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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                          [DYKEMA GOSSETT LETTERHEAD]

                                                
                                 April 5, 1999


Oxford Automotive, Inc.
1250 Stephenson Highway
Troy, Michigan  48083

      Re:      Registration  Statement on S-4 in  connection  with the Exchange 
               Offer of 10 1/8% Senior  Subordinated  Notes Due 2007,  Series D 
               for 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007, Series A, B and C

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Oxford Automotive, Inc., a Michigan
corporation (the "Company") and Lobdell Emery Corporation, a Michigan
corporation, Winchester Fabrication Corporation, a Michigan corporation,
Creative Fabrication Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, Parallel Group
International, Inc., an Indiana corporation, Laserweld International LLC, an
Indiana limited liability company, Concept Management Corporation, a Michigan
corporation, Lewis Emery Capital Corporation, a Michigan corporation, Howell
Industries, Inc., a Michigan corporation, RPI Holdings, Inc., a Michigan
corporation, RPI, Inc., a Michigan corporation, Prudenville Manufacturing, Inc.,
a Michigan corporation, Oxford Suspension, Inc., a Michigan corporation, OASP,
Inc., a Michigan corporation and OASP II, Inc., a Michigan corporation (each a
"Subsidiary Guarantor" and together the "Subsidiary Guarantors") in connection
with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of a Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") relating to the Exchange
Offer by the Company of up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 10 1/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series D (the "Notes") for $125,000,000
aggregate of 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series A, $35,000,000
aggregate of 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series B and $40,000,000
aggregate of 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007, Series C. The Notes are
to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture") by and among the Company
and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee.

         In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such company records,
documents, certificates and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary
or appropriate to enable us to render the opinions expressed below.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:



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                          [DYKEMA GOSSETT LETTERHEAD]

Oxford Automotive, Inc.
April 5, 1999
Page 2
          
          1.               The Notes, when executed and authenticated in
                           accordance with the terms of the Indenture, and upon
                           issuance in accordance with the terms of the Exchange
                           Offer in the Prospectus constituting a part of the
                           Registration Statement, will be valid and binding
                           obligations of the Company, enforceable against the
                           Company in accordance with their terms, except as (a)
                           the enforceability thereof may be limited by or
                           subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
                           conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or other
                           similar laws now or hereafter affecting creditors'
                           rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration and
                           the availability of equitable remedies may be limited
                           by equitable principles of general applicability.

          2.                Each guaranty of the Subsidiary Guarantors, when
                           executed and authenticated in accordance with the
                           terms of the Indenture, and upon issuance in
                           accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer in
                           the Prospectus constituting a part of the
                           Registration Statement, will be a valid and binding
                           obligation of each Subsidiary Guarantor, enforceable
                           against such Subsidiary Guarantor in accordance with
                           its terms, except as (a) the enforceability thereof
                           may be limited by or subject to bankruptcy,
                           insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
                           moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter
                           affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) rights
                           of acceleration and the availability of equitable
                           remedies may be limited by equitable principles of
                           general applicability.

         In rendering the opinions set forth above, we have assumed that the
laws of the State of New York as to the enforceability of the Notes and the
guaranties of the Subsidiary Guarantors are not different from the laws of the
State of Michigan (excluding the choice of law rules).

         We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus constituting a part of the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not concede that we are experts within
the meaning of the Act or the rules or regulations thereunder or that this
consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.


                                            Very truly yours,

                                            DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC

                                            /s/ Dykema Gossett PLLC