Wednesday 9th June 2010

Days Of Thunder: Opel Manta Racer Returns

Mega-Manta Thundersaloon set for Brands Hatch runs

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It's always good when motorsport and a good cause combine. It's even better when it's the revival of this - the 'Stars and Stripes' Opel Manta Thundersaloon from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

For those who don't remember Thundersaloons, the series was conceived as an outlet for the spiritual successors to the Super Saloons (such as the famous Gerry Marshall 'Baby Bertha' Vauxhall Firenza) of the 1970s.

The mostly V8 spectacle lasted from 1985 until the early 1990s, often on the cusp of becoming a 'big-time' series, before the burgeoning and manufacturer-backed BTCC killed the more clubby Thundersaloons dead.

But now 'Stars and Stripes', a distinctively liveried Opel Manta 400 has returned, courtesy of new owner David Tetley and Team Willpower motorsport. David, himself an erstwhile Thundersaloon competitor, will perform demonstration laps in 'Stars and Stripes' at this weekend's BRSCC event at Brands Hatch.

David's son William suffered brain injury in a cycling accident David and Will's brother Jack have harnessed motor sport as a therapy and focus for Will. The latest project is the purchase and restoration of 'Stars and Stripes'; David and Jack have set up www.teamwillpower.co.uk as a charity for Will and for the Acquired Brain Injury Unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital Home, where Will is a patient.

'Stars and Stripes' originally ran a 620bhp 6.7-litre aluminium Pontiac engine in a Gerry Johnson-built Opel Manta 400 shell, although it now sports a Chevrolet V8. The tyres were F1 Avon Tyres, and the car used a Walkinshaw Jaguar Differential and an Xtrac Gearbox.

Hugh Marshall, who raced 'Stars and Stripes' with Nick Oatway in 1990, will also be racing - he's celebrating his 100th start in a TVR Tuscan.

To whet your appetite, have a look at the video below, shot at Oulton Park in 1989. We particularly like the Manta's last two runs around Lodge corner...

 

 

[Braintax]

carlton thundersaloon

Edited by Braintax on Wednesday 9th June 10:24

[JRDUNN]

what a beautiful peice of driving at the end there. the opel manta was one of the reasons i made the strange choice of a vauxhall chevette as my first car only 3 years ago

[Fastra]

C'mon Fleckers spill your beans:

Fleckers said:

to be honest I am not impressed with this

Focus RS Performance data:


0-60mph: 5.4secs
0-100mph: 12.2secs
0-150mph: 35.0secs
1/4 mile: 13.9sec @ 108mph
V-MAX: 165mph


Maybe I am spoilt but back in 1992 I had an Opel Manta with out all the clever bits runing faster and more power

[sidaorb]

I remember these running in the good old days, the ground literally shook as the pack came past and it sounded like a war zone when they used to change down for the bends. Lots of sideways action fighting the huge oversteer, motorsport at its best.

[rallycross]

Great to see this Monster getting back on the road again (and for a good cause as well). They really made the ground shake as the full grid of these beasts went past.

I suspect it was a different driver in the car on those last 2 runs perhaps Gerry Marshal was back at the wheel?

Would be great to see some more old special saloons / thundersaloons brought back to life, I know a few are underway already.

good website links here if these cars are of interest to you all;

http://www.ten-tenths.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2...

&

http://www.oldracingcars.info/marques/special-salo...

[Dave^]

Braintax said:

Sierra thundersaloon

EFA

[niva441]

Dave^ said:

Braintax said:

Sierra thundersaloon

EFA

The Sierra with the 956/962 was spectacular to watch on boost. I only saw it on the Brands indy circuit where it didn't really have the space to stretch its legs properly.

[dadofbud]

It would be great to see this competion again at race tracks throughout the UK every other weekend.

I think that there would be demand to see some quite large saloon cars pressing-on, it really was a great spectacle and huge fun.

[adz13091982]

RS 500 for me

[SHutchinson]

I know it's easy to stereotype American cars but that was shocking.

The Carlton looks fab however.

[newdogg06]

Halcyon days! Saw several races at Brands on the Indy circuit. That Carlton sounded like nothing else I had heard at the time. A McMerc SLR is the closest sound I have heard since but the video doesn't do it justice! Love the slides from the Manta.

[XJR500bhp]

I wanna take that carlton for a spin, ubercool

[den]

Stars & Stripes, that takes me back, The sound used to echo around Brands Hatch like a full on thunderstorm.
Opel Manta 1.8s Belinetta and 2.0 GTE at the time, so loved to see this beast roar around.

[Johnpidge]

Manta needs wipers on the side window then - nice bit of sideways driving!

[Turbobanana]

John Cleland drove the Carlton, didn't he? Great days, those: cars used to sound like Can Am racers on long straights...

[UncleRic]

Lost for words..

I want my Manta back!

[DWT]

I want my manta back too !!
That Camero dont handle to well

[dinkel]

Ow, ow, ow!

What a fab piece of equipment that is.

Used to drool over 400s back in the days. Last RWD rally camp car if I am not mistaken.

http://www.manta400.nl/manta_rally.htm

The fab Vanessa Sound Systems Manta:
http://public.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pKgN8fWLKWcT...

[onemorelap]

Great era of racing.

Good thread been running for some time over on Atlas F1.

Loads of good pics and history of all things thundersaloons

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=11...

[onemorelap]

Oh and there is this old thread that soon turned to being predominantly about thundersaloons, if nothing else it just proves how popular they were back in the day.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...