Opel Manta GT | PH Private Area
Perhaps life might begin at 40 for this lovely Manta - it's only done 12,000 miles...
It can be pretty demoralising looking for a classic car these days. Not some priceless old sports car, either, just something old and interesting that could be used semi-regularly as a break from the norm. It’s demoralising because everything is so expensive; as soon as anything is 20 years old that seems to add 20 per cent, with rarity and low mileage only pushing the price up further. Anyone after something from the last couple of decades of the 20th century now has a tough ask on their hands to find something desirable, interesting and usable that doesn’t cost a fortune.
This Opel Manta might be the answer. By the rules of classic car sales, it ought to be a pretty penny: 40 years old this year, one of seven left in this spec, and with just 12,000 miles showing (that’s not a mistake). A Ford Capri would probably be on POA, but the Manta is £12,995. For a stylish, beautifully presented two-door coupe of the '80s. There are probably old superminis and city cars from then available for less money, but there surely won’t be much.
Admittedly this isn’t one of the most desirable Mantas ever, as an early carb-fed GT/J rather than the later, fuel-injected GT/E model that’s probably best associated with this era. It’s about as far as possible from the 400 homologation as it’s possible to get and still be a Manta, but then it’s also about £100,000 less expensive. With steel wheels and tweed trim (where the Berlinette would have had alloys and leather), it would have been the entry point to the Manta range four decades ago. A very stylish one though, it ought to be said, even on teeny-tiny wheels and huge tyre doughnuts.
As might be expected from a car of such minimal mileage and careful ownership (check out the space in the collection where it usually resides), the Manta is a proper time-warp spec. The engine bay is pristine, the paint flawless, those famous decals unblemished and the interior not far off new. Even the original dealer sticker (complete with five-digit phone number) has survived all these years. It’s an incredible example.
Furthermore, while you’ll need to remember what a choke is and bring your music on cassettes, there’s no reason why this Opel couldn’t be put into slightly more regular use than it has been of late. It’ll have enough power to keep pace, plus just about sufficient room and refinement to take a couple of you out for the day, followed by admiring glances wherever you go. It’s not a delivery mileage car that has been stored up for decades, instead just used very occasionally. The MOT was renewed in November with no advisories; assuming it’s been serviced recently as well you’re good to go.
The seller is only parting with their Manta to make way for an RS200, which is quite some swap (and a perfect fit for the other fast Fords in the collection). Though it’s easy to say writing about an advert rather than buying the car itself, this really does look like an unrepeatable opportunity for not crazy money. See you at a Sunday Service, yes?
SPECIFICATION | OPEL MANTA GT
Engine: 1,796cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 90@5,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 105@3,200rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 1984
Recorded mileage: 12,027
Price new: £6,025
Yours for: £12,995
The coupe was better looking than the hatch, but at the time a good bit more expensive, so hatch it was.
Remember my dad having a Cavalier Sports Hatch in gold briefly, a Manta in all but name, was quite a nice car, every time I get a whiff of "Gunk", the engine degreasant it reminds me of that car, think it had an oil leak and he gave it a through Gunking and it smelt of it for some time after.
To be fair the only good thing about the 1.8 was that you could use its bellhousing to bolt the 2.0 16V 'Red Top' lump straight onto.
Nice car all the same though, even in that spec.
tty pothole ridden roads we have at the momentBrilliant.
Lowered, KnN plus free flow zorst.
My shortest London to Jockland ever time was driving that - pre-cameras every 2miles era.
Used to meet the Manta Owners in Uxbridge occasionally, too. Great folk. Especially for the Santa Pod meet - I can’t remember my times, but what a blast of fun.
Those were the days
It’s a nice way to circumnavigate ULEZ but ideally I’d like a coupe please - the lines on the two door were
To be fair the only good thing about the 1.8 was that you could use its bellhousing to bolt the 2.0 16V 'Red Top' lump straight onto.
Nice car all the same though, even in that spec.
One of my first cars (1989) was silver Manta 2.0SR Berlinetta (reg OUO452T) ... sounded lovely with Janspeed exhaust, but sadly written off by a lorry when parked up
and in about 1995 I had a silver 1.8S (A reg)
both cars were very reliable despite the hammering I gave them.
To be fair the only good thing about the 1.8 was that you could use its bellhousing to bolt the 2.0 16V 'Red Top' lump straight onto.
Nice car all the same though, even in that spec.
Bought for £200 needing an Mot, abused for 2 years, drove to a scrappy and got £40. Cars were so disposable then! It probably only needed sills for another MOT.
Here it is.
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