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The anti-Capri from Rüsselsheim: Opel Manta family coupé put to the test

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Created on October 15, 1970

Text:

Heinz Kranz

Photos:

GM Corporation

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Archiv

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GM Corporation

3

Archiv

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Opel Manta (1970) - the elegant and practical coupé from Rüsselsheim

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Opel Manta (1970) - sporty handling

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Opel Manta (1970) - a family coupé from Opel

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Opel Manta (1970) - Interior, trunk and engine compartment

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Opel Manta (1970) - Rear axle with Panhard rod and trailing arms

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Opel Manta (1970) - newly designed front axle to prevent diving under braking

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Opel Manta (1970) - Opel announced sporty elegance with the presentation of the new Manta

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Opel Manta GT/E (1970) - faster and even sportier thanks to fuel injection

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Opel Manta (1972) - the "Black Magic" special version

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Opel Manta L (1971) - typical coupé stature

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Opel Manta L (1972) - Ferrari echoes at the rear

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Opel Manta (1970) - long hood, space for five people and their luggage

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Opel Manta (1971) - with the practical hinged rear windows

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Opel Manta (1971) - a test car

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Summary

"Is it possible to produce bestsellers?" asked the 'hobby' tester right at the beginning of his report, which he wrote shortly after the launch of the Opel Manta (A). And he came to the conclusion that the prerequisites for this were actually good, as he could hardly find a fly in the ointment. This article reproduces the original wording from the 1970 test report and is supplemented with the relevant illustrations and some archive images.

This article contains the following chapters

Will the Manta win against the Capri?
Broad engine range
State-of-the-art technical equipment
Modern chassis
Fully equipped
Lots of passive safety
A progressive, European car
The Opel Manta in comparison

Estimated reading time: 5min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Is it possible to produce bestsellers? I believe that bestsellers are random hits, especially with cars. Cars are technical entities, but success or failure with the buyer is more psychological than technical. It starts with the name: Capri is summer, sun, romance ... Ford's Capri fishermen have cleverly laid out their nets. Opel is now trying to counter with the Manta. This flying ray is unknown in our latitudes, one will think of Mantua, where Andreas Hofer lay in gangs; I would have called the new Coupe Amalfi or Sorrento to stay close to Capri from the outset: Opel Sorrento, what a name for the new car!

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