RE: Opel Manta GTE: Spotted
Discussion
Lowtimer said:
I did 100,000 miles in mine, a black 1987 3-door, which I ran for about five years from about 1990.
It rusted a bit, above one of the headlights (common place for them to go) and having needed a fuel tank replacement (also common, and responsible for sending a lot of them to the scrapper). Some skilful welding in both cases kept mine looking OK.
I upgraded it steadily as bits wore out, and by about half way through my time with it, it was a fine drive, much better than the Mark 2 RS2000 I'd had previously. Though it absorbed quite a bit of money to make it so. The brakes were marginal but much improved for a set of big Carlton four-pot calipers and vented discs on it, a quick rack which made the steering too heavy for the missus, and a tweaked, balanced 2.2 cam-in-head Carlton motor with an unleaded-compatible cylinder head done by Bill Blydenstein himself. With that engine it was smooth and quiet and an absolute torque monster, pretty fast for the early 90s, with lovely handling, especially in the wet given a good set of dampers. It could keep a standard 2.5 litre Porsche 944 surprisingly honest, being substantially lighter. The extra torque also wiped out the gearbox after about 20,000 miles , though the replacement (another ex-scrapper standard unit) was fine.
It only went in the end because a lot of the mechanical everything I hadn't replaced was getting very worn and it started stranding me with things like fuel pumps and ignition components going pop and at the time I needed super-reliable transport for long distance work journeys. I still remember it fondly though.
Sounds similar to my old car - got it just after its first MOT at over 30,000 miles in 1987 - ran it for a couple of years as standard engine, then a 2.2i and final 2 years as a 2.4i. Kept it for 7 years and took it to over 130,000 milesIt rusted a bit, above one of the headlights (common place for them to go) and having needed a fuel tank replacement (also common, and responsible for sending a lot of them to the scrapper). Some skilful welding in both cases kept mine looking OK.
I upgraded it steadily as bits wore out, and by about half way through my time with it, it was a fine drive, much better than the Mark 2 RS2000 I'd had previously. Though it absorbed quite a bit of money to make it so. The brakes were marginal but much improved for a set of big Carlton four-pot calipers and vented discs on it, a quick rack which made the steering too heavy for the missus, and a tweaked, balanced 2.2 cam-in-head Carlton motor with an unleaded-compatible cylinder head done by Bill Blydenstein himself. With that engine it was smooth and quiet and an absolute torque monster, pretty fast for the early 90s, with lovely handling, especially in the wet given a good set of dampers. It could keep a standard 2.5 litre Porsche 944 surprisingly honest, being substantially lighter. The extra torque also wiped out the gearbox after about 20,000 miles , though the replacement (another ex-scrapper standard unit) was fine.
It only went in the end because a lot of the mechanical everything I hadn't replaced was getting very worn and it started stranding me with things like fuel pumps and ignition components going pop and at the time I needed super-reliable transport for long distance work journeys. I still remember it fondly though.
Had the same brake set as you, the quick rack and a year with 2.2 power made the rear diff start to whine.......so seemed a good excuse for a LSD replacement. The GTE came on Bilsteins as standard but the 2.3HS Chevette Bilsteins were much fatter and a decent upgrade. Ended up with about 170bhp, not much now, but fun in just over 1000kg when a 2.8 Capri weighed 150kg more and had less power.
Edited by s m on Tuesday 12th May 17:14
I owned a silver GTE similar to the one in the story ,I remember in the wet/damp it would wheel spin in 3rd /4th gear ,when not even trying to. it did not feel underpowered to me,?
The headlights were useless ,not bright enough.
I also had a Scirroco and a Capri. The capri was slow and not good driving postion,whilst the Scirroco felt the best built ,but also underpowered ,
The headlights were useless ,not bright enough.
I also had a Scirroco and a Capri. The capri was slow and not good driving postion,whilst the Scirroco felt the best built ,but also underpowered ,
Edited by leedsutd1 on Tuesday 12th May 18:44
I never had an Opel only ever Vauxhall versions , 3 saloons and a Sportshatch.
One of which had many , many , many parts salvaged from the scrap bin at Millbrook , in the days when Vauxhall owned the facility .
They do go quite well with 170 bhp ,5 speed and Bilstien suspension .
The days when 205 section tyres were thought to be ultra wide !
One of which had many , many , many parts salvaged from the scrap bin at Millbrook , in the days when Vauxhall owned the facility .
They do go quite well with 170 bhp ,5 speed and Bilstien suspension .
The days when 205 section tyres were thought to be ultra wide !
My first car in 1992 was a B reg metallic brown 1.8 Berlinetta hatch.
Chopped that in for a 1986 GT/E coupe (in white of course)
Needed two new front wings, floor pan rotted out (you could see the driveway), chassis rails rotted, rear wheel arch, sunroof, they were not built that well at all. I think you were doing well if you didn't need to resort to the 6 year paint warranty!
I sold mine for around £300 in 2001, still could have done with more work on it, but on top it was rather presentable, the Recaros (later grey Chicago velour trim not the earlier Burberry check) were like new, underneath it was a battle to stop the rust though!
I kept it virtually original, no tasteless alloys, body kits, 400 replica bits.
The new owner stuck a 400 spoiler on it, round headlight lights and when I last saw it had an old secondhand off shade wing on it. Didn't look anywhere near as good as when I had it
Chopped that in for a 1986 GT/E coupe (in white of course)
Needed two new front wings, floor pan rotted out (you could see the driveway), chassis rails rotted, rear wheel arch, sunroof, they were not built that well at all. I think you were doing well if you didn't need to resort to the 6 year paint warranty!
I sold mine for around £300 in 2001, still could have done with more work on it, but on top it was rather presentable, the Recaros (later grey Chicago velour trim not the earlier Burberry check) were like new, underneath it was a battle to stop the rust though!
I kept it virtually original, no tasteless alloys, body kits, 400 replica bits.
The new owner stuck a 400 spoiler on it, round headlight lights and when I last saw it had an old secondhand off shade wing on it. Didn't look anywhere near as good as when I had it
I remember my dad taking me and my little bro around the used car lots in the 80s trying to decide whether to buy a Manta or a Capri. The Manta coupe was winning as my dad needed a large boot for all his Electrical Engineer work gear.
He ended up buying a brand new, White Cortina Crusader! One of the last ever made. I was a bit gutted.
I still hankered after a Manta for years but everyone I looked at when I passed my test at 17 were a bit crap on my limited budget, and when I finally thought I'd found a half decent one the insurance quote killed my dream.
So I bought a Renault 11. Like father, like son eh?
He ended up buying a brand new, White Cortina Crusader! One of the last ever made. I was a bit gutted.
I still hankered after a Manta for years but everyone I looked at when I passed my test at 17 were a bit crap on my limited budget, and when I finally thought I'd found a half decent one the insurance quote killed my dream.
So I bought a Renault 11. Like father, like son eh?
grumpy52 said:
They do go quite well with 170 bhp ,5 speed and Bilstien suspension .
The days when 205 section tyres were thought to be ultra wide !
Agreed on the power to weight ratioThe days when 205 section tyres were thought to be ultra wide !
I only ever had the 195s on my Manta even at 170 brake but the 2.8 Capri 13" 205s always looked really wide!
When Performance Car tested the Astra 16v they made a big thing of the 185 tyres being narrower than the Manta GTE's - even though the Astra had half as much power again
at 18 in 1988 I looked at a Manta gte in Stevenage. It had to be a coupe, only that would do. Car was £2000 and insurance £4k, I would have loved it but doubtless would have put it through a hedge as a young, daft agri student.
Bought a 1.3 Polo Coupe S instead. Looked ok but was a rubbish car, slow, 4speed, wallowed, poor warm starting. 1985 model B89ESD.
I would still love a Manta but it has to be a coupe.
Bought a 1.3 Polo Coupe S instead. Looked ok but was a rubbish car, slow, 4speed, wallowed, poor warm starting. 1985 model B89ESD.
I would still love a Manta but it has to be a coupe.
monthefish said:
Monty Python said:
Why?leedsutd1 said:
The headlights were useless ,not bright enough.
The Irmscher four lamp conversion was the best but changed the looks and cost a lot of money... so I went with uprated bulbs and a separate power supply going direct to the lamps, switched by relays. Even keeping standard bulbs, rewiring it to give it a direct feed, switched by relay, meant you got a lot more of the theoretical voltage through to the bulbs, and made quite a difference. I need to do exactly the same to my 944 Turbo.stuart313 said:
I had a 1.8 GT/J in white in the early 90s. It looked nice, sold it to someone I knew and when I saw it 12 months later it was brown, not out of choice either. Aren't these just a Mk1 cavalier?
They are basically a Mark 1 Cavalier, but a Mark 1 Cavalier is fundamentally a very decent car. Much better than a Cortina. Actually I have thought in the past that I would absolutely love a Mark 1 Cavalier sleeper with all the proper development parts available for the Manta B, a nice 2.2 or 2.4 with a five speed box, quick rack, big brakes, proper suspension, and so on. Such a well balanced car.redroadster said:
When modern cars drive so easy and you feel so insulated from all the noises you can see why old classics are going up in price you actually feel like you are driving them not just been transported.
I drove home in my 350Z and wouldn't trade it for a Manta in a million years, better in every way and more engaging, you just need to buy the right modern car.My first car, in the late 80s, was a 1.8 Berlinetta in white. Back then they were considered way cooler (and appeared better built) than the Crapi.
I did about 50,000 miles in mine with no problems.
I always fancied dropping a Cavalier SRi lump into one. I figured that'd be a nice match for the Manta chassis without too many further mods.
I did about 50,000 miles in mine with no problems.
I always fancied dropping a Cavalier SRi lump into one. I figured that'd be a nice match for the Manta chassis without too many further mods.
Some people prefer more modern stuff. Personal choice. I'd really, really rather have a Manta than a modern car. Which is why I have all old cars I suppose: I wouldn't want to swap the 944 for a Cayman, the E39 BMW for an E61 or F10, or the R129 SL for an R230. Apart from the Prius, that's modern, and a fine appliance it is, but that's really Mrs LT's.
Edited by Lowtimer on Tuesday 12th May 21:09
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