Nice Manta on e-bay

[timemachine]

54K Luxus with supposedly original paint. If it is, it's a pretty rare find, clean as it appears to be.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Opel-...QQcmdZViewItem

Why do all the Manta survivors these days seem to be 1974s?

Jim

[GTJIM]

Perhaps by 1974 with the GT off the market the Manta came into its own and sales soared.The 1975 models were parted out for the fuel injection system....

Here are some pics so we can still see it after the EBay Listing closes.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by timemachine 54K Luxus with supposedly original paint. If it is, it's a pretty rare find, clean as it appears to be. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Opel-...QQcmdZViewItem Why do all the Manta survivors these days seem to be 1974s? Jim

Please make that "most".

[azopelnut]

This one would look great at the next Route 66 parked between Jim's beautiful yellow Manta and Mark's beautiful silver Manta

[jvandyke]

I never knew Mantas existed until I started hanging around here. I'm beginning to gain a lust for something other than GTs! If that baby were closer to me I'd be trying to convince one of kids to make it their first car!

[heimue]

Originally Posted by azopelnut This one would look great at the next Route 66 parked between Jim's beautiful yellow Manta and Mark's beautiful silver Manta

It would look even better in my garage...

Dieter

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by heimue It would look even better in my garage... Dieter

Go get it! LOL

[namba209]

Well folks, it's in my area code. With a day to go, I could go take a look at it for you.

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by Aardvaark Please make that "most".

Right you are Mark, just seems to be the trend of late. If I could find an old 71-72 skinny bumper Rallye in good shape anywhere near enough to check it out I'd be on it. But I know you and I are both very happy with our rides.

It may be true what GT Jim said about the '74s. Sales dipped from 22,000 in 1974 to about 15,000 in 1975. Mostly driven hard until they disintegrated (like the '75 parts Manta I used to have with over 210,000 miles on it from the original owner). Best hopes for a survivor are out west. Will be interesting to see what it brings.

Go get it Dieter!

Jim

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by namba209 Well folks, it's in my area code. With a day to go, I could go take a look at it for you.

You might be performing a great service for somebody on this forum.
I went and looked at a '74 Manta Luxus close by me and though it
drove well enough for only 18K miles, but is in much worse shape than the seller, and his picture of it, would indicate.

One of our forum members from out east was about to send the guy funds for it and have RallyBob pick it up when he read my critique of the car in my search for a Manta or Ascona in reasonable shape. It's still for sale as of the latest issue of the auto trader but will be a tough sell for any opeler I know in this area. It's a good example of just how bad a very low mile car can be when neglected and left to rot from the ground up.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by timemachine Go get it Dieter!

You just want to see it at next year's Carlisle and Charlotte shows! Not on my expense!

Dieter

[GTJIM]

It will all be your fault if it does not turn up at carlisle then ......

[heimue]

Originally Posted by GTJIM It will all be your fault if it does not turn up at carlisle then ......

It might be my fault IF it turns up at Carlisle...

Dieter

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by timemachine Why do all the Manta survivors these days seem to be 1974s? Jim

As for numbers sold.. the 74 year was popular, but 73 was the larger selling year if memory serves. 75 being the lowest selling model year.

What it comes down to is simple.. the big bumpers..

Case in point.. my son has been lightly hit other teenagers twice and been hit once in the last 3 months.. in the school parking lot.

Fortunately most these love taps have been with his friends truck (twice and his fault following to close leaving school), and a VW Bug (2002) she wasnt paying attention also when leaving school.

Anyway, no damage to the truck and a scuff on his rubber bumper guard, and bent the license plate holder. As for the VW the girl caved in the front end and scuffed the rear bumper rubber on the Manta. All 3 incidents happened in under 5 mph conditions. If his Manta had been a 73, 72 or 71.. I am sure the front would have taken damage badly when the license plate frame got bent.. and sure there would have been heavy damage to the rear from the VW.

As for where are the '75s ? Lot less sold due to the price hike.. and more of them were scavenged for parts for GTs, etc.. (Exhaust manifold, brakes, FI, etc...)

Charles

[timemachine]

Well, that Manta went for $4161.00, most I've seen since Scott Delohery's (Sportwagon 75's) orange 1975 Manta went for last year. What's interesting is that it went to a person who's bought a bunch of MOPAR in the past.

I'll try to contact him in case he's not aware of the site.

Jim

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by timemachine Well, that Manta went for $4161.00, most I've seen since Scott Delohery's (Sportwagon 75's) orange 1975 Manta went for last year. What's interesting is that it went to a person who's bought a bunch of MOPAR in the past. I'll try to contact him in case he's not aware of the site. Jim

That's more then I figured. But it is a pretty much rust free CA car....

[azopelnut]

Originally Posted by timemachine What's interesting is that it went to a person who's bought a bunch of MOPAR in the past. Jim

Lets hope he is not planning to gut it to put a big hemi in it!!!

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by azopelnut Lets hope he is not planning to gut it to put a big hemi in it!!!

Gulp. Yeah, really.

[Phoenix]

That what I was thinging when you said Mopar.

I've been keeping my eye out for a FI donor to put FI on a GT.

[MantAscona]

FYI, the winner of the auction is in Denmark, not in the US. I have a friend in Denmark, I'll tell him to keep an eye out for it there. It's certainly not a big place so he should see it eventually.

Duane

[timemachine]

Originally Posted by MantAscona FYI, the winner of the auction is in Denmark, not in the US. I have a friend in Denmark, I'll tell him to keep an eye out for it there. It's certainly not a big place so he should see it eventually. Duane

Duane,

I'm not sure about that yet. The user name ends in .dk, and location says Denmark but it's not an email address. Since he's been buying blocks and complete engines and fenders - and an average Dodge Ram pickup truck - off e-bay from American suppliers, my guess is he's at least got a footprint in the U.S. - unless he's a shipper himself. I'll try to contact him in any case.

Jim

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by timemachine Duane, I'm not sure about that yet. The user name ends in .dk, and location says Denmark but it's not an email address. Since he's been buying blocks and complete engines and fenders - and an average Dodge Ram pickup truck - off e-bay from American suppliers, my guess is he's at least got a footprint in the U.S. - unless he's a shipper himself. I'll try to contact him in any case. Jim

As strong as the Euro is these days it's probably one less Manta in the states.

[OpelGT-de]

A couple of weeks ago I saw this Manta on craigslist for $ 2.500.
I called the seller, and he told me that he sold the car within one day.
Three weeks later a dealer in CA offered the Manta in a Germany used car online board for 4800 Euro ( appr $ 7.500).
But w/o success.

[timemachine]

Turns out the car is going to Denmark. I received a very nice message from the buyer tonight, guy named Oly, who plans to keep the car original and digs the US sidemarker requirement. Figures he'll have one of the nicest Mantas in Denmark, and plans to keep the car original and drive on sunny days that remind him of California.

I guess the Euro is working hard over there right now. Oly said he was willing to go well over $7K for the car.

If anyone overseas needs his email I can forward it.
Jim

[GoinManta]

Originally Posted by GoinManta What it comes down to is simple.. the big bumpers.. Case in point.. my son has been lightly hit other teenagers twice and been hit once in the last 3 months.. in the school parking lot. Fortunately most these love taps have been with his friends truck (twice and his fault following to close leaving school), and a VW Bug (2002) she wasnt paying attention also when leaving school.

Make it 4 times as of yesterday.. But now the front bumper is evenly pushed in all the way to body.. (Looks better than way actually )

This time though the insurance has to get involved as he tagged a 2005 Hyundai and messed up the paint on the bumper.

That said, if this were a 71-73 I know he would have to get the Manta new font sheetmetal at minimum.

Charles