The Opel Manta is a classic rear-wheel drive sports coupe. The model came on the market in 1970 and was built up to 1988 in two successive generations. The Manta was succeeded by the Opel Calibra. And we will come back to that. Competitors of the Opel Manta were the Ford Capri, the Toyota Celica and the Volkswagen Scirocco.
The one from the movie
Sometime last year we saw the most expensive Opel Manta we have ever seen in Germany. The bright green Opel was - documented - the protagonist in New Kidz Turbo, the film. We do not know whether it was sold for the asking price of € 60.000 +. But it has to be cheaper, even when you want to go for the top.
But and tight Manta for change? That time is over. But the fact that Mantas are still challenging to make them better / faster? It never passed.
The Opel Manta B
In 1975 the Manta B, the successor of the Manta A, came on the market. This successor was very different from its predecessor, both externally and internally. The new Manta B stood out because of its rather angular appearance, which was not immediately appreciated by everyone. In addition, the large air slots on the front are emphatically present. Such an Opel Manta is actually an Opel Ascona Coupé. But where the Ascona was already a smooth front-wheel loader, the Manta in 1985 was still a classic, rear-wheel drive car. In that year the Manta was for sale with a new 1800 cc engine and with the already known 2 liter four-cylinder. That 1800 cc engine was actually an enlarged version of the 1.300 cc from the Opel Kadett, the two-liter injection block was an old acquaintance even then. The old 1.900 block was good for 75 hp, the two-liter injector supplied 90 horses and the new 1.800 boldly participated with also 90 hp. The Mantas had a four-speed standard, but a five-speed gearbox was an option.
With that power, such a Manta was quite a smooth car and the handling was, despite the rigid rear axle, not disappointing. Only on cobblestones and such inconvenience did the (relatively heavy) rear axle tend to bounce. But the whole set-up made that you could turn such a Manta terribly hard across the corner. Fun!
The Manta B has gone down in history as the Opel model with the longest production time: it was produced 13 for years (from 1975 to 1988), mainly at the Antwerp plant (in the early years also temporarily in Rüsselsheim in Germany)
The Manta as a cult car
The Opel Manta has become a real cult car of the 20000s and XNUMXs. In Germany there are a lot of jokes about Sjonnie and Anita-like Manta drivers and there are also a few films made in which the car plays a leading role: 'Manta, Manta' and 'Manta, der Film'. With us, the Opel Manta car had a supporting role in the popular series The New Kids, New Kids Turbo and New Kids Nitro. An example of such a Manta Witz? One Manta driver asks another how he can best sell his car. The other Manta driver says “Just turn the counter back to XNUMX Km”. They meet later. “And have you sold your Manta? "" No, are you kidding, a car with so few kilometers I keep nice for myself ".
As a consolation for the Manta riders
Too bland for words that joke? Oh well in France they had their 'blagues' about the unsurpassed Citroën BX. Such as: “How many people are needed to assemble a BX? "The answer is 'four'. "Two to fold, two to stick". Or for the real Francophiles: Une BX c'est comme le SIDA, tout le monde en parle, mais personne n'en veut.
The Mantas in the photos are from Kees van Rumpt of Garage Hesselink, Citroën specialist in Dirksland.
If this article should be representative of your magazine then I am inclined to put this in the fake news box,
The Opel Manta B also comes with a 1200 cc and 1600 cc engine and the Ascona was also a rear wheel drive, The Kadett D version was Opel's first front wheel drive.
Sorry had to say this.
And Dolf your old Manta 1200s are still alive
And is still in my possession
And it still looks a lot at meetings
Dear Mr. Lubbers, There are entire books to write about Mantas, and that has been done. And there can be so much more information in a book than in the approximately 500 words for a news item. For people who - as you apparently - are experts, such a message is of course incomplete and concise. But if we have made someone curious about Mantas with it, then we are happy. I myself had a 1200 cc machine from Switzerland, and I have the most friendly memories of it. We have the monthly magazine for many extensive articles AutoMotorKlassiek. And a subscription to that is extremely cheap!
There are quite a few imperfections in this article about the Manta. Clearly, not too much accurate information has been collected, although it is easy to obtain. The Manta with the 2.0 liter injection block delivered standard 110 hp instead of the aforementioned 90. This 90 hp from the old block came from a 1.9S. Various motorizations were offered over the years, except diesel. The blocks came from the engine program supplied by Opel at the time. For some time an ultimate motorsport machine of this model was also for sale in the form of the Mant 400, which was equipped with a drilled block with a volume of 2.4 and a standard power of 144 hp. There were 2 sports versions of the Manta, the i200 (2.0E-block, 125hp) and the i240 (2.4E with 136hp). Not all of these sports versions were marketed by GM in NL.
The Getrag 5 container was also available as an option with the 2.0 liter versions and even as standard with the later GSi version.
This was a supplement, which does not mean that it is complete or completely correct. Putting is based on own knowledge and knowledge from other sources