Opel Manta B
(1975 - 1988)
Opel Manta B: All 20 models
Car articles about Opel Manta B by year
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.
In the first half of '75, the Manta accounted for only 3.4% of German Opel registrations (6630 out of 191,544). It was high time for a new model. And the second edition of the Opel Manta had many convincing qualities, as the test from that time shows.
Every sixth Opel Manta sold in Germany in 1976 was a GT/E. No wonder, as it could compete with the BMW 320, which cost 2000 marks more. However, the Opel injection engine should not only be seen from a sporting perspective, as it was also suitable for everyday driving. This test report from 1976 explains why.
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.
When Opel developed a Group B successor to the Ascona 400, the decision was made to use the Manta as the basis and to continue with rear-wheel drive. There was, however, a four-wheel drive prototype, but it was never used in racing. With only 245 vehicles built, the Opel Manta 400 remained an exotic model. This vehicle report tells the story of the homologation vehicle and shows a road-going version in many pictures.
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