Manta A 19 - from Portugal

[4speed]

I’ve not dedicated much time to the Manta project, but I did something that I’ve always wished.

I took a holydays week to travel over the north of Portugal with my wife and my Manta.

I took the camping equipment and we made about 900kms in 4 days with zero problems. It was really nice to travel so long distances in an old car. Everyone stops looking at it wondering what car is that!

Meanwhile I passed by Paços de Ferreira and I went to meet a German friend who is also restoring a Manta GT/E and that I’ve meet on a web forum.

Like Dave said The Manta's hood “it is a good table to eat your sandwiches from!”

[4speed]

This week I've decided to install the headrest. They were in perfect condition.

I did no install sooner because the sleeves to install on the seats were missing.
Meanwhile Gene found the parts and sent them to Portugal.

To prevent any error, I've decided strip out the seat to study the fittings. It was not necessary to do all that, but I didn’t want to take any risk.

Finally, I had to cut the perfect seat tissue, with more then 30 years old, to place the plastic sleeves and fit them on the seat structure.

Thanks to Gene I already have my headrests installed, and now the seats look like RECARO baquets!!!

I think that it’s a great improvement to my manta's look and security.

[BQS4]

Ricardo;
At least the pieces I sent will be doing someone some good, as the seats they were on are deteriorating into nothing. Glad to be able to help.

[tomking]

It sounds and looks to have been a really enjoyable outing. Good Opeling.

[4speed]

I got one original Opel part, New Old Stock … and still on original package. (It’s almost a shame to apply it on my Manta)

Here it is the chrome end piece for the rear muffler, and a photo how it would look in the end.

[David McCollam]

Ricardo,

Put the piece on the Manta and let the car be dressed up! If the piece stays in the box, it will not help the look of the Manta. It was made to be used and not stored in the box. It looks great on the car!

Dave

[Aardvaark]

Or you could save the NOS tip for shows and buy one of these $7 tips
for every day use. I bought one few days ago at Advance Auto parts. Many parts stores carry them and they look much like the original accessory tip.

[blitz74]

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/attachm...tugal-heck.jpg

Couldn't help but notice how good your taillights look... mine are pretty faded, both the lenses and the "chrome". Are yours original? NOS?

Anyone have any mint taillights they want to part with?

[alpharm]

I have rear lamps and GTE mirros still available

If you are interested......pm me or mail me

[4speed]

Originally Posted by David McCollam Ricardo, Put the piece on the Manta and let the car be dressed up! If the piece stays in the box, it will not help the look of the Manta. It was made to be used and not stored in the box. It looks great on the car! Dave

Hi Dave ... I took your advice. The chrome tailpipe is installed on my Manta.

I've been shopping on ebay for some manta history parts!
I got tree german 70's magazines the photos are great and worth the money.

[4speed]

But the real tresure was to put my hands on an Original Opel Manta Part Catalogue.
The exploded drawings are simply great, and it also includes some details about the original interior materials.

[4speed]

Here I’m again reporting a nice trip that I’ve done with my manta ...

My wife and I, and couple of friends who got a VW Beetle went to find new places here around the Serra de Aire e Candeeiros (a mountain nearby).
We went were Alviéla’s river starts (Olhos de água). There is a nice place with a beach, and great rock formations and natural caves done by the water that we can vist.

[4speed]

In this place, there are also a science institute, where we can understand the beginning and the importance of this geological place, and water reserve.

Meanwhile we got to lunch in a typical restaurant, and the food was great. After lunch we faced the mountain … nice views, great roads limited by rock walls, and some "little" surprises along the way.

[4speed]

At the mountain we passed by the St. António’s Caves and we made a little stop on the Alvados’s cave. A "must visit" place.

To finish the trip around this region, and after crossing the entire Serra de Aires e Candeeiros Mountains, whe visited the gothic and renascence style Porto de Mós’s castle, also known as D. Fuas Roupinho’s Castle.

[tomking]

Looks like a beautiful ride in the classic Manta.