but the car never reached full production.

Total production by bodyshape   Coupé   Convertible   Sedan

                                                                             461                22                   5

 tasco prototype

In 1991, at the Frankfurt International Auto Show (IAA) Bitter displayed a concept car named TASCO, a mid-engined in cooperation with the British company MGA.
Although for a short time there were serious thoughts about producing the car, it ultimately remained what it was originally intended to be. An exciting vision of a sportscar that was ahead of its time. Much to the disappointment, of many BITTER-fans and Car enthusiasts.

In 1991 he approached MGA Developments in Coventry to create a Supercar for his company, which would rival the likes of Lamborghini and Ferrari. Spice, a UK based Motor Race were to prepare the chassis and would manufacture the car, for his team to later trim back in Germany.
The sketch programm began in the April, with Steve Harper and Lawson Swinfield creating the theme, and by May a scale model was developed, and machined as a full size see through mockup. This model, complete with an interior tub, was then unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1991.

berlina

In 1994 Opel replaced the Omega A with the Omega B. The Omega B was not just a further development of the Omega A but a really new car.
Erich Bitter worked together with Opel designer Hideo Kadama for the design and MGA Developments from Coventry built the prototype of the new Type 3 Limousine based on the Opel Omega B. The car was presented on the 1995 Geneva Motor Show with a champagne metallic body and black leather interior.
The car would of course get the obliged luxury interior with all modern technology. As motorisation a 24-valve V6 3-litre turbo engine with 250 bhp was planned.
In 1996 the Bitter Type 3 Limousine was renamed Bitter "Berlina" and was presented with a turqoise metallic body and a cream leather interior. Compared with the 1995 model the new Berlina received a major facelift with new bonnet, bumpers, grille, lights and wheels.
To raise the necessary funds for the mass production Erich Bitter wanted to bring his company to the New York Stock Exchange. The stock market launch failed because of suspicious transactions of a German investment agent. Another potential investor was shot in the US. A few more attempts to raise the money also failed.
When Karmann, who were going to assemble the Bitter Berlina, also pulled out, it was over and out for the Bitter Berlina. In 1997 all companies and activities around the Bitter Berlina were stopped.
Eventually only one car was built. The turquoise Bitter Berlina is in private hands and can occasionally be seen on car shows.

gt1

In 1998 Erich Bitter and his former colleague Abarth factory rider Toine Hezemans investigated the building of a race car based on the Lotus Elise GT1 but with a more powerful engine. Several adaptations to the chassis and body were needed to fit the Dodge Viper 8-litre V10 engine that was also planned for the Bitter TASCO. In the Bitter GT1 the engine would deliver 640 bhp.
Two cars were built. One for Hezemans' own racing team and another one for a Swiss customer.
At first Bitter's involvement was mainly needed for the homologation of the cars but it seems that they also considered a small series of street legal cars.
From the start the Bitter GT1's had technical problems, mainly with the gearbox. They were no match for the McLarens, Mercedes and Porsches in the GT1 class. The project was stopped after a few races only and the plans for a street legal version were also dropped.

cd2

On the 2003 Geneva Motorshow Erich Bitter presented a new big coupé. As the technical base for the new car was the Australian Holden Monaro, the car was presented in right hand drive configuration only. The engine was the 345 bhp Chevrolet Corvette V8 5.7 litre engine. This was the actual successor of the 5.4 litre engine that was used 30 years ago in the Bitter CD. The use of a new 440 bhp Chevrolet Corvette V8 6.0 litre engine or even a Cadillac V12 7.5 litre engine was also investigated. The body and interior, however, were own Bitter designs.
Bitter was still looking for the money to start up production and  in December 2004 when an investor for 2.500.000 EURO was found and a new company, i.e. Bitter Automobil Produktions GmbH was founded in Braunschweig. If everything proceded as planned, production would start in the autumn of 2005.
On the 2005 Geneva Motorshow the car was presented as an almost ready to be produced model. The car was repainted in red and still had the basic Holden Monaro engine and running gear. The final production model, however, would receive the brand new 6.0 litre LS2 engine from the 2005 Pontiac GTO.
The originally planned number of 600 cars was reduced to 50 cars per year during 3 years. The car would be priced around 120.000 EURO.
Unfortunately GM announced the production stop of the Holden Monaro at the end of 2005 and the Pontiac GTO in the summer of 2006 so once more the project came to an end with only one car built.

vero

In 2007, Bitter resumed small-scale production by launching the Vero at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show. This car was derived from the Australian-made Holden Caprice (WM) sedan (the long-wheelbase luxury derivative of the Holden Commodore (VE)), believed to be purchased directly from Holden thanks to Erich Bitter's friendship with Holden's former Peter Hanenberger. Relative to the donor car, the Vero features unique restyling claimed to have cost A$1 million, which take about a week to apply.

The donor car's Chevrolet V8 6.0-Litre 362 CV  engine, with a six-speed automatic transmission, remained unchanged.

The Vero was sold in Germany for €121,975 and was discontinued in 2012.

insignia

The "Insignia by Bitter" was presented in 2010. The first "Insignia by Bitter" was based on an Opel Insignia Limousine. In 2011 the "Insignia by Bitter" based on the Opel Insignia Sports Tourer followed. By the end of 2012 approximately 18 Opel Insignias were converted to "Insignia by Bitter".
In 2017 Opel launched an all new Insignia. The new Insignia is referred to as Insignia B and consequently the first Insignia is now referred to as Insignia A. In the summer of 2018 a new "Insignia by Bitter" based on the Insignia B Grand Sport and "Insignia by Bitter" based on the Insignia B Sports Tourer was presented.

Bitter currently produces luxury versions of the Opel Adam, the Opel Cascada and Opel Mokka. The Bitter Adam (marketed as "Adam by Bitter") has been produced since 2013. Production of the Bitter Mokka (marketed as "Mokka by Bitter" begun in 2016. The name was changed to Mokka X (marketed as "Mokka X by Bitter") in late 2016 along with a facelift, just like the Opel and Vauxhall versions.

www.bittercars.com