1973 Opel Manta

Opel introduced the Manta A series in September of 1970, two months before the new Opel Ascona on which it was based. It was a two-door 'three-box' coupe positioned as a competitor to the popular Ford Capri, featuring distinctive round taillights that were similar to those on the Opel GT and the ones used on the GT in 1973, its final model year. The name and a few of its styling cues were from the Manta Ray concept car, which also famously influenced the 1968 Chevrolet Corvette C3.

The Manta initially was powered by 1.6 or 1.9 liter CIH engines, although in Europe, a small, 1.2 litre motor was also offered. Engines were backed by either a four-speed manual or an optional three-speed TH-180 automatic.

The 1973 Opel Manta Sport Coupe had a base price of $2,850 and was powered by an overhead-cam four-cylinder engine with a cast-iron block, a light ally head, solid valve lifters, and five main bearings. It delivered 75 (SAE) horsepower at 4,800 RPM and 92 lb-ft of torque at 3,400 RPM. Trim levels included base, Luxus, and Rallye. Base models had vinyl upholstery and the Luxus coupes came with cord cloth upholstery and four-spoke wheels.

by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2020