1986 Opel Manta GT

[ungermm]

I found a seller that has parts from an 1986 Opel GT (I'm guessing a Manta that was privately imported). Some of the pictures of the parts look a lot like those from a 68 - 73 Opel GT. Particularly the intake/exhaust manifold, the window cranks, side mirrors, seat belts, dip stick, wheel center caps, water pump, and thermostat housing look the same. Could that be correct?
Jerry

Ps the seller did have a 68 - 73 GT at one time, but says the parts didn't come form it.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by ungermm I found a seller that has parts from an 1986 Opel GT (I'm guessing a Manta that was privately imported). Some of the pictures of the parts look a lot like those from a 68 - 73 Opel GT. Particularly the intake/exhaust manifold, the window cranks, side mirrors, seat belts, dip stick, wheel center caps, water pump, and thermostat housing look the same. Could that be correct? Jerry

The Ascona/Manta B used the same CIH engines (amongst others), so the engine parts would fit our "older" models.

Dieter

[ard674t]

Hmmm, what does he have other than parts that are in common with the GT? I've got a Manta B sitting out on the drive... ;-)
Cheers,
Nick

[ephillippe]

I went down to San Jose and got some parts from her last Sunday - they are all from a early 70's Manta A and an early 70's GT that got parted out before the city towed them. Lots of good stuff though and really nice people to deal with - I'd recommend anyone in the bay area go down and stock up!

[ard674t]

Oh, so no 1986 B-series parts then? Oh well...

Whereabouts in SJ is it? I'm only in Fremont.
Cheers,
Nick

[Motor Mouth]

The parts offered don't sound like GT bits, they sound more like 'A' series parts.

Nick......i have a 'B' series, if you need any parts let me know as i bet it's easier for me to get them and post them over the pond.

[ard674t]

Thanks Mark, much appreciated.

Yeah, I was just hopeful as there are a few B's squirreled away here and there. Body panels cost a bloody fortune to ship over so the chance of even some used ones just round the corner from me was quite interesting. I've taken to buying parts from OCP and other places in Germany and storing them in the UK in a workshop I rent with Andy Clears (Drive Vauxhall parts guy), but that's just putting off the shipping charge... ;-)

Shame I didn't get across to the GT club area (again) at Billing. I saw some pics from Louis van Steen and noticed you had a new type GT there along with a nice selection of originals. Maybe next year.
Cheers,
Nick

[ard674t]

Hey Mark, is that V8 GT you have a rebuild of the one Chris Farley had in 2002, or something entirely different?

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by ard674t Hey Mark, is that V8 GT you have a rebuild of the one Chris Farley had in 2002, or something entirely different?

It might be

Needs a bit of fettling, but should have her to her former glory by next summer. Sadly though she isn't mine.......yet!!! I've actually picked her up for my father to join his other one out in Germany!

As for the New GT that was on the stand.......my dad hired it for a long weekend as his '72 GT was in the Opel dealers having some work done. I have to say i we had quite a blast with it, although we weren't allowed to turn the Traction Control off..........'YEAH RIGHT!!!!'

As for exploring during the VBOA meeting, i know exactly how you feel, i finally managed a look at the OMOC stand at 4pm on Sunday. The GT stand was hectic for most of the weekend, we could have sold the new one 10 times over and obviously the new ones generated at lot of interest......i'm hoping to get a feature organised with one of the Uk car mags, as the GT seems to have been overlooked this year....disgraceful considering they're celebrating the 40th!

[ephillippe]

Hey Nick,

They're located at the corner of Highway 85 and De Anza Blvd in San Jose (Maybe Santa Clara technically?)

[ard674t]

Typical. A nice RHD conversion and what do you do with it? Send it to Germany... :-) It's good to think it's been resurrected, it was such a stunner in 2002 I was really sorry to hear of its demise.

How did you find the new GT? I don't know if my road test of it made it into the club newsletter in the end, but I was left with mixed feelings. You really need to keep the revs up and wring its neck out to really have the best time. Oh, and turn off the TC and ESP.

4pm Sunday... I think I was over at Vinnie's at that point. Oh well, good intentions as usual - next year I will make it over to see the GT club and also drop by the Autobahnstormers (having been a member for 10 years or so). In practice, I'll probably rely on Louis' pictures again!

Ephilippe - thanks! That's pretty easy from work (Mountain View), I'll drop by and see what's left.
Cheers,
Nick

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by ard674t Typical. A nice RHD conversion and what do you do with it? Send it to Germany... :-) It's good to think it's been resurrected, it was such a stunner in 2002 I was really sorry to hear of its demise. How did you find the new GT? I don't know if my road test of it made it into the club newsletter in the end, but I was left with mixed feelings. You really need to keep the revs up and wring its neck out to really have the best time. Oh, and turn off the TC and ESP.

Nick.....the GT will only be in Germany for a few years......until i get my hands on it. As for finding it, believe it or not, she was actually on ebay....twice! The second time i was over in Germany, post Billing, and dad was talking about spending £20k+ on a new GT, but mum was telling him to buy an old one that had been tweaked, she didn't like the lack of space in the new GT. Anyway a couple of chats with the vendor and deal done! The owner had spent roughly £15k on her and we bought her for £...... (a reasonable sum). But the thing is she does need money spending on her again, in my eyes she's currently 75% of the 2002 car....but still great

As for the new GT, i was also left with a mixed feeling. To be honest i couldn't tell she had 250+bhp. I really needed a bit more time with her, but on a cross-country road that i enjoy driving i did find her quite well planted, not too much flex but lacking a little feedback. Definately a comfortable drive, but where as GT is Grand Tourer....i don't think the name really applies as i don't think you could take the lugage needed for 2 people to have a Grand Tour!........still if my dad's reading this i'm not saying don't buy one of these too!

[ungermm]

I ended up with an alternator, water pump, intake/exhaust manifold, fan blade, window cranks, car jack, 4 wheel center caps, seat belt set, thermostat housing, rear view mirror, and a voltage regulator. I took some parts from my GT stash to make sure they matched up. She had lots of Manta emblems, but they were already spoken for. And, along with a couple of air cleaner housings, she had a lot of misc. other parts I wasn't familiar with.
The woman seller said she got the 86 Manta GT for payment of a debt from someone. The car was shipped over to the US. In addition to this Opel, she had a 70's Opel GT that she was very sad to see go.
The ad has just been posted again. She must still have those weird seats.
Jerry

[ard674t]

OK, I give in, where are they? 85 & De Anza is a nice part of Cupertino where they probably wouldn't have a scrap yard... ;-)

Just leave the body panels and glass behind if it's still got it!
Cheers,
Nick