Neat Manta

[azopelnut]

Neat Manta A.....
Google Image Result for http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Opel_Manta.JPG/800px-Opel_Manta.JPG

[opelnut10]

Yes, Opel only made two big mistakes #1 allowing GM to put Opels in Buick dealership for sales in the US and #2 not re-signing Walter Rhorl as a factory driver with a big enough pay increase to keep him from going to France

[Rionart]

I'd love to know the source of those chrome quarter bumpers...completely useless, but look the mutt's

[azopelnut]

Originally Posted by Rionart but look the mutt's

Mutt's is a a good thing??

[DennisGardiner]

This Manta is viewable at the end of the factory tour in Russelsheim along with dozens of other OPELs. The word in May was Opel is working on building a museum to better display the cars.
With any luck, they will have a museum as cool as Mercedes in Stuttgart.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Rionart I'd love to know the source of those chrome quarter bumpers...completely useless, but look the mutt's

You give me a 'decent' Manta front bumper Robbie and I'll build them for you.

Bob

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by azopelnut Mutt's is a a good thing??

Mutt's nuts....polite version of Dog's ********.....yes, a good thing!

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by RallyBob You give me a 'decent' Manta front bumper Robbie and I'll build them for you. Bob

Your on Bob....but before I go digging out a decent bumper, I have a front end to unearth (it's about time I moved the Senator anyway)....

[BQS4]

Rob, what about a split rear bumper?

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Rob, what about a split rear bumper?

I've thought about that in the past Gene, and the Manta rear panel is not the prettiest between the bumper mounts ( I should go look again before I make those kind of statements).
I remember 'back in the day' the go-faster cars tended to have quarter bumpers at the front, but regular full width at the back....but you have me thinking again....

[opelenvy]

Originally Posted by DennisGardiner This Manta is viewable at the end of the factory tour in Russelsheim along with dozens of other OPELs. The word in May was Opel is working on building a museum to better display the cars. With any luck, they will have a museum as cool as Mercedes in Stuttgart.

I just so happened to snap a couple pictures of that Opel when I was at the factory tour.
Maybe I will upload all my factory photo's.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by Rionart Your on Bob....but before I go digging out a decent bumper, I have a front end to unearth (it's about time I moved the Senator anyway)....

Robbie, guess you haven't seen the thread updates but we did manage to procure a front Manta clip. It needs work but it's do-able.

Bob

[74MantaRay]

I’m a bit new to the world of Manta’s myself.
Can anyone tell me if the body of the Manta displayed in the thread was a "limited edition?" I’ve never seen a Manta with the same body variation as the one I own until today. Except for the bumber, it looks the same.
My dad told me that only 4 of these were build/imported via the factory in South Africa of which I have the last one left in SA (I might be wrong about the statement I just made).
My Manta was bought from touring race driver Michael Briggs dad Gordon back in the day when his dad was still racing. So I’m wondering if it was only build with this body for the racers. thx

[jordan]

Originally Posted by 74MantaRay I’m a bit new to the world of Manta’s myself. Can anyone tell me if the body of the Manta displayed in the thread was a "limited edition?" I’ve never seen a Manta with the same body variation as the one I own until today. Except for the bumber, it looks the same. My dad told me that only 4 of these were build/imported via the factory in South Africa of which I have the last one left in SA (I might be wrong about the statement I just made). My Manta was bought from touring race driver Michael Briggs dad Gordon back in the day when his dad was still racing. So I’m wondering if it was only build with this body for the racers. thx

There are several types of manta's that had different trim, mostly interior differences and body color though. Some of the special models were the Luxus, Blue Max, and Broadspeed (I think Robbie knows where there's one) There were other "limited edition" models also. The difference you notice in the manta posted and yours are the fiberglass fender flares which are the Irmscher or Imrscher style flares I believe. These could be added on aftermarket to accept wider wheels, but never came from the factory with them or at least not for consumer sales.

Robbie, I read in an article a while back of a Lancia racer who stated that the quarter bumpers helped to an extent by deflecting hay bales which spared the body and flares a little bit. So I guess they served a slight purpose and look cool while doing it.

[Rionart]

Originally Posted by 74MantaRay Can anyone tell me if the body of the Manta displayed in the thread was a "limited edition?"

The only Manta you could buy new with the flares (and not from Opel) was the TransEurope (TE) 2800.
Quite the beastie, but I suspect somewhat heavy in the nose...which might account for their being not too many left...

So far (touch wood) the only Manta's I ve radically altered the shape of were both '74 UK Luxus's...and unfortunately it would not have mattered what type of bumpers I had...one took out a stone wall at about 60mph, the other a red deer at 120mph+....says a lot for the cars that I'm still around...

[ggl]

Originally Posted by Rionart The only Manta you could buy new with the flares (and not from Opel) was the TransEurope (TE) 2800. Quite the beastie, but I suspect somewhat heavy in the nose...which might account for their being not too many left...

I've never driven a Manta A with a "six" but I've driven a Manta B i300 and it was absolutely horrible to drive, didn't want to turn at all and I can't imagine the old TE2800 being any better

Sounded nice though

[74MantaRay]

Originally Posted by jordan There are several types of manta's that had different trim, mostly interior differences and body color though. Some of the special models were the Luxus, Blue Max, and Broadspeed (I think Robbie knows where there's one) There were other "limited edition" models also. The difference you notice in the manta posted and yours are the fiberglass fender flares which are the Irmscher or Imrscher style flares I believe. These could be added on aftermarket to accept wider wheels, but never came from the factory with them or at least not for consumer sales.

Here I thought I'm special I have read about the special models you spoke about at Opel Manta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. interesting.
I could not find any info about this specific Body kit from Irmsher.

Thanks for the input everyone.

[opeletti75]

actuley ggi the manta a handled so well that it was banned from thr scca in the 1970s because it won all the races in the showroom stock class they added weight and it still won

[Phoenix]

Look for STEINMETZ flares. They are available from OpelGTSource.com.

Flares

Rally Bob has them from both the 1900 and the Manta.

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by 74MantaRay I’m a bit new to the world of Manta’s myself. Can anyone tell me if the body of the Manta displayed in the thread was a "limited edition?" I’ve never seen a Manta with the same body variation as the one I own until today. Except for the bumber, it looks the same. My dad told me that only 4 of these were build/imported via the factory in South Africa of which I have the last one left in SA (I might be wrong about the statement I just made). My Manta was bought from touring race driver Michael Briggs dad Gordon back in the day when his dad was still racing. So I’m wondering if it was only build with this body for the racers. thx

Clinton....They look like either Steinmetz or Irmscher flares to me. Is the car still on 4stud axles, what engine does it have...4cylinder or 6pot? How about some more pics?

[ggl]

Originally Posted by opeletti75 actuley ggi the manta a handled so well that it was banned from thr scca in the 1970s because it won all the races in the showroom stock class they added weight and it still won

Yeah but those would have been 4 cylinder models right ?

That old CIH 6 cylinder is a heavy lump of iron and does nothing for the cornering abilites of such a small car when it has to sit that far up front because there's basically no room to move the engine further back to get a decent weight distribution

I know the "A" handled well, friend of mine owned several and we had tons of fun in them

[Motor Mouth]

Originally Posted by opelnut10 not re-signing Walter Rhorl as a factory driver with a big enough pay increase to keep him from going to France

If i was to tell you that Walter Rhorl and his Co-driver didn't race in the last round of the '82 Championship, that would have enabled Opel to win the Constructors Championship too, because they wanted a $1M payout.......would you believe me?

.......and that info came from someone high up inside Opel!

It might have been a bit short sighted by Opel at the time, but i guess they weren't going to be held to ransom by a driver......even though Winning the Constructors might have elevated Opel to another level.......ho hum!

[74MantaRay]

Originally Posted by Motor Mouth Clinton....They look like either Steinmetz or Irmscher flares to me. Is the car still on 4stud axles, what engine does it have...4cylinder or 6pot? How about some more pics?

Yip, still 4 stud axle with '13 wheels. Right hand drive. Engine: 1.9S 4cyl, Cams head pistons all upgraded, electric feul pump from a 18T VW to supply juice to 38 Weber, 5spd box.... I only decided 2 weeks ago to get this baby up and running again. Parts are hard to find in SA. Importing is expensive with Rand – Dollar/Pound exchange. This is the only pictures there is for now.

[Motor Mouth]

Thanks for the additional pics.

Interesting to see that the alloys, Ronals, look a wider than standard.

Also your 'A' at some point had a rear spoiler. Now this is the sad part, it may actually have been a Steinmetz or Irmscher spoiler, or was possibly of a Tea-Trary design. In '75 my dad had 'A' series Black Magic GT/E (now as rare as Rocking Horse doo doo) and it had exactly the same chrome'd studs fitted on it's boot lid. He'd bought the car in Germany but it was actually original registered in Belguim. The spoiler had to be removed as it wasn't TUV approved and hence the studs.

Hope that worthless waffle adds a bit more to your car's history.