Buying Guide
Opel Manta B
‘The fuelinjected GT/E is now the most sought-after Manta’
If you want a late Seventies or early Eighties coupé, chances are you’ll be drawn to a Ford Capri. But there’s a less obvious alternative out there that offers a similar driving experience and just as much style for much less money. We’re talking about the rear-wheel-drive
Opel Manta and
Vauxhall Cavalier coupé/hatch, of course, offered in four-cylinder form only – which is undoubtedly one of the reasons why some Capri devotees dismiss the GM two-door straight away.
If you can live with fourpot power, however, the Manta makes a great bargain classic – and there are lots of examples out there that have been pepped up with more power, whether from tuning or engine swaps.
Launched in 1975, the Manta B replaced both the Vauxhall Firenza and the Manta A (which had been sold in Britain only under the Opel marque) but would appear as both a Vauxhall and an Opel across Europe, despite all of the cars being produced in GM’s Antwerp factory. A fastback joined the two-door coupé in 1977, but 1981 saw the most major changes. Once again, the car was now only sold under the Opel brand, including in Britain. Plastic bumpers replaced chrome and the engine range was rationalised to just 1.8- and 2.0-litre units in the UK, these post-facelift cars being referred to variously as Manta B2s or Manta Cs.
While pre-1982 cars are desirable because they’re rarer and feature a relatively pure design, the later fuel-injected GT/E is actually the most sought-after Manta, along with the GT/E Exclusive ( later just Exclusive) that arrived in 1986. As the last of the line, these models are the fastest of the breed. While major corrosion is a common issue, the Manta is enormous fun, a little bit left-fi eld and more affordable than that Blue Oval alternative.
Oh, and chances are there won’t be another one at most classic shows.