Bitter CD 5.4 V8
The Bitter CD was the creation of Erich Bitter, a former racing driver who saw an opportunity to create a German grand tourer that could compete with Italian exotics. The CD (standing for Coupé Diplomat) used the chassis and drivetrain from the Opel Diplomat, featuring a Chevrolet-sourced 5.4-liter V8 engine and De Dion rear suspension — one of the few production cars to use this sophisticated layout. The stunning body was designed by Giovanni Michelotti and hand-built by Karosserie Baur in Stuttgart, the same firm that later produced BMW's Baur convertibles. The result was a car that looked like it belonged on the streets of Milan rather than the roads of the Ruhr. The CD offered a compelling package: American V8 power and reliability, German engineering and build quality, and Italian styling flair. With a price tag equivalent to a Ferrari, the Bitter CD was never going to be a volume seller, but the 395 examples produced earned a devoted following. Celebrity owners included Herbert von Karajan, the legendary conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic. The Bitter CD remains one of the most elegant and underappreciated grand tourers of the 1970s.
Chevrolet V8 drivetrain components are readily available and affordable. The hand-formed body panels are unique to each car and irreplaceable. Check for rust in sills and wheel arches. De Dion rear axle components are specialized. Interior trim is high-quality leather but replacement materials are scarce.
Only 395 units were produced over the car's production run. Each body was hand-formed by Baur in Stuttgart and shipped to Bitter's facility in Schwelm for final assembly with Opel mechanicals.