Description
The Bitter SC was introduced in 1979 as the successor to the Bitter Diplomat CD and remained in production until 1989. Designed as a luxury grand tourer, the SC retained the elegant styling and exclusivity that the Bitter brand was known for, while offering improvements in both design and engineering over its predecessor.
The SC came in three body styles: a 2-door coupé, a convertible, and a 4-door sedan, offering more variety than the CD. Like its predecessor, the Bitter SC was based on Opel underpinnings, specifically the Opel Senator, and featured many mechanical components from Opel, though the design was entirely unique.
Under the hood, the SC initially came with Opel’s 3.0-liter inline-six engine, which produced around 180 horsepower. Later versions also offered a larger 3.9-liter inline-six, increasing the power to around 210 horsepower. The engine was mated to either a 3-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission, depending on the buyer’s preference. Though the SC wasn’t a high-performance sports car, it delivered smooth, reliable performance, with a focus on comfort and long-distance cruising rather than outright speed.
The interior of the SC was luxurious, featuring leather upholstery, wood trim, and advanced features for its time, such as electric windows and air conditioning. As with other Bitter cars, it was tailored to provide a premium experience, catering to a niche market of discerning buyers.
Despite its appealing design and luxury features, production of the Bitter SC was limited, with only around 488 units produced across all body styles during its ten-year run. This was partly due to the car’s high price, which put it in competition with more established luxury brands like Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, and partly due to Bitter’s limited production capabilities.
Today, the Bitter SC is a rare and intriguing collector’s car, valued for its distinctive blend of German engineering, Italian-inspired styling, and exclusivity.