1974 Opel Manta

Exterior Condition: Survivor
Interior Condition: 7/10
Color: Fire Glow Orange w/ Rallye Package Graphics
ODO: 82k Original Miles
Transmission: 5 Speed (t5 from s197 mustang)
Type: 2dr coupe
Tires: Pirelli CN36

I bought this original paint Fire Glow Orange Opel Manta Rallye back in December 2019 down in Long Beach, from Scotto at Hoonigan. I immediately went into refurbishing the running bits of it. Ive done a bunch of work to get it running, shifting, and stopping well. The Opel Manta has a 1.9L CIH (cam in head) engine running a Weber 38/38 DGAS downdraft carburetor.

According to the California DMV, this Opel Manta Rallye was put on Planned Non-Operation (PNO) on January 30th 1997. This means the car never falls out of the DMV system. On August 27, 2009 it was sent to Russell Recycling INC, in Alturas CA. There are no signs of damage to the body, chassis or undercarriage, meaning it was likely junked out of convenience when the owner moved on.

The car has an amazing patina, with paint depth numbers proving original orange paint all over the car.
From 2019 to 2022 I mechanically restored the car (details listed below), passed the state mandated brake and lamp test and got it registered in California, running on the road for the first time since 1997

I've enjoyed refurbishing the car and making it rally capable. This year it got me to the Targa 805 and the Motherlode 400, and back home again without a problem. Currently the car has 82k ORIGINAL miles. I believe to be original miles based on how long the car was off the road, and the original state of things that got replaced on the car.

Manta Build Story pt 1: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18172692046177483/
Manta Build Story pt 2: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17996772583455121/

WHAT I'VE DONE SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR:
- WEBER 38/38 DGAS conversion
- Replaced the gas tank with a clean used one
- NEW water pump, accessory belt
- NEW thermostat and gasket
- NEW coolant hoses, rad cap,
- NEW wires, dist. cap ,rotor, plugs
- NEW Fuel Pump, fuel pump spacer, gaskets
- Fabricated NEW motor mounts (GM Poly Trans Mounts)
- NEW vacuum lines,
- Added missing under carriage guard
- Entire Brake system replaced:
- NEW Master Cylinder and reservoir
- Good used brake booster
- NEW rubber lines all around
- Castrol SRF Racing brake fluid
- Front Brake Circuit:
- rebuilt front brake calipers,
- new front rotors
- added new brake pads (fresh
- Porterfield RS-4 pads as of June 23)
- Rear Brake Circuit:
- NEW rear brake cylinders,
- NEW Rear shoes,
- NEW drums
- Spare spring kit included
- Changed the diff gear oil and put in a new gasket
- I swapped out the valve cover for the finned GT version, with the thicker rubber valve cover gasket, and replaced the copper filtering elements inside
- Added round mustang style mirrors (which means it will have one on the passenger side)
- Removed the rotting bumper trim from the 74 bumpers
- Replaced the grill with non-broken one with better trim.
- Cleaned up all the electrical grounds with a Dremel tool.
- I ended up replacing the stock 4 speed with a 5-speed Tremec t5 out of an s197 mustang.
- Custom clutch from California Clutches (8 disk with ford ten spline drive center)
- Lightweight flywheel (with replaceable friction surface) to accept chevy s-10 pressure plates
- Pressure plate from a LUK chevy s10 4x4
- Throwout bearing from Sachs
- I made a custom trans mount using the trans bushing from a chevy s10
custom driveshaft made by driveshaftpros in gardena.
- JEGS Speedbox installed to receive a speed signal from both the t5 transmission and GPS.
- Custom speedometer cable made and installed to run this
- Every single bushing (including the hood bushings) on the car has been replaced with POLY bushings
- EXCEPT for the front sway bar bushings which have been replaced with OEM vulcanized rubber bushings.
- Repaired rust in the engine bay and passenger floor.
- All NEW suspension and steering components NEW Polyurethane suspension bushings,
- NEW lower a-arm bushings + sway bar to subframe bushings.
- NEW tie-rods,
- NEW-ball joints,
- NEW drive-shaft Center Support Bushing,
- NEW KYB Front shocks
- NEW KYB Rear shocks
- LED Bulbs in the rear for more visibility from other drivers at night.
- H4 conversion
- Wiring harness (original headlight harness is intact an untouched)
- 100/80w for headlights
- 130/90w for brights
- Starter Relay added
- Replaced cracked grill and missing trim
- NEW vertical side window seals
- Replaced rusted and separated hood with a solid 1973 Fireglow Rallye hood (black on top, orange on bottom, sticker intact)
- NEW aluminum radiator. (Old one comes with car)
- NEW front and rear window seals
- Remade rear parcel shelf
- Replaced carpet with good used units
- Replaced Driver's seat brackets and sliders
- NEW washer nozzle pedal bladder, hoses, nozzle
- Refurbished heater core/washer nozzle tray for pre 73 hood
- Personal three spoke wheel with 65 -Kadett Horn Button
- NEW drivers side brackets and sliders
- NEW Points, Condenser, Cap, Rotor, Sparkplugs (11.28.24)

PARTS THAT COME WITH THE CAR

- Good used cluster
- The one that originally came in the car didn't have a working ODO. I replaced it with a refurbished used unit and had the ODO matched to the old one.
- old things I took off of/replace on the car
- Original steering wheel
- side mirrors
- Soooo many original mirrors, one of them broken.
- Set of Sebring style mirrors
- Original valve cover
- Original air cleaner
- All OG bushings for reference in the future
- Ansa try-y headers
- Extra Set of c-pillar vents
- Various lights and knobs
- WHEELS
- GM stamped ATS classics (a period factory option)
- Original 5 wheels
- NOS key blanks to make spares.
- NEW door pins

NOTICEABLE PROBLEMS:

- It's a patina car
- Cracked Dash
- Some electrical issues
radio doesn't work (comes with Mounted UE Boom and charging cables)
- clock doesn't work
- fuel gauge reads low (about half way on a full tank)
- Side Window Seals
- Side seals have to be ordered from Germany

COMPS

$25,750 https://www.pcarmarket.com/auction/1972-opel-manta/
$32,450 https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/opel/manta/2689090.html
$19,750 https://barnfinds.com/classifieds/1974-opel-manta-a/
$11,250 https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1974-opel-manta-4/