RE: Opel Manta GT/E | Spotted

RE: Opel Manta GT/E | Spotted

Monday 6th May

Opel Manta GT/E | Spotted

Not long now until the Manta's EV reincarnation; no better time to gawp at a GT/E, then


Whatever the powertrain, heritage sells right now. From restomodded everything to electric comebacks, there’s really nothing to rival the warm embrace of nostalgia as a chilly future looms large. Look at the new Renault 5: for years Renault made innovative and futuristic EVs that enjoyed modest sales. But package up EV underpinnings in a shape the world recognises, and watch the interest soar. It’s little wonder that so many seem keen on the retro route given its apparently guaranteed rate of return. 

So it feels like a good time for the Opel Manta to stage a comeback. Remember that in 2022 Opel said the badge would return in 2025, and even created the funky Manta GSe Elektromod to whet the appetite. It would seem odd to go to that effort (and create something that looked so production-viable) to then deliver something drastically different. Let’s see. 2025 now isn’t very far away, and arguably Vauxhall’s EV lineup could do with some jazzing up. It should be just the thing. 

For now (not that there’s ever much excuse required) here’s an old Manta. The best one, too (supremely rare, homologation special 400 aside), a fuel-injected GT/E. The 2.0-litre four-pot was much more about ample torque than screaming power (and nobody mention V6 Capris), though 110hp or so goes a long way with so much less car to haul around. Like so many Vauxhalls of the '80s and '90s, the Manta was reasonably popular in period but now increasingly rare. The same could be said for the Calibra now, too. Fondly remembered and something of a cult classic, Opel Mantas are prized. Should the EV actually happen, interest in the original Manta A and Manta B is only likely to increase. 

This 1983 car looks fantastic. The advantage of Mantas being rare now is that they tend to be kept and collected by those who really know and love them. No longer cheap and cheerful classics, they get doted on in a way nobody would have expected just a few short years ago. Having been with its current custodian for 16 years (who seemingly purchased it from the original owner), the GT/E has covered a mere 46,000 miles in 41 years. Both keepers knew they had something special on their hands, evidently.

Everything points to it being a properly cherished example, too, including a recent £5k recommission. Looks great on it as well, with lustrous paintwork, an immaculately presented interior and an engine bay to stand back and admire. It must be one of the best still out there, a real credit to those who’ve owned it and worked on it. On sale during the hot hatch boom years of the '80s, the Manta probably looked quite old-fashioned once upon a time. Now it looks like a brilliant slice of retro coupe charm. 

In a perfect world, the Manta EV would launch as a fun, interesting and attainable electric car (and not the SUV that has been mooted since we saw the show car). Certainly, the market has enough wildly powerful and extremely expensive battery-powered vehicles. Something around £30k doesn’t sound unreasonable given the concept was sub-150hp and used a 31kWh battery. That’s also the amount that’ll be needed for this GT/E, and must be top dollar for a Manta. Still, there are many more expensive Capris and hot hatches out there. If the Opel coupe is your cup of chai, what an opportunity this could be. 


SPECIFICATION | OPEL MANTA GT/E

Engine: 1,979cc four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 112@5,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 119@3,400rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1987
Recorded mileage: 46,000
Price new: £6,444
Yours for: £29,995

See the original advert here

Author
Discussion

sifocus

Original Poster:

88 posts

175 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Lovely car - I wasn’t expecting £30k though 😳

Lowtimer

4,293 posts

169 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
This is an exact twin of the one I did 110,000 miles on in the early-mid 1990s... it was a 1987 on an E plate, three or four years old when I got it, and I gradually upgraded it with Billies, an Ansa exhaust, four-pot calipers and big brakes, a quick rack (which made the steering very heavy when parking, but was perfect on the move) and a 2.2 Carlton engine with a Bill Blydenstein head. And upgraded the lights with separate wiring straight off the battery and a relay to operate them.

It was lukewarm but good transport when I bought it, but when I got it into its final form it was for the time pretty quick and had really excellent handling of the old school, over the moors and also on the dual-carriageway roundabouts. It was a lot of fun and served me well over about five years of all-weather, all-purpose motoring

Firebobby

554 posts

40 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Great cars in there day, better handling than Capri's of the same era. But, does "a lovely engine bay" really justify a £30k price tag? Not in my mind, at £20k it would be a fine investment though. IMHO of course.

FaustF

690 posts

155 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Have to say, the price took me by surprise.

DodgyGeezer

40,624 posts

191 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Sadly it's the hatch (which i never reaaly liked) and not the coupe (which i loved).

Robigus

41 posts

233 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
DodgyGeezer said:
Sadly it's the hatch (which i never reaaly liked) and not the coupe (which i loved).
This.

Back in the day, pub discussions were: “Red Top or Rover V8?”

Argue until hazy.

Rough101

1,778 posts

76 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
These must have been more than £6k in 1987?

An XR2 was about £8k and a basic Escort around £6k

I do recall they were the same price as an Astra SRi, as a colleague spent a long time choosing between them, ultimately getting the Astra.


wistec1

306 posts

42 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
You would hemorrhage money restoring one of these bought for 8K so this finished specimen is on the money just not for some peeps who think it's only worth what they want to pay. The price of near perfect nostalgia and turn key motoring is often higher especially when it sits right in the age gap of that 60+ person who had or wanted one back in the day. Find another as good. It's not for me though and it's the wrong colour if it was.

Andy86GT

339 posts

66 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Lowtimer said:
This is an exact twin of the one I did 110,000 miles on in the early-mid 1990s... it was a 1987 on an E plate, three or four years old when I got it, and I gradually upgraded it with Billies, an Ansa exhaust, four-pot calipers and big brakes, a quick rack (which made the steering very heavy when parking, but was perfect on the move) and a 2.2 Carlton engine with a Bill Blydenstein head. And upgraded the lights with separate wiring straight off the battery and a relay to operate them.

It was lukewarm but good transport when I bought it, but when I got it into its final form it was for the time pretty quick and had really excellent handling of the old school, over the moors and also on the dual-carriageway roundabouts. It was a lot of fun and served me well over about five years of all-weather, all-purpose motoring
That makes triplets then!
I had this exact model and colour, C reg. I bought it new having sold my Sunbeam Ti for a good price.
Had the Manta for 9 years and 90k. Sold it due to first born coming along and also because it was rusting really badly, sills and inner wings. Superficially looked ok still. Only mods were the irmsher quad headlights and a sports exhaust.
Despite the 110bhp it felt quick for the time. Remember the back stepping out a speed due to a mid turn bump (live axel), but some 'oppo had it collected up thankfully. I put it down to the decent handling rather than any skill from myself.
It was probably nostalgic memories of the Manta behind the reason for the GT86 acquisition, a lot of similarities, and in black too biggrin


Its Just Adz

14,186 posts

210 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
In a world where a Sierra is advertised at £350k, this seems good value.

Rob 131 Sport

2,569 posts

53 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
This looks a great example even though I do prefer the booted variant.

A colleague had an Exclusive Model back in the mid 90’s and it just felt so outdated compared with my E30 320i SE.

Bobupndown

1,859 posts

44 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Robigus said:
DodgyGeezer said:
Sadly it's the hatch (which i never reaaly liked) and not the coupe (which i loved).
This.

Back in the day, pub discussions were: “Red Top or Rover V8?”

Argue until hazy.
Another vote for the booted version. The hatch shape spoils this car for me, it just doesn't evoke memories of McCrea, Brookes, Fisher and McHale, tail out in a 400 the way a coupe does.


Edited by Bobupndown on Monday 6th May 09:49

blearyeyedboy

6,327 posts

180 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Its time has come. I always thought more of these than of Capris, but then I was about 6 or 7 years old at the time they came out so not really qualified to comment(!).

Given the silly money 80s metal can go for, this seems good value to the right collector. You'd struggle to find another well-cared for at that money, and struggle to restore an inferior example to the same standard within the same budget.

I'll disagree with some posters on the shape: I think the hatch looks more coherent.

redroadster

1,760 posts

233 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Nice example but would you spend 30k on this or something with a more prestigious badge and build quality for same price ? .
Prob depends if you owned one in past and wanted to relive your youth .

Earthdweller

13,633 posts

127 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Lovely blast from the past

Mate had a white one back in around 89 which iirc had a boot rather than a hatch

Always liked the look of them

GreatScott2016

1,223 posts

89 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Nice, but booted version for me smile

cookie1600

2,134 posts

162 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Lowtimer said:
This is an exact twin of the one I did 110,000 miles on in the early-mid 1990s... it was a 1987 on an E plate, three or four years old when I got it
Same here too, but mine was a 1984 car identical to the one offered. I certainly don't remember it being the equivalent of £30K back then though and it was less than three years old.

JJJ.

1,364 posts

16 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
The coupe was the one for me. Liked everything about it but unfortunately let down by the engine, it being an old non crossflow CIH design, basically an Opel six cylinder from the sixties with two cylinders chopped off if memory serves me correctly.


Lowtimer

4,293 posts

169 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Andy86GT said:
Had the Manta for 9 years and 90k. Sold it due to first born coming along and also because it was rusting really badly, sills and inner wings. Superficially looked ok still. Only mods were the irmsher quad headlights and a sports exhaust.
Despite the 110bhp it felt quick for the time. Remember the back stepping out a speed due to a mid turn bump (live axel), but some 'oppo had it collected up thankfully. I put it down to the decent handling rather than any skill from myself.
It was probably nostalgic memories of the Manta behind the reason for the GT86 acquisition, a lot of similarities, and in black too biggrin
Yeah, it was the rust that got mine in the end. I needed a stone-reliable car that I could carry on using in all weathers for 20k to 24K a year and as a self-employed person I couldn't afford to have something that would need constant attention at that stage and mileage, and I didn't have anywhere to keep it safely stored off road, or I would have stashed it away. Also my daughter was at the "lots of clobber required when going on holiday" age. So
My practical replacement at the time was nearly new Mondeo 24v, and my later spiritual replacement was a 1990 944 Turbo, similar vintage of design but a bit more sophisticated, and I still have that today.

biggbn

23,625 posts

221 months

Monday 6th May
quotequote all
Robigus said:
DodgyGeezer said:
Sadly it's the hatch (which i never reaaly liked) and not the coupe (which i loved).
This.

Back in the day, pub discussions were: “Red Top or Rover V8?”

Argue until hazy.
Theu go VERY well with the 3.0 24v straight six from the Carlton or Senator!