Learn Me: Opel Manta Edition?

Hi all,

As the title says. I've done all the googling you can do on an Opel Manta and found ... there's not much on the internet (or the GRM forum) on this car! That out of the way, experiences? Concerns? Pros/Cons?

I've found one (guess which) that looks in great condition. Kinda want to do a vintage rally build? Ala GRM's Saab.

Also: If there's anyone in the Canton, OH area that can go take a peak at a car for me, please message me!

Thanks!

Sources Found thus far:

http://www.justacargeek.com/2009/12/1974-opel-manta-luxus-ebay-find.html

http://www.opelclub.com/html/opel_manta.html

I don't have any info but I hope to see it at a rallycross next year.

You didn't happen to attend the last RallyX near Cinnci? Just noticed you are located in Ohio. I was in the big white ugly Subaru Forester with the expedition rack.

Yep I was in the red Miata, I was meaning to come say hi during the lunch break but you disappeared.

My father bought one new. Said the startability improved.with an aftermarket webber carb. Reported it was underpowered and had trouble on the hills. It was the 4 speed stick. He replaced it with a Aires wagon with the 2.2carbed-3 speed auto monster to put it into perspective..... He was never into sporting.potential, but thought it was neat. Reported the battery tray rotted out. Paper-boy he sold it to wrapped it around a tree.

His was bright green with a flat black hood.

I had a barn-find Kadett that never got running. The aftermarket / replacement support is pretty dismal on Opels, especially if it's not a GT. otoh, there is a small but very dedicated enthusiast base and the Manta is a dead sexy piece of kit.

Plenty of help at opelgt.com.

I wouldn't call them underpowered, strictly speaking, just not maybe as well powered as some. The best handling car I have ever owned, and lots of racing potential up to and including a cannonball.

they came in 1.9 and 1.1 litre engines.. the 1.1 is anemic at best

They were so dominate in showroom stock i believe they were banned. They made good race cars.

There at least used to be a massive performance aftermarket for them in Europe so you might have to look for speed parts over there.

I just keep day dreaming of a TT13B rotary or 1.8 Miata Manta. It's such a good looking car IMO.

Opelgt.com's forum is a usability nightmare. I'm sure there's good info there, but I'm going to have to dig a bit to figure out the lay of the land.

Thanks for all the info so far!

Yeah, opelgt.com is difficult to use. Those of us on there I guess are use to it. Just choose a page that seems closest to what you want to ask and someone will see it and reply. There is also an old yahoo egroup for Opels that still gets some traffic. Manta's are more preferred to turn into racecars, better flexibility and room to make the racecar mods and additions (rollcage, etc).

According to this wikipedia article, it only came with the 1.9 in the states?

"The Manta was normally equipped with a 1.6–1.9-litre CIH engines, although in Europe a small 1.2-litre motor was also offered. All Mantas sold in the U.S. had the 1.9 L and larger heavy duty radiator (an option on European models)."

Is that correct? It sounds as though the smaller displacement engines are to be avoided....

EvanB wrote: Yep I was in the red Miata, I was meaning to come say hi during the lunch break but you disappeared.

Yeah, I felt a headache coming on (unrelated to the rally methinks), and didn't feel like driving the 2.5 hours home with a migraine in the dark. Your car sounded quite the part. Between it, that really well set up golf, and the rx7, I would've thought I was at a stage rally and not just a rallyX.

The 1.2 is probably the 1.1 that came in the Kadette. Didn't come in the Manta in the states. Manta's sold here had 1.9, some later ones may have had a larger version like 2.4. Don't think so but some were converted to that by owners. Rare. The 1.6 was what the 1.9 was derived from so probably in earlier Opels, like Kapitan or Admiral or Diplomat.

The cam-in-head design is a bit different than ohv, kind of a mix between ohc and ohv.

Does anyone know if the 1974/75 "safety bumpers" swap easily to the thin ones?

The bumpers are easy enough, you just have to fab up brackets and find the front signal lights, but you may have to cover some holes related to the bumper shocks.

Only came with the 1.9L here in the states, and '75 was EFI if you find one. Very similar to the VW EFI of the time, so not really too bad to work on if you know what you are doing. Back in the day folks didn't, so a lot were converted back to carb if something went wrong.

I always liked the looks of the Manta.. very pretty car

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSt8GMcH2CGm6HH8O4bhioGLLTNaHsm7YSZ8TeDaVrBPYyYsc5R6z0VP2j6

DeadSkunk wrote: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSt8GMcH2CGm6HH8O4bhioGLLTNaHsm7YSZ8TeDaVrBPYyYsc5R6z0VP2j6

Yes.

DeadSkunk wrote: http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSt8GMcH2CGm6HH8O4bhioGLLTNaHsm7YSZ8TeDaVrBPYyYsc5R6z0VP2j6

that looks like a steinmetz Manta

In reply to mad_machine:

That's what it is. I saw one in one of my recent British magazines and it was gorgeous in yellow.

Unless something goes sour I should be going to pick up that minty one posted in the 2012 forums.....

Build thread or tears (on missing it/it not at all being what the owner said it would be) to ensue. Will keep you guys updated.

had one a LOOOOOONG time ago......

Very nice car... decent chassis, light weight.

The 1.9 liter engine isn't all that bad for the late 1960s, but there are far superior swaps now available.... a well tweaked on 4AGE would do me fine.......

Now for inspiration... the MOST OUTRAGEOUS Manta EVER built anywhere.......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xw4Gxquirk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lMmFwBEUeE

^I came in this thread to post that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7vlmrfLJH8&feature=related

That video took me to this. V12 Manta.