foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,380
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Dec 21, 2015 23:03:51 GMT
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I came across a Manta today which was described by the owner's brother as a 'sports car' that had been in a lock-up for about 20 years. For some reason I expected it to be a Fiat X/19 or something but it was a Manta. It seems pretty solid and very original looking. The owner is back from holiday soon and I've a feeling I might get involved with resurrecting it. I don't particularly like the late B models. C models? and find the hatches particularly ugly although I love the early Bs. Like a pale blue Berlinetta SR for example and have never really understood the model variants: GT, GT/J, GT/E, 1.8S  This one is faded red with steel wheels, plastic side skirts and says Manta GT on bootlid. I'm guessing it's a 1.8 There doesn't seem to be any/many for sale/sold on Ebay but surely they can't be that rare. |
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Last Edit: Dec 21, 2015 23:04:25 GMT by foxy99
1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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Those gt and gtj are quite rare.
I have a an early B which has yet to sell, again quite rare. Although I'm an A series man myself and have just bought another A!
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,380
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Thanks Paul.
I def prefer the chrome bumper Bs to any of the others. Like the one in your avatar.
Been doing a bit of reading and from what I can see the 1.8S badging didn't really mean anything as they were all 1.8 till the GT/E came in. Is that right?
Was the GT/J model re-named GT when the GT/E came in perhaps?
As far as trim levels go it seems there were only 2 for the 1.8: nothing (GT/J & GT) and Berlinetta.
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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I think the GT and GTJ were base spec both with steels of different styles,quite plain wheel on the GT and Rostyle type on the GTJ.The GTJ had a prominent black stripe from memory and they weren't that common at the time.
Don't think either had skirts from the factory but might be wrong.
I had a 1.8 Berlinetta which was a bit posher.
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bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,886
Club RR Member Number: 71
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barn-find Opel Manta bstardchild
@bstardchild
Club Retro Rides Member 71
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I came across a Manta today which was described by the owner's brother as a 'sports car' that had been in a lock-up for about 20 years. For some reason I expected it to be a Fiat X/19 or something but it was a Manta. It seems pretty solid and very original looking. The owner is back from holiday soon and I've a feeling I might get involved with resurrecting it. I don't particularly like the late B models. C models? and find the hatches particularly ugly although I love the early Bs. Like a pale blue Berlinetta SR for example and have never really understood the model variants: GT, GT/J, GT/E, 1.8S This one is faded red with steel wheels, plastic side skirts and says Manta GT on bootlid. I'm guessing it's a 1.8 There doesn't seem to be any/many for sale/sold on Ebay but surely they can't be that rare. Your exerience with a Royale didn't learn you much  |
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,380
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I came across a Manta today which was described by the owner's brother as a 'sports car' that had been in a lock-up for about 20 years. For some reason I expected it to be a Fiat X/19 or something but it was a Manta. It seems pretty solid and very original looking. The owner is back from holiday soon and I've a feeling I might get involved with resurrecting it. I don't particularly like the late B models. C models? and find the hatches particularly ugly although I love the early Bs. Like a pale blue Berlinetta SR for example and have never really understood the model variants: GT, GT/J, GT/E, 1.8S This one is faded red with steel wheels, plastic side skirts and says Manta GT on bootlid. I'm guessing it's a 1.8 There doesn't seem to be any/many for sale/sold on Ebay but surely they can't be that rare. Your exerience with a Royale didn't learn you much Well I had a lot of enjoyment (and grief) with it and would love another but I did learn that finding essential parts for an obscure daily-driver can lead to hours of fruitless searching (alternator & exhaust for the Royale spring to mind) but from what I can see on Ebay those kind of parts are easier to get for the Manta. I don't think I'll become the owner of this one, as I don't want it, but I've just spent about 7 or 8 months renovating the guy's deceased father's house (which is what led to this discovery) and have a feeling the car will be their next project. I reckon it could be woken-up quite easily. The brother did mention an accident tho. I only saw the RHS of the car today and it was fine but maybe the LHS will be damaged |
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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Dec 22, 2015 10:29:43 GMT
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I remember years back I was on the lookout for a manta engine for a good mate of mine and I got the heads up about a manta in someone's back garden, i popped up to see it and it was an engine less 1976 manta b non sunroof coupe, it needed a bit of welding but wasn't in bad shape, i had no space so struck a deal and got it for the lad who was looking for the engine, he still has it today tucked away
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Dec 22, 2015 13:06:41 GMT
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I still do have it. Just need to clear some other projects so i can tuck into it again. The later CC (combined coupe) or "hatchback" manta is a rare but less desireable manta. If its an 1800 that doesnt need welding and is complete, it needs saving and putting back on the road. Most of these get cut up, and the engine and gearbox parts are pillaged for xe conversions. My red hatch started out life as a GT. Ive since made it a GTE replica as it was half way there anyway. If you have no intention of doing anything with it, offer it up on the Manta club website... because there will be someone on there willing to get it road worthy again.  |
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1987 Opel manta GT 2.0 16v
1976 Opel manta s project
1985 Opel Rekord E 2.2i
1992 Vauxhall Carlton 2.3TD
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis
2005 Landrover discovery 3
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barn-find Opel Manta accord83
@accord83
Club Retro Rides Member 51
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Dec 22, 2015 13:43:54 GMT
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74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,380
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Dec 22, 2015 21:10:49 GMT
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Most of these get cut up, and the engine and gearbox parts are pillaged for xe conversions. If you have no intention of doing anything with it, offer it up on the Manta club website... because there will be someone on there willing to get it road worthy again. It's strange that they are pillaged for their engines/boxes as (from what I read) the 1.8 'family' low-end torque engine was a bit average. I'll have a good chat with the elderly owner when I see him but he's not short of money and won't scrap the car so I don't see it being sold on or crushed. Was going to take some pics today but too busy working on the house. |
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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Midas
Part of things
Posts: 505
Club RR Member Number: 14
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barn-find Opel Manta Midas
@midas
Club Retro Rides Member 14
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Dec 22, 2015 21:39:03 GMT
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It was more the box and distributor drive that was pillaged from the 1.8s.
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Dec 22, 2015 22:16:23 GMT
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^ Don't forget the sumps and oil pickup pipes were pillaged from 1.8 mantas as well
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Last Edit: Dec 22, 2015 22:17:29 GMT by fordperv
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Midas
Part of things
Posts: 505
Club RR Member Number: 14
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barn-find Opel Manta Midas
@midas
Club Retro Rides Member 14
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Dec 22, 2015 22:58:56 GMT
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^ Don't forget the sumps and oil pickup pipes were pillaged from 1.8 mantas as well Indeed, it's been a while since I had one hovering over my Kadett C |
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foxy99
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,380
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Excuse my ignorance, but what is an XE conversion?
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1974 Daimler Double-Six VDP
1965/67 Hillman Imp pick-up
1984 VW Polo breadvan
1970s Yamaha Twins (4)
1976 Honda SS50ZK1
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The XE conversion is the C20XE which is a 2.0 16v its also known as the "red top" 156bhp, it lends itself really well to engine conversions due to having decent power out of the box and being a durable engine, they don't half take a thrashing, it's also quite an easy installation in most things as the standard engine management is easy to get running it is a case of a couple of wires.
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Last Edit: Dec 23, 2015 6:37:43 GMT by fordperv
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Dec 23, 2015 11:10:44 GMT
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The XE conversion is the C20XE which is a 2.0 16v its also known as the "red top" 156bhp, it lends itself really well to engine conversions due to having decent power out of the box and being a durable engine, they don't half take a thrashing, it's also quite an easy installation in most things as the standard engine management is easy to get running it is a case of a couple of wires. Exactly. Gearbox, sump, oil pick up, engine mounts and distributor all fit on the 2.0 16v and most other GM engines (1.7td, 2.0 ohc 2.0 ecotec etc etc). Its a shame that most tidy 1.8 mantas ended up being scrapped just for their engine components. My red hatch I saved from the exact same treatment. Was a solid shell, no engine or gearbox as it had all been removed. I built it back up with a spare 1.8 I had.... needless to say the 1.8 died and a 2.0ohc went in. Then that got replaced for a 2.0 16v. |
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1987 Opel manta GT 2.0 16v
1976 Opel manta s project
1985 Opel Rekord E 2.2i
1992 Vauxhall Carlton 2.3TD
1989 Mercury Grand Marquis
2005 Landrover discovery 3
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