RE: Opel Manta GTE: Spotted
Discussion
Back in 2005 I had to sell my 3 year old Capri Injection for a deposit on a house and I bought a 2 litre Vauxhall sportshatch - same engine but without the fuel injection.
It allegedly had 100 bhp but it drove OK and went quite well, and you could pile loads of MFI flatpacks into it which was useful at the time!
Although I always liked these once finances improved a couple of years later I bought another Capri Injection, which was probably one of my better decisions! Not keeping it was one of my less good ones!
But if you really want the 80s look you need to find a white one as they had matching white wheels.
Coupe always looked better, but the previous generation Manta looked better still and there were a few with Broadspeed turbo conversion that had about 150 bhp - much more like it!
It allegedly had 100 bhp but it drove OK and went quite well, and you could pile loads of MFI flatpacks into it which was useful at the time!
Although I always liked these once finances improved a couple of years later I bought another Capri Injection, which was probably one of my better decisions! Not keeping it was one of my less good ones!
But if you really want the 80s look you need to find a white one as they had matching white wheels.
Coupe always looked better, but the previous generation Manta looked better still and there were a few with Broadspeed turbo conversion that had about 150 bhp - much more like it!
They were ok, not quick by today's standards. Only 110bhp from the 2 litre GT/E, with a top speed of around 120mph.
Steering being non-power assist was heavy by modern standards, but you got used to it.
Standard suspension and handling set up was ok, but you would probably not keep up with a hot hatch. I had anti-roll bar links fail and springs snap. Both common problems. Brakes weren't up to much either, non abs and not that powerful.
Gearbox was good though (Getrag 5 speed), and the Recaros were comfortable, although I was a bit thinner back then
The main problems though were rust, and problems (pre-internet days), trying to get parts. Vauxhall had pretty much stopped all Manta spares after 10 years, so you had to rely on the club or specialist Vauxhall breakers, which was a bit of a pain.
I do wonder what it would be like to drive one again. I am still friends with 3 people who own Mantas.
Steering being non-power assist was heavy by modern standards, but you got used to it.
Standard suspension and handling set up was ok, but you would probably not keep up with a hot hatch. I had anti-roll bar links fail and springs snap. Both common problems. Brakes weren't up to much either, non abs and not that powerful.
Gearbox was good though (Getrag 5 speed), and the Recaros were comfortable, although I was a bit thinner back then
The main problems though were rust, and problems (pre-internet days), trying to get parts. Vauxhall had pretty much stopped all Manta spares after 10 years, so you had to rely on the club or specialist Vauxhall breakers, which was a bit of a pain.
I do wonder what it would be like to drive one again. I am still friends with 3 people who own Mantas.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 13th May 00:12
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I do remember the rubber pipes on the Bosch L-injection by the plenum were prone to cracking and leaking - replaced them all twice in my 7 years of ownership. You're right about the parts though - some parts were hard to get at the dealer even a few years after production endedThey weren't massively fast as standard ( although not many hot hatches in 83 at launch of the GTE were much quicker to 60 or top speed ) but by the time stuff like the Astra GTE 16v and 1.9 205 arrived a few years later they seemed slower. By 1990 mine had around 170 bhp and it was pretty fun on 195s only weighing just over 1000kg
A mag tested one with 159bhp (i240) and it was comparable performance wise to a new GT86 - might still seem slow now but low 7s and over 130 back in 1990 wasn't too bad
Z
Cool ad, but amazing how things have changed
60 was an 'ultra-low profile' tyre
0-60 in 'just' 8.9 seconds
Top speed of 120
They did manage to do the numbers too
8.5 achieved to 60 and a genuine 122 on the bowl so probably a real 125 on a long straight.
32 years ago with 110bhp
monthefish said:
Miglia 888 said:
60 was an 'ultra-low profile' tyre
0-60 in 'just' 8.9 seconds
Top speed of 120
8.5 achieved to 60 and a genuine 122 on the bowl so probably a real 125 on a long straight.
32 years ago with 110bhp
Lowtimer said:
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.Normal 1.6 gl .
Ended up as a 2 ltr (never sold as a 2ltr back then )with a "development " head ,"development" cam (aftermarket cams were crap and very expensive) big weber carb ,2 1/2" exhaust ,5speed box ,bilstien shocks on 2"lowered springs uprated brake linings ,
6" steels with hub caps and 205 tyres .
It looked almost standard until I stuck some 7" fireball lights under the front bumper .
lights were uprated with very illegal 100w main and 100w dipped bulbs all on direct feed relays so on main beam I had main and dipped on together giving 400w of headlamps add the fireballs at 150w each giving a total of 700w .An uprated altenator soon followed .
I loved that car only selling it after four years because of an expanding family .
Replaced it with an FE victor Estate which was another sleeper .
I drove one of these lovely white Opel Manta GTEs when Dad brought one home from work (his BMW must have gone in for a service) in the early 80s. It was long, low, white, and rear wheel drive, and it was the quite possibly the most impossibly cool car that I had ever seen ever. Especially as it was insured and I was actually allowed to drive it.
It is wortn stating that the 4 speed Golf 1.3C - really just four ****ing wheels and a seat - which I normally had access to had less than half the power and none of the looks or the charm. Plus it wouldn't do donuts.
I loved the Opel really quite a lot until I discovered that the fuel gauge was broken, and I ran out of fuel on a hill somewhere near Guildford, and I had to walk a couple of miles back home and steal the jerry can for the lawnmower. Still, it was easy enough to jump start in reverse.
It is wortn stating that the 4 speed Golf 1.3C - really just four ****ing wheels and a seat - which I normally had access to had less than half the power and none of the looks or the charm. Plus it wouldn't do donuts.
I loved the Opel really quite a lot until I discovered that the fuel gauge was broken, and I ran out of fuel on a hill somewhere near Guildford, and I had to walk a couple of miles back home and steal the jerry can for the lawnmower. Still, it was easy enough to jump start in reverse.
Edited by MaxA on Wednesday 13th May 10:29
Edited by MaxA on Wednesday 13th May 10:33
To quote the article:
"even if its Group B career wasn't the most successful."
They were actually pretty successful!? Even beat the quattro's on a few occasions! The Manta 400 is my favorite car of all time bar none. Yep, seriously.
My Dad had loads of Mantas when I was a kid, and when I was at school I used to draw the outline (Side shot of a car) and it always resembled the shape of a Manta coupe.
I first drove one of my Dads at 12yrs old on a closed industrial estate, used to love the squeaky clutch pedals, the 'different' steering wheel and just the look of them, such a sleek looking car. Then when they hit the steroids (Manta 400) and gained a near 300bhp N/A 2.4 on twin 50 webers, wheel arches that just made them look RWD, well...I used to dream of owning one some day.
I just loved how such an honest everyday car became such an animal.
My Dad and his mate used to partake in thunder saloons and other racing in a Manta and I used to pick the stones out of the tyres when it came in after a run etc.
Here's a pic of one of the first my Dad built as a 400 (Hatch!) replica, that's me sat in it there dreaming away. It had 10J wide steel wheels and my Mum used to find it 'Fun' in the wet taking us to school lol.
Unfortunately a guy from Ireland bought it, and on the way home he wrote it off! :-(
I've never yet fulfilled my dream of owning one, and probably never will (Not a genuine one anyway!) I accidentally fell into the Vw scene...But I'm now looking for a 400 replica and I threw a quick site together to help me find one! OpelManta400.uk
IMO best looking car ever built. Crazy I know...
"even if its Group B career wasn't the most successful."
They were actually pretty successful!? Even beat the quattro's on a few occasions! The Manta 400 is my favorite car of all time bar none. Yep, seriously.
My Dad had loads of Mantas when I was a kid, and when I was at school I used to draw the outline (Side shot of a car) and it always resembled the shape of a Manta coupe.
I first drove one of my Dads at 12yrs old on a closed industrial estate, used to love the squeaky clutch pedals, the 'different' steering wheel and just the look of them, such a sleek looking car. Then when they hit the steroids (Manta 400) and gained a near 300bhp N/A 2.4 on twin 50 webers, wheel arches that just made them look RWD, well...I used to dream of owning one some day.
I just loved how such an honest everyday car became such an animal.
My Dad and his mate used to partake in thunder saloons and other racing in a Manta and I used to pick the stones out of the tyres when it came in after a run etc.
Here's a pic of one of the first my Dad built as a 400 (Hatch!) replica, that's me sat in it there dreaming away. It had 10J wide steel wheels and my Mum used to find it 'Fun' in the wet taking us to school lol.
Unfortunately a guy from Ireland bought it, and on the way home he wrote it off! :-(
I've never yet fulfilled my dream of owning one, and probably never will (Not a genuine one anyway!) I accidentally fell into the Vw scene...But I'm now looking for a 400 replica and I threw a quick site together to help me find one! OpelManta400.uk
IMO best looking car ever built. Crazy I know...
Edited by Volksdevil.com on Wednesday 13th May 13:08
Edited by Volksdevil.com on Wednesday 13th May 13:08
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