The Bitter Truth: Austria's Automotive Legacy

Erich Bitter was a race driver and businessman who founded Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, commonly known as Bitter. The company produced a range of luxury cars, including the Bitter CD, SC, Blazer, Super Aero, Rallye GT, Type 3, Tasco, Berlina, GT1, CD2, Vero, Vero Sport, Insignia, Adam, Mokka, Cascada, Corsa, and Grandland. Bitter cars were initially produced in Germany, with later models, such as the Vero and Vero Sport, assembled in Austria. The company's founder, Erich Bitter, passed away in 2023, but the company continues to create luxury versions of Opel production cars.

The Bitter Vero was based on the Holden Caprice and Commodore

Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, commonly known as Bitter, is an Austrian automobile manufacturer. The company was founded by Erich Bitter, a former racing driver turned automobile tuner, importer and designer. The company specialises in rebodying other manufacturer's vehicles.

The Vero Sport, unveiled in 2009, was a variant of the Vero based on the short-wheelbase Holden Commodore (VE) SS sedan. Like the Vero, the Vero Sport was discontinued in 2012.

In addition to the Vero and Vero Sport, Bitter has produced a range of other vehicles, including the Bitter CD, Bitter SC, and luxury versions of Opel models such as the Insignia, Adam, Mokka, and Cascada.

The first Bitter car was the Bitter CD, which was based on the Opel Diplomat

Erich Bitter, a former racing driver, founded the Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, commonly known as Bitter, a premium sports-luxury automobile marque. The company initially produced cars in Germany and later in Austria. The first Bitter car was the Bitter CD, which was based on the Opel Diplomat. The Opel Diplomat was a car that was designed by Charles M. "Chuck" Jordan, the Design Boss at Opel, and Opel designer Dick Ruzzin. The Bitter CD was a three-door hatchback coupe featuring a 227 hp Chevrolet V8 with a 327ci displacement. It was built between 1973 and 1979, with a total of 395 units sold.

The Bitter CD was first showcased in prototype form at the 1969 Frankfurt Auto Show. The prototype was well-received, and Opel considered developing a production model. The positive reaction to the prototype led Opel design boss David R. "Dave" Holls to encourage Erich Bitter to build the Bitter CD. As a result, Bitter GmbH was formed in 1971 to market the CD. The company was located in Bitter's hometown of Schwelm, Germany. However, due to limited resources, Bitter collaborated with Baur GmbH in Stuttgart for the assembly of the car.

The Bitter CD was officially launched at the 1973 Frankfurt Motor Show, where it received 176 orders. Unfortunately, the 1973 oil crisis impacted sales, and most orders were cancelled. Despite this setback, production commenced later that year, but the target of 200 units per year was never achieved. The Bitter CD had a high price tag, comparable to a Rolls Royce, which may have contributed to the lower-than-expected sales.

The Bitter CD was based on the Opel Diplomat but featured some modifications. The floor-pan was shortened, and the suspension was tuned for the new car's weight and size. However, the mechanicals remained untouched, retaining their General Motors origins. The car was built and trimmed by Baur to a very high standard. The engine was sourced from General Motors, featuring a Chevrolet 5.4-litre V8.

The Bitter SC was based on the Opel Senator

The Bitter SC was the second production car from German automaker Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, commonly known as Bitter. The SC was based on Opel's largest model at the time, the Opel Senator. The Opel Senator was a four-door sedan sold in Australia as the Holden Commodore and in the UK as the Vauxhall Senator.

The Bitter SC was first released in 1979 as a direct replacement for the Bitter CD. The car was initially unveiled at the 1979 Frankfurt Motor Show, with only the two-door coupé model available at the time. The design of the car was inspired by the Ferrari 365 GT4, which would later become the 400i. The SC was powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six engine, which produced 178 hp and 173 lb-ft of torque. While the car lacked high-performance capabilities, it was known for its cruising abilities.

The bodies of the Bitter SC were made in Italy and then assembled by Bitter in Germany. Due to increasing production volumes, assembly was later handed off to Steyr-Daimler-Puch in Graz, Austria, in 1983. Only 461 examples of the Bitter SC were built during its production run from 1979 to 1989, making them highly collectible today.

The company founder, Erich Bitter, was a professional cyclist before becoming a racing driver

Erich Bitter, the founder of Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, was a professional cyclist before he became a racing driver. He spent much of his childhood in the bicycle shop owned and operated by his parents. Cycling consumed much of his young life, and by early adulthood, he was one of the best professional cyclists in Germany, even competing in the Tour de France.

During his cycling career, Bitter developed a strong relationship with German automaker NSU, as they also produced bicycles. When he left the world of professional cycling in his mid-20s, he began racing cars for NSU, quickly becoming a rising star in the German motorsports scene. Over the course of his 11-year racing career, he competed in various vehicles, including NSUs, Porsches, Ferraris, Mercedes 300SLs, Opels, and Abarths.

In the early 1960s, while still an active racing driver, Bitter launched his own company called Rallye-Bitter, which sold tuning kits, car accessories, and protective Nomex racing suits. In 1969, he retired from professional racing and began importing Abarth cars into Germany, followed by vehicles from the Italian-American company Intermeccanica. However, quality control issues with Intermeccanica spurred him to develop and sell cars under his own name. Thus, his passion for automobiles and racing led him to establish his own automobile company, crafting his own vehicles and marking the beginning of the Bitter car marque.

The company is still in business, creating luxury versions of Opel cars

Erich Bitter Automobil GmbH, commonly known as Bitter, is a German sports-luxury automobile manufacturer founded by Erich Bitter, a former racing driver. The company initially produced cars from 1973 to 1989, selling in Europe and the United States. After a period of prototyping, the company launched the Bitter Vero in 2007, marking a return to low-volume production.

Bitter has since focused on creating luxury versions of Opel cars for the European market. The company has produced luxury variants of the Opel Insignia OPC, Opel Adam, Opel Cascada, Opel Mokka, and Opel Corsa GS-Line. These models include the Insignia by Bitter, Adam by Bitter, Mokka by Bitter, Cascada by Bitter, and Corsa by Bitter.

The Opel Adam by Bitter, for instance, has been in production since 2013. Similarly, the Opel Mokka by Bitter entered production in 2016, with a name change to Mokka X by Bitter in late 2016, mirroring the updates to the standard Opel and Vauxhall models.

Bitter continues to operate and develop luxury versions of Opel cars, including the Mokka/Mokka e, Corsa GS-Line, Grandland X, and Insignia models. The company's history and unique offerings have fostered a dedicated community of enthusiasts, as evidenced by the existence of clubs such as the Bitter Club International and the Bitter Owners Club.

Frequently asked questions