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Ferrari sends its regards - the history of the Opel Manta coupé

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Created on July 1, 1988

Reading time 11min

Written by:

Rob de la Rive Box / Bruno von Rotz (2012)

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

GM Corporation

Christian Heuser

Balz Schreier

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen

Archiv

Daniel Reinhard

GM Corporation

Christian Heuser

Balz Schreier

Bruno von Rotz

Oldtimer-Galerie Toffen

Archiv

Opel Manta GT/E (1970) - schneller und noch sportlicher dank Einspritzung

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Opel Manta (1970) - sportliche Eleganz kündigte Opel mit der Präsentation des neuen Manta an

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Opel Manta (1970) - das elegante und praktische Coupé aus Rüsselsheim

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Opel Manta (1970) - Coupé für fünf Personen - sicher und trotzdem sportlich elegant

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Opel Manta - mit dem 1970 herausgebrachte Coupé schielt Opel auf sportlich orientierte Menschen - gezeigt am Genfer Autosalon 1971

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Opel Manta SR (1971) - auf dem Genfer Automobilsalon von 1971

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Opel Manta GT/E (1973) - das kommende Spitzenmodell mit 1,9-Liter-Einspritzmotor - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1973

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Opel Manta GT (1975) - alleine schon die schwarzen Rallye-Streifen machten das Auto schneller

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Opel Manta Rallye (1972) - mit der schwarzen Motorhaube

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Opel Manta Rallye (1972) - einige Designelemente erinnerten an Ferrari-Sportwagen

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Opel Manta SR (1972) - die mattschwarze Motorhaube sollte Blendungen mindern

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Opel Manta SR (1972) - die sportlicheste Möglichkeit, Manta zu fahren - bis 90 PS, mattschwarze Verzierungen, Zusatzinstrumente, etc.

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Opel Manta (1971) - Jean Ragnotti auf dem Manta an der Rallye TAP

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Opel Manta (1972) - die "Black Magic" Spezialversion

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Opel Manta (1970) - AVD Historic Marathon 2011

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Opel Manta am Treffen für Freunde nostalgischer Autos 2011 in Neuheim - mit mattschwarzer Motorhaube, wie es sich gehört

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Opel Manta (1970) - in Restaurierung begriffener Manta auf dem Opel-Stand - an der Techno Classica Essen 2012

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Opel GT 2 (1975) - ausgestellt im Verkehrszentrum des Deutschen Museums in München

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Opel GT 2 (1975) - futuristisches und windschlüpfriges Experimentalfahrzeugmit Schiebetüren - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1975

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Opel GT 2 (1975) - Türöffner beim Experimentalfahrzeug im Aussenspiegel - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1975

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Opel GT 2 (1975) - futuristisches Interieur beim Experimentalfahrzeug - Digitalanzeigen - Internationale Automobilausstellung (IAA) in Frankfurt 1975

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Opel Manta Luxus (1977) - mehr Luxus und Ausstattung

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Opel Manta B SR (1976) - sportlich mit mattschwarzer Motorhaube

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Opel Manta GT/E (1980) - mit Einspritzung und mehr Leistung

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Opel Manta SR (1979) und im Hintergrund der Manta GT/E mit Einspritzung

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Opel Manta B 2000 GT/E (1978) - an der No-Limit-Versteigerung der Oldimer-Galerie in Toffen am 15. September 2012

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Opel Manta 400 - die Basis für den Rennsport am Autosalon von Genf 1981

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Opel Manta 400 (1982) - mit von Cosworth entwickeltem 2,4-Liter-Motor

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Opel Manta 400 (1982) - das Basisgerät für Einsteiger in den Rallye-Sport

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Opel Manta B - am Start der ADAC Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler 2012 mit Heinz Robert (Startnummer 13)

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Opel Manta 400 (1984) - angeboten als Lot 388 an der Versteigerung von RM Auctions in Monaco am 12. Mai 2012

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Opel Manta i200 - am Start der ADAC Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler 2012 mit Bertram Altena (Startnummer 4)

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Opel Manta B - am Start der ADAC Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler 2012 mit Dieter Jäkel (Startnummer 55)

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Opel Manta 400 - Vorfeldfahrzeug an der ADAC Rallye Köln-Ahrweiler 2012 mit Rolf Möller (Startnummer 000)

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Opel Manta B (1979) mit Startnummer 165 an der 5. Bergprüfung Altbüron 2011

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Opel Manta (1975) an der Arosa ClassicCar 2014

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Opel Manta 400 Gruppe B (1983) in der VIP Fahrer Gruppe am Eifel Rallye Festival 2013

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Opel Manta 400 Gruppe B (1984) in der Gruppe «40 Jahre Rallyeweltmeisterschaft» am Eifel Rallye Festival 2013

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Summary

In 1970, Opel presented the Manta as a competitor to the Ford Capri, designed by Charles M. Jordan and with clear echoes of Ferrari sports cars. Technically, the Manta was based on the Ascona, which did not change with its successor, the Manta B. This report describes the history of the popular family sports coupé, of which over one million were produced, and shows it in many historical and current illustrations.

This article contains the following chapters

The Manta as an independent coupé
Wide range of engines
The SR for sporty drivers
Applause from the press
Economy and luxury versions
Then the Manta GT/E
In a completely new guise
More displacement and power
CC = Combi-Coupé
For the youth
Manta 400 rally model
Into the spoiler age
Impressive racing successes
The end
After over a million units, it was the end
Further information

Estimated reading time: 11min

Preview (beginning of the article)

From 1967 to 1970, Charles M. Jordan - his friends called him "Chuck" for short - was head of the styling department at Opel. Since October 1986, he has headed all design offices of the world's largest car manufacturer at General Motors and also holds the position of "Vice President". He owes his stellar professional career not least to the good work he did at Opel. Ford Europe launched the Capri in January 1969. It was a sporty coupé that offered space for a couple with two children. Jordan had designed a similar vehicle on the drawing board for Opel: alongside the Ascona as a family car, a sporty version called the Manta was to cause a sensation.

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