The Abu Cardinal 55 gallery

The Abu Cardinal 55 has reached a cult following it was first sold by Abu as a Specimen sized Carp and Salmon reel .It was made available from Abu from 1978 until 1982 and was built in Sweden. It soon proved a favourite by many Carp anglers and was championed by top Carp angler Kevin Maddocks in the 1980's. A very well built reliable fixed spool reel which was made with top materials brass and stainless steel, unlike the poor quality reels now offered by many manufacturers where manufacturing sheer numbers is more important than quality and longivity.

The Cardinal 55 took Mitchell's crown as the best made and most reliable reel for its time before Shimano took the market apart with their bait runner reels, with the fantastic baitrunner facility which is copied by many manufacturers today. 

There were three versions sold as far as I am aware and one version has two slightly different versions within its main characteristrics.

Version One European version 1978-1982

Sold in the United kingdom as well as European countries. All gold writing on the body Cardinal 55 Abu Sweden. There were two versions of the European Silent anti-reverse 1980 and the audible anti-reverse.

The double bail springs in the rotating head proved to be a reliable design. The handles are not as nice as the Mitchell 410 and were often swapped over. The retrieve speed is not that great compared, 5,1:1 when compared to the Mitchell 810 which was 6:1 

Cardinal is written on the European spooled version. Spool capacity 200 metres of recommended 10LB test line 0.30MM in new money.

Graphics all in gold Cardinal 55 Abu Sweden. Not a light weight reel, as sign of a well built reel. When placed on the rod pods where they spent most of the time weight really does not matter.

Priced at £33.75 in Coarse Angler magazine September 1979. Its closest competitor the Mitchell 810 was priced at  £28.76

Reel courtesy of Glyn Evans. Thankyou, Glyn

Version Two Garcia Cardinal 55 1980-1982

Retailed in the United States only . Garcia Cardinal 55 in gold lettering except for Garcia which is in the traditional red triangle.

Issued in a black box with Cardinal 55 printed on the side.

Version Three Garcia Ambassadeur 55

Available in the United states and Canada only in 1980 only. Garcia Cardinal 55 all in gold lettering. Ambassadeur is printed on the spool in gold coloured writing.

Silent anti-reverse check fitted.

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We do service the Cardinal reels and have in some parts in stock for these reels.