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Opel Manta B - most beautiful without foxtail and accessories

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Created on July 8, 2015

Reading time 7min

Written by:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Bruno von Rotz

39

GM Corporation

8

Balz Schreier

1

Michael Alschner

1

General Motors / Opel

1

Archiv

7

Bruno von Rotz

39

GM Corporation

8

Balz Schreier

1

Michael Alschner

1

General Motors / Opel

1

Archiv

7

Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - auf Aerodynamik getrimmt

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - grosszügig verglast, trotzdem wurde die Sicht nach hinten damals bemängelt

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - für heutige Verhältnisse mit 1,67 Metern Breite recht schmal

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - zierliches Heck

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - gradlinig gezeichnet

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - über 300 Liter fasste der Kofferraum

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - wenig später erhielten die Coupés dann ein Facelift

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - im Originalzustand heute selten

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - mit damals modischen Rechteck-Scheinwerfern

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - kein Bett im Kornfeld

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - nur links war der Aussenspiegel serienmässig

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - die Ergonomie wurde damals gelobt

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - relativ weiche Sitze mit wenig Seitenhalt

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - Tacho, Wassertemperatur und Benzinstand müssen reichen als Anzeigen

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - viel Kunststoff im Interieur

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - vieles sieht nach Leder aus, ist es aber nicht

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - dass man in einem Opel sitzt, kann man kaum vergessen

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - ein Sport-Coupé ohne Drehzahlmesser, ja das gab's bei Opel

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - geneigter, langer Schalthebel - der Ring dient zum Entsperren des Rückwärtsgangs

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - das Original-Radio ist noch immer im Auto

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - Kunststoff, wohin man schaut

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - die Verriegelung, wie man sie damals verbaute

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - robuster Motorenbau

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - obenliegende Nockenwelle, hängende Ventile

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - 100 PS aus zwei Litern Hubraum, überanstrengen musste sich der Motor nicht

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - grosser Luftfilter

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - zwei Liter Hubraum und Vergaser

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - das Typenschild

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - grosse Rechteckscheinwerfer

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - das Opel-Zeichen über den Kühleinlässen

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - der Blitz im Opel-Zeichen

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - "S" wie "Spezial"

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - Türgriffe

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - aussenliegende Tankklappe rechts

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - breite Rückleuchten

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - Opel-Zeichen auf dem Heck

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Opel Manta 2.0 S (1980) - als "S" hatte der Zweiliter 100 PS

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

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Opel Manta (1970) - mit Anleihen an Ferrari im Design

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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 CC (1980)

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

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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 GT/E (1975) - in der Werbung - Rendez-Vous mit Caroline

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Opel Manta GT/E (1975) - in der Werbung - machen Sie Träume wahr ...

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Opel Manta (1975) - Werbung - Fanclub

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Opel Manta 1.9 SR (1976) - in der Werbung

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Opel Manta E (1977) - Werbung "Der Supermanta

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Opel Manta (1981) - Werbung "Und der Fahrspass kommt auf Touren"

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

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

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Fuchsschwanz am Opel Manta 400 (1982) am Treffen der Gruppe B Legenden in Salzburg am 13. September 2013

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

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Summary

The Opel Manta B was presented in 1975 as the successor to the successful Manta A, smoothed and larger, following technically proven concepts. It developed into the long runner in the Opel model program and was built over half a million times by 1988. However, it became famous and infamous through tuning excesses and film appearances and, of course, through the Manta jokes. This driving report shows an original example from 1980 and tells the story of the second Manta edition.

This article contains the following chapters

Successor to a bestseller
Smoothed and stretched
Standard design
Good value
In a changing competitive environment
Film star against its will
Tuning excesses
And the foxtail?
In search of an original Manta
Minimalist, but not primitive
Further information

Estimated reading time: 7min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the Opel Manta B was launched in 1975, its modern styling and proven technology delighted cost-sensitive buyers. Rear-wheel drive and robust four-cylinder engines were also standard in the sports coupé segment at the time. Hardly anyone would have guessed that this model would become the record long runner in the Opel range and adorn the showrooms until 1988. And hardly anyone could have guessed that 30 or 40 years later, original Manta coupés would hardly be found ... The Manta B inherited a difficult legacy, as its predecessor, the Manta A, which had been built since 1970 and had a rear end design by Charles M. Jordan reminiscent of a Ferrari, had sold almost half a million units in just five years.

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