The Opel Manta was a rear-wheel-drive sports coupé motor vehicle built by Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors, from 1970 to 1988.
1970-1975: Opel Manta A
Opel Manta A
Production: 1970–1975
The Manta A was released in 1970, based on the Opel Ascona of the time, as a competitor to the Ford Capri. It was a two-door "three-box" coupé, and featured distinctive round tail lights, quite similar to the Opel GT. Usually equipped with 1.6 - 1.9 litre CIH engines, from October 1974 there was also a turbocharged version for the United Kingdom (UK) market. Unusually for the UK, the car was sold as an Opel rather than having a Vauxhall-branded equivalent. For a time, the Manta was offered as a captive import in the United States market.
1975-1988: Opel Manta B
Opel Manta B1
Opel Manta B
Production: 1975–1981
Opel Manta B2
Production: 1982–1988
Engine: 1.8L Auto 90 SAE HP
2.0L 110 SAE HP
Transmission: 3-speed automatic optional
5-speed Getrag Sports Gearbox
Wheelbase: 99.1 in (2517.14 mm)
Length: 175.0 in (4445 mm)
Width: 66.4 in (1686.56 mm)
Height: 52.8 in (1341.12 mm)
Curb weight: 2347.9 lb (1065 kg)
Fuel capacity: 50 litres
A new Manta was launched in 1975. This two-door "three-box" car was based directly on the then new, redesigned Opel Ascona mechanically, but the overall design has been said to be influenced by the 1975 Chevrolet Monza. The Manta had more "sporty" styling, including a droop-snoot nose not seen on the Ascona, although it was standard on the UK version of the Ascona, the Vauxhall Cavalier. There was still no "Vauxhall Manta", with the car remaining an Opel in the UK. However, a Vauxhall Cavalier was available with the same coupé bodyshell.
In 1977, a three-door hatchback version appeared to complement the existing two-door booted car. This shape was also not unique, being available on a lower-performance Vauxhall Cavalier variant.
Both manta versions were produced with a facelift from 1982. This included a plastic front spoiler, sideskirts for the GT/E and GSi models and a small wing at the rear + quadruple airintakes on the grill.
Production of the Manta continued well after the equivalent Ascona and Cavalier were replaced by a front wheel drive model "Ascona C". It finally ceased in 1988, when the last of the line "Exclusive" model was produced. The car was later succeeded by the Opel Calibra (and Vauxhall Calibra in the UK).
Especially the Manta B (from 1975) was stereotyped-distorted in the 80s and 90s to the cult object by tuning friends and at the same time the Manta driver to the perfect example or even to the synonym of a tuning lover in itself.
Cinematically the Manta and Manta drivers were put a „monument“ with films like: „Manta, Manta“ and „Manta the movie“, similar to the movies about the VW Beetle, although with a rather ironic-pejorative character. Countless songs - e.g., „Manta“ of „Norbert and the Cowards“ - and "Manta jokes" originated about the Manta driver, giving him a most high-level-stylized cliché as a kind of redneck: with a foxtail tied to the radio antenna, a six-pack on the back seat and having a blonde girlfriend, whose profession is usually hairdresser, sitting in front passenger seat. This was the stereotype of a Manta drivers. The stereotyped Manta driver has (te), in addition, a low educational level, macho-like behaviour, wearing cowboy's boots and hanging his elbows out of the window in every weather, while driving the car and many other awkward qualities. 'Boah' and 'ey' counted as preferential interjections from the linguistic jargon of the stereotype-Manta driver.
Many Manta drivers were not ready, to expose themselves to the mockery, and sold hastily her vehicle. Due to the wave of jokes, the market value of the Manta plummeted and had become virtually impossible to sale. The Manta disappeared like lightning from the street scene, many vehicles got scrapped despite a good state of the car. Hence Opel will have been glad not to have put its successor on the market as “Calibra” not projecting him as a "Manta".
Opel Manta Rally versions
From 1979 until 1983 Opel offered special "homologation" rally versions of Manta, the Group B Manta 400. This model was produced in very small numbers in a variety of special Rally specifications. This variant used the two-door body for its strength and was fitted with a 16 valve 2410cc engine supplied by Cosworth, coupled to a five-speed gearbox. For lightness Manta rally cars came with glass-fibre body panels and special wheels.
Opel Manta Convertible versions
GM, from 1978 until 1979 offered the Cavalier Coupe in convertible format called the Centaur. Only 118 of these where made and less than 30 are believed to survive today (2007). About a quarter of these conversions used Manta Coupes. The cars were developed by Magraw Engineering and sold through Vauxhall dealerships on behalf of Crayford.
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