Opel Manta

Opel is a famous German automobile manufacturer renowned for its engineering and quality. Established in 1863 by Adam Opel, the company began manufacturing automobiles in 1899. Opel was acquired by General Motors (GM) in 1929 and today Opel is GM's largest European brand. Several cars sold by GM across the world are Opel designs branded as Corsa, Astra, Vectra and Omega.

One of the best selling Opel models is the Opel Manta. The Opel Manta was a rear-wheel-drive sports coupé that was introduced in 1970 to replace the Opel GT. The first Manta A was a two-door "three-box" coupe that featured distinctive round tail lights. It drew power from a 1.6 - 1.9 litre CIH engine. By October 1974, turbocharged versions of the Manta were introduced for the United Kingdom market.

The new version Opel Manta B was released in 1975. This version was influenced by the 1975 Chevrolet Monza design and was mechanically similar to the Opel Ascona. It boasted a “sporty” styling with a droop-snoot nose. By 1977, a three-door hatchback version was also launched. Subsequently in 1979, a rally version named Opel Manta 400 was introduced. This was produced as per the needs of several special Rally specifications. The production of Manta ceased in 1988, when it was replaced by the Vauxhall Calibra. Owing to its good looks and well-respected handling, the Opel Manta is today among the much sought-after classic cars with sizeable support from the Opel Manta Club.