founded by Erich Bitter in 1971.

             Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH (Bitter) is a premium sports-luxury automobile marque produced in Germany and later Austria. Bitter specialises in rebodying other                                 manufacturer's vehicles and its initial production was between 1973 and 1989.

             Bitters are based on Opel and Holden production models in collaboration with Intermeccanica, Frua, Ilsa Maggiora, Baur, and Steyr. The Bitter logo appears on the                                   design versions of CD, SC, SC 4WD, CD II, Vero, Bitter Adam, and Mokka X by Bitter.

 

Headquarters Schwelm, Germany

bitter cd 1973-1979

The Bitter CD, a three-door hatchback coupe featuring a 227 hp Chevrolet V8 with a 5.4 displacement, was built between 1973-1979.

The CD was first shown in prototype form on 9 September 1969 at the Frankfurt Auto Show, as the Opel Coupé Diplomat ("CD")[dubious – discuss] 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 by an Erhard Fast's proposal for the 1969 Opel Aero GT.

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.

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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn_10Y2w0wU

sc coupe 1979-1989

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).

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.

Bitter's failure was based on its business model, and the diminishing trend of rebodying other manufacturers' vehicles, which became unpopular by the 1980s.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiNfUhlyWeI

1971-now