The Bitter Diplomat CD is a Grand Tourisme Coupé for enthusiasts who love an exclusive eccentric vehicle with sophisticated technology, dynamic styling and exceptional driving comfort. It combines classic elegance with design elements of the future and meets the highest standards in terms of equipment. As a Classic Car, the Bitter Diplomat CD is rare but exciting. Produced from the fall of 1973 until the end of 1979, the Bitter CD was a sports car from the German automaker Bitter that combined American and German technology with an Italian-style hatchback body.

The Bitter Diplomat CD sports car, which was manufactured by Baur in Stuttgart from 1973 to 1979, was able to inspire numerous enthusiasts, including many celebrities, with its beguiling Italian design language paired with the rock-solid technology of the Opel Diplomat B. The Bitter Diplomat CD was a classic car. Customers included soccer greats Paul Breitner and Bernd Hölzenbein as well as singing talents Ireen Sheer and Heino. Powered by the Diplomat’s 230 hp V8 engine with a displacement of 5,354 cubic centimeters, the imposing 1760-kilogram “Bitter CD,” as it was commonly known, was capable of 209 kilometers per hour and sprinted from 0 to 100 km/h in 9.7 seconds with full use of its three-speed automatic transmission. Compared with other sports cars of the day, the Gran Turismo, which cost just under 60,000 marks and was designed as a 2-plus-2-seater, was no great shakes, but it did impress with its beautiful Italian bodywork and highly luxurious interior.

The Bitter Diplomat CD actually has its roots in Italy, as its creator Erich Bitter derived it from the Intermeccanica Indra, which was already equipped with Diplomat components. Bitter had been importing cars from the Turin-based carmaker Intermeccanica Italia to Germany since 1969. He was dissatisfied with the quality and decided in 1971 to offer his own car in the future. Just two years later, the Opel-backed Bitter Diplomat CD was presented to the world public at the 1973 International Motor Show in Frankfurt, and Erich Bitter received around 200 orders for his luxury car right at the start. However, some of these were cancelled due to the first oil crisis. With 70 units sold in the first year of production, however, the small manufacturer could still be satisfied.

However, some customers were bothered by the “Diplomat” in the model designation, so this addition was later dropped and the car was called the Bitter CD for short. While the Bitter CD was rather average in terms of driving dynamics, it delighted its clientele above all in terms of design. The design was based on a study by then Opel stylist Charles Jordan presented at the IAA in 1969, which was to be translated into series production by Italian designer Pietro Frua. Thus, in 1970, the so-called “Frua CD” was created, from whose body cut the Opel designers:inside and Erich Bitter finally tailored together the beguilingly beautiful dress of the Bitter CD. Whoever wants to buy a Bitter Diplomat CD today, however, has to look for a long time. From 1973 to 1979, just 395 units were built.