View Full Version : Me new car
Been looking for either a Manta, Chevette or Viva since Christmas with little joy. Everything was either overpriced barn finds, overpriced rot boxes, or cheap rot boxes. Not many genuine tidy road cars.
Narrowed down my choices, decided the Viva was no good as it's a saloon and we need a hatch really for practical reasons, and as all the good Chevette's were too much money I plumped for a Manta
Here she is. It's a 1.8 (which allows easy swap of the 2.0 16v redtop engine, if you put the redtop in a 2.0 8v Manta lots of bits need swapping) GT/E Exclusive.
It got repainted a couple of years ago but not fantastically well so the paint is a quite dull.
But it has no rust, no rot, it's never been welded - not even the inner rear edge of the sills or chassis rails which is miraculous on one of these!
Anyway, here's a couple of quick pics
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta01.jpg
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta02.jpg
leowyatt
18-04-2008, 07:19
Very tidy mate :) has the comedy ride gone then?
I used to love Mantas when they came out...it's great :D
Are you going to mount anything on the bonnet? ;D
Comedy ride is still taxed and MOT'd ready to roll. Kate is in the position where she may need a car Monday if her borthers 306 doesn't pass the MOT so if that happens we can share the Manta and the Volvo until she's sorted :)
leowyatt
18-04-2008, 07:34
Glad to see you still have it, did you ever sort out a bonnet mount? ;D
Wayhay, I like Mantas. Shame it's the wrong colour, but you can put that right.
FakeSnake
18-04-2008, 08:42
thats fap TASTIC
I love it
What's it like to drive? I've seen those and thought "I like that - they look cool". :)
I reckon a big block supercharged v8 poking through the bonnet would look awesome :D
And they can fly http://www.galiciaenralis.com/OPEL/Manta%20B/slides/ac-dd-194a.html
Mantas are fun to drive, I had one for a week a few years ago..
Flibster
18-04-2008, 12:26
Much approval here. :D
Seem to remember a work colleague had a white and yellow one. Until it went through a hedge...
What's it like to drive? I've seen those and thought "I like that - they look cool". :)
I reckon a big block supercharged v8 poking through the bonnet would look awesome :D
Much better than I expected. Ari Vatanen always said they were a naturally understeering car that you need to provoke to slide, so I was expecting a mediocre drive.
It's so much better than a Capri to drive IMO. Light but positive steering (no PAS here) easy to get the tail out and feels very tight. I'll let you take it out when you're up next.
It does need more power though!
Used to love the Manta GTE
do you buy a car every fortnight ? :p
Matblack
18-04-2008, 21:30
MMmmmmmmmmm I like
http://www.usedcars.ru/articles/news_files/9275/IMG_4027.JPG
Would have loved a Monza in the good old days
Lotus Monza?
http://www.alexmiedema.com/images/250606X/IMG_6509-border.JPG
MB
Bangernomics!
Unusual for me, this is my first non-bangernomics vehicle! Check out how clean the shell is
GTE Exclusive interior which is really nice:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta07.jpg
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta09.jpg
Original sills:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta10.jpg
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta11.jpg
Rear chassis rail:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta12.jpg
Front of sill and chassis rail:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta13.jpg
Battery tray:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta14.jpg
Inner wing & strut top:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta15.jpg
Headlamp bowl:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta16.jpg
Other headlamp bowl & worst rust on the car but couldn't perforate it with a screwdriver:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta17.jpg
Bulkhead:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta18.jpg
Crossmember:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta19.jpg
Boot corners:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta20.jpg
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta21.jpg
Rear 3/4 valance pockets:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta22.jpg
Really happy with it!
That looks really good, Sir Leon - I want to have a go!
It looks in tip top condition! You got yourself a gem there :)
Where on earth did you find one in that good nick? Still keep seeing the same Chevettes on ebay, the one with a dodgy panel repair is up again (its the light green one).
That looks really good :)
LeperousDust
19-04-2008, 23:30
God everytime i see new cars it makes me want to go hunting for something slightly different! I love to drive something different (and not particulary boring) to everything my friends know of! :D
Looks in great nick!
Mantas were popular when I was just getting the car 'bug'. I hated the square light ones but rather liked the ones with lights like yours. That is all I remember :D
FakeSnake
20-04-2008, 20:03
you lucky bugger!!!!
that looks seriously tidy
Cheers, it's really solid, just a shame the paint is dull.
Now stickered up as it should be:
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta43.jpg
http://ukrm.org/lopez/Manta44.jpg
leowyatt
26-04-2008, 15:33
Do I spy a 306 in the background there???
Do I spy a 306 in the background there???
Erm... NOTHING TO SEE THERE!!!! :p
The Manta looks fantastic now he's stickered it up and we've washed/waxed it. Really lovely looking car :)
leowyatt
26-04-2008, 16:44
Erm... NOTHING TO SEE THERE!!!! :p
Well clearly there is, your brother's 306, nothing to be ashamed of ;)
You haven't driven it :p It is vomit-inducingly poor.
semi-pro waster
03-05-2008, 11:35
Looks very tidy considering it is relatively old and given that most Mantas I've seen seem to be sheds.
Are those Recaro seats? I used to have one as an awesome computer chair, so comfortable.
Veteran Tyke
03-05-2008, 11:48
Mantas are fun to drive, I had one for a week a few years ago..
Mucho fun.
A friend had one, and let me drive it regularly, the back end loved to kick out.
Mikes mate had a Manta, we used to do the 'circuit' at Romford at weekend nights, him and a car full of lads in the Manta and us in Mikes GT Turbo. It wasn't a good night unless we'd got a good couple of producers each! ;) :D
Looks very tidy considering it is relatively old and given that most Mantas I've seen seem to be sheds.
Are those Recaro seats? I used to have one as an awesome computer chair, so comfortable.
Yes they are Recaros :)
Veteran Tyke
04-05-2008, 16:30
Came as standard didn't they? Every Manta I've driven/been in has had them.
Yeah most have Recaros. Mine are out of a Manta GT/E (the GT had horrible trim)
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