$750 Captive Import: 1970 Opel Manta
If you wandered into a Buick dealership in the 1970s, you could skip the chrome and slab sides and instead take home a sharp Opel Manta coupe. Sold through dealers as a four-cylinder with good fuel economy, the Manta offered an attractive package with European flair not often seen in a Buick. They also make great rally cars! Find this dirt cheap barn find example here on craigslist in Denver, or go here if the ad disappears.
Unfortunately for the Manta, economic factors limited its appeal with American consumers, and its alignment with Buick was probably not the smartest when trying to push a small, sporty car. Even to this day as Buick tries to reinvent itself, too many years of association with senior citizen owners makes it tough sell that the company can deliver compelling driver’s cars to the masses. Perhaps smarter marketing would have made the Manta a bigger hit, or at least a stronger influence.
This car is quite tired cosmetically, but is thankfully a manual transmission model. The suspension seems oddly jacked up, but I’m hoping that’s just the way the car is parked and not some redneck ingenuity at work. Hemmings did a nice evaluation of the Manta, noting that its stock suspension was quite performance-friendly, with features like a rear sway bar that its 3-Series competitor at BMW didn’t offer. The seller doesn’t many details, other than it runs and needs restoration.
From this angle, it appears the interior has been stripped out but that could just be the effects of a poorly-angled photo and dirty glass. The Manta was actually such a performer out of the box that it was banned from SCCA competition. Reading the road test reviews of the Manta won’t inspire much confidence, but it shined on the track. For $750, this looks like a fun way to build a car for cruising and competition – just don’t expect your Buick dealer to sell you any parts.
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Comments
The car is up on wood. Great for parts, as stated, probably not much NOS body parts for these. No problem with mechanical spares, I’m sure, but this car is fried. Mantas were great cars, had several, but being a unibody, the front stubs for the suspension rust, deeming the car useless, and I’m sure this car is no different.
Off-topic but the follow-up Manta (’78) got very popular in Europe recently, when some crazy dudes made some movies with it (New Kids Turbo/New Kids Nitro, look it up on the Youtubes). Not so long ago the original was for sale for -believe it or not- €63000 ($76000!):
https://www.autoscout24.de/angebote/opel-manta-b-filmauto-filmfahrzeug-aus-new-kids-benzin-gruen-526b674f-876c-b579-e053-e250040a8866 (German, sorry)
I had one as a teen in the 70’s. All of my friends were driving big old American cars and could never keep up with me even though they had more than twice the horsepower. It could actually go around corners! Unlike everything made in the US.
Mine met it’s demise when a close friend rammed a cop car with it…. but that’s another story.
Mine was a ’73 Manta Luxus with the plush interior and a 5 speed. First car I ever bought “on time”. Those monthly payments were well worth it!
I don’t think the Manta ever had a 5 speed. US models, anyway. I’ve had several “Dopels” and friends had several more, and recall, that’s what was sorely missing, but remember, these cars were when the speed limit was 55 mph, so they did ok. The Manta “Rallye” had a different rear axle ratio, making it a bit snappier, I believe.
I had a wagon..It was a great little car.It would haul anything I could stick in the back.I once hauled close to a ton of gravel in it.Amazing tough little car..
Stunning cars. This one is forlorn, and needs lots of TLC to get it reasonably driver standard. There will be upside in these cars, so it’s worth looking into.
With the body issues and lack of parts, one way to go might be to build a Gasser
out of it… Maybe with a Buick Nailhead , 6 one barrels, etc. to keep it “all in the family.”
Mine was a ’73 manta “Luxus” with an auto transmission. Since My wife could not drive a stick, and we needed a fuel efficient car, I opted for the Opel because it was chewing up the showroom stock class in racing, and since I liked to drive in a sporting fashion, it seemed the right car to buy. I really liked the car; it blew the socks off a friends’ Pinto with an automatic.
Unfortunately, Buick had no idea what they were selling. (Just like Lincoln/Mercury dealers selling Capris)
I would love to find a good 4 speed Manta to buy.
Growing up in a small NC town in the 60’s and 70’s these were the only import “sports car” you would see. I always liked the way these looked but I never got inside one to drive or ride. I agree with Jim Miller, I would love to find a nice one of these and I did, Jim, have a Capri with the V-6 and it would haul you know what.
I had a red one with those exact wheels. Mine had a 4 speed and handled quite well in Colorado canyons…
Yea, tough to figure out how much rust. If anyone wants me to go check it out, I live in D-town. As for Buicks being stodgy, let us not forget the GS 455…
The rear window with heater may be this car’s redemption. All depends on a resistance reading.