Of course, we don’t know what’s underneath but we’re guessing that it’s been there for years and so has probably protected the original rim rather than being fitted at a later date to hide a problem. The steering wheel is wrapped in an aftermarket cover and while they would normally start alarm bells ringing, we quite like the look. It’s a guess, of course, but given the lack of UV damage to the seats and dashboard we think it must have been stored undercover to protect it from the hot South African sun. The passenger’s seat is even better and the rear seat is in an incredible condition.
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The black vinyl driver’s seat, one of the first places we’d expect to see problems, is still firm and taut and completely free of any significant wear much less damage, rips or tears.
The interior is only very lightly patinated and remarkably well preserved for a car that’s knocking on the door of its 50th birthday. This might sound like a lot but the key thing is that the basic structure is strong and free of rot and white is an easy colour to match, so the new owner has a fabulous base to slowly improve it as time and funds allow.īesides, wouldn’t you rather buy something that wears its faults on its sleeve like this than a car that has been hastily tarted up before sale? Problems? Well, aside from the inevitable minor stonechips and marks, the lower edge of the nearside rear wing and the upper section of the offside front wing have a few small bubbles, some of the paint is chipped on the boot lid, and quite a few of the window and door seals are perished. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but do give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance. They are also shod with matching 206/60R13 Toyo tyres, all of which are fairly new and so have plenty of tread left on them.Īs we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. They’re in great shape and look sensational.
Speaking of which, the Manta is still fitted with what we believe to be its original 13-inch, five-spoke alloy wheels. There is plenty of evidence of the Manta having received an extensive Waxoyl-type treatment at some point, and this may well help explain its staggeringly good condition it really is a bit of a time warp car and enthusiasts will know how rarely they are found in this sort of condition. As are the light lenses, glass and badges, including the wonderfully period chrome Manta emblems on the front wings. The Manta’s modest chromework is all bright and shiny, and the twin factory pinstripes are in fine fettle too. The paintwork is good overall and while it may have had the odd localised repair, the vast majority of the finish appears to be the original. The doors all open and close easily, and the flanks are free of ripples and major dinks. The panels are straight and true as well, and have good alignment and shutlines. Almost certainly never having seen salt-covered roads in its life, it is free of the sort of serious rot and corrosion that plaques the European cars. The white coachwork, brilliantly offset by that matt black bonnet, is in a wonderful condition. GT/E aside, the Manta was famed for its handling rather than its performance, although it did have considerable competition success in later life, most notably as a rally car. The fuel-injected GT/E arrived in 1975, just in time to witness the A-Series’ death.
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Both manual and automatic gearboxes were offered, with four and three speeds respectively. The Manta was fitted with a 1.6-litre or a 1.9-litre four-cylinder engine, although European buyers could also opt for a small, 1.2-litre engine. Launched as a competitor to the Ford Capri, it was loosely based on the Manta Ray concept car of 1961 (a wonderfully futuristic car that also heavily influenced the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette) and featured distinctive rear lights that took their cue from those of the Opel GT. A two-door coupé, it hit the roads two months before the four-door Opel Ascona saloon with which it shared almost everything bar the exterior sheetwork, glass and trim. The first generation Opel Manta, the A-Series, was released in September 1970.
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