Jump to content

1988 GT Exclusive hatch


Leon
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi all

Been into Mantas for years but for some reason I just never got round to buying one.

I got a decent tax rebate in January and decided I was going to spend it on a "new" car, so I started trawling through ads looking for a clean Chevette. The plan was to get a non rot-box, carry out an XE or 2.0 SEH conversion and just use it as a daily driver.

Problem was, every Chevette I saw was either a basket case or a "barn find" that some chancer wanted £2000 for even though it hadn't been near an MOT station in 15 years. All I wanted was a relatively clean daily driver type car and found one surprisingly hard to get hold of - so I expanded my search to Mantas

It was the same story with Mantas - £250 welding-practice fodder or £4000 20,000 miler concours, neither of which I wanted. Until eventually I came across one on a classic car site which took my fancy.

It was a 1988 GT Exclusive - someone has fitted GTE skirts, and the nicer GTE Exclusive interior and alloys. It was also a hatch (perfect! I needed a hatch for it's load carrying abilities) and it was a 1.8 (ideal for my engine plans) so I went to have a look at it.

Overall it was very straight. Some very very minor bubbling around the sunroof which will haunt me in years to come no doubt, good sills and solid original (as far as I can tell) chassis rails, solid original battery tray, crossmember, boot floor and so on.

The paint was quite dull, it's been resprayed a couple of years back and it looks like a bit of a rush job particularly below the swage line.

Also obviously had replacement wings as it has no side repeaters despite being F reg!

It drove nicely so I made an offer on the asking and took it home.

Here she is as I bought her:

Manta01.jpg

Manta02.jpg

Nice clean interior

Manta06.jpg

Manta07.jpg

Next up some pics of the structure

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 66
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Sill tops:

Manta10.jpg

Sill bottoms:

Manta11.jpg

Chassis rails:

Manta12.jpg

Battery tray:

Manta14.jpg

Headlamp bowl:

Manta17.jpg

Crossmember:

Manta19.jpg

Boot floor:

Manta20.jpg

Rear pockets:

Manta22.jpg

Looking in the cavities the car has been treated to a fair bit of waxoyl in the past which has helped keep it in decent condition. Something I will carry on doing using Bilt Hamber Dynax Cavity Wax in the doors, rear panels, roof, bonnet, sills and so on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Plenty of room for improvement and preventative maintenence though!

First off I popped off the side skirts and gave the sills some attention.

Cleaned off and treated with Nitromors around any corroded areas to get rid of lifting paint

Manta26.jpg

Given a good dose of Bilt Hamber Deox-Gel to get rid of any minor corrosion

Manta26.jpg

Then a going over with Hydrate80 to stabilise and provide a good base coat

Manta27.jpg

Then primed, and given a subsequent few coats of stonechip paint

Manta30.jpg

Finally topcoat and lacquer

Manta31.jpg

Then refitted the skirts using stainless self tappers (remember it's a GT so it doesn't have the original trim clips to hold on the skirts)

Doing the other sill this morning. It's tedious but worth doing IMO for peace of mind come the next MOT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Taking a break from laying on my shoulder on the floor I also wanted to brighten up the exterior.

I know that the red graphics on Monaco blue cars cause mass controversy and lots of people hate them, and hate it even more when people fit decals that are not pointy enough, or even worse - *gasp* THE WRONG SHADE OF RED!!!

Well, I'm not lots of people and I bloody well LIKE bright red so on they went . I used GT/E graphics and just left off the "E" - not strictly original I suppose but I am not aiming for originality

Manta34.jpg

Manta37.jpg

Then I gave the whole thing a bloody good clean and polish and she has ended up like this:

Manta43.jpg

Manta44.jpg

Comments (good or bad) welcome!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A great project Leon, and a great solid car by the looks of it!! :thumbup

She has come up well paint work wise, it looks tons better and even the interior looks mint and well looked after... So whats next fella? You gonna tackle the engine transplant or enjoy it as it is for a while?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Cheers Mike, yeah it is pretty solid, a few scabby bits but hey - who's perfect? (apart from maybe Keeley Hazell )

At the moment I'm just enjoying driving it. I need to source a few bits and bobs like new headlamps, stop the exhaust knocking, replace the dodgy coil and the rubber bonnet supports but the long term plan is definitely XE or Ecotec as this 1.8 is a little lacking in grunt for my liking.

A few other recent jobs I've done:

DTV stickers under the bonnet

Manta39.jpg

24-LED fog light bulb in the reverse lamp slot as my fog lamp is missing:

Manta45.jpg

Blue LED's to replace the original grain o' wheat dash bulbs. Wish they were this bright in real life, the dash lighting on the Manta is AWFUL, the worst I've ever had in a car:

Manta46.jpg

Rear bumper off - it's dull and needs respraying and lacquering:

Manta47.jpg

Pleased at how solid the valance is too.

HELP - WHERE CAN I GET MONACO BLUE IN AN AEROSOL? MY LOCAL VAUXHALL DEALERS LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS A THREE HEADED ALIEN WHEN I ASKED FOR IT!

Done more rust sorting today, will post up the pics after I've had me barbecue

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry if im going to sound out of hand here, but why buy a MINT 1800 exclusive to rip out the 1800 and replace it with a redtop? Things like this really get on my tits. Why do that to a decent 1800..? This motor i know personally. In fact I nearly bought it but was too late.

I threaten to redtop my 1800 GT all the time, only because its tired and everytime i get it running it goes pop. If you plan to redtop a manta, you should really buy a knackered 1800.

I know i'l get my arse chewed out for this and have nothing against anyone converting to redtop, but on a perfectly good 1800 actually breaks my heart. Id long for a decent running 1800!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry if im going to sound out of hand here, but why buy a MINT 1800 exclusive to rip out the 1800 and replace it with a redtop? Things like this really get on my tits. Why do that to a decent 1800..? This motor i know personally. In fact I nearly bought it but was too late.

Why does it upset you?

I had no intention of "ripping" anything out, I'm not a butcher, I'm a car enthusiast.

I don't think a 1.8 Exclusive hatch is ever going to be an object of immense desirability or rarity - and this one is not even in original specification, it does not have the right wheels, interior or bodykit.

If it was an i240 or one of only 50 made I could understand the concern, but at looking at things objectively it's just a run of the mill Opel Manta.

I threaten to redtop my 1800 GT all the time, only because its tired and everytime i get it running it goes pop. If you plan to redtop a manta, you should really buy a knackered 1800.

You're making it sound like I'm going to banger race the thing, not put in a better engine

If you want to convert yours to 16v, do it! You don't have to think up excuses to carry out the work.

Personally I would prefer to start with as good a base car as I could find. Mine has an intermittent sticking tappet and leaks oil. Is that close enough to being knackered

I know i'l get my arse chewed out for this and have nothing against anyone converting to redtop, but on a perfectly good 1800 actually breaks my heart. Id long for a decent running 1800!!!

I'm certainly not going to chew your arse for your comments, we all see things differently and place importance on different things - a friend has recently turned what was a spotless Mk2 Escort Harrier into a full blown Group 4 stage rally car and sometimes I wonder if that was the "right" thing to do with that particular car - but it's his car and he can do with it as he wishes. Still, I'd rather it be turned into a rally car than see it rotting in a field or be trailered around between shows only coming out for a polish every summer.

An XE or Ecotec conversion on a Manta 1.8 is a relatively non-invasive procedure as I'm sure you know only too well - there is no hacking around of the body involved, no permanent damage or disfigurement to the shell, and if someone wanted to return it to original specification it could easily be done.

However if I'd bought this particular car for it's distributor, gearbox, mounts and sump for a Locost...... I'd be the first to agree with you!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Each to their own i supose. I have a soft spot for 1800's. Id like first dibs on it if you sell the remains, as personally id rather keep my 1800 the way it is and a second engine that i know is a good one will come in handy..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Nice looking Hatch you have there Leon

Must say I totally agree with you about plopping an XE in it, I always found the 1.8 to be totally gutless really, I know they have potential when tuned but would have to throw cash at it just to get to the XE's original power.

The XE that was in my old Calibra was such a smooth effortless engine, pretty much what should have been fitted in the Manta anyway.

Forgot to mention......... Dash lights, LOL, yeah mate absolutley bl00dy useless aint they.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Each to their own i supose. I have a soft spot for 1800's. Id like first dibs on it if you sell the remains, as personally id rather keep my 1800 the way it is and a second engine that i know is a good one will come in handy

No problem

try at a motor factors or paint shop

it's about £12.50 a tin

but it sprays like a spray gun

Cheers - will give my local a try

After years of patching up cars I can certainly see why someone would start a project with a minter.

There are only so many times you can go through the same welding operations on cars before it gets boring. Starting with a good motor cuts out all the boring stuff and lets you do the fun stuff straight away.

Exactly my thinking

You do as you like Leon, it's you car. I will take the mick if ytou get half way through and then break it though.

Must say I totally agree with you about plopping an XE in it, I always found the 1.8 to be totally gutless really, I know they have potential when tuned but would have to throw cash at it just to get to the XE's original power.

The XE that was in my old Calibra was such a smooth effortless engine, pretty much what should have been fitted in the Manta anyway.

That's the way I see it. If it makes me more inclined to use the car and keep it nice then upgrading the engine can only be a good thing.

Cheers for all the comments, dragging on with the rust proofing today and it's hot and tedious.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Okay more work done in an effort to keep her in good nick

Did the other sill (not as nice as the other side, but still very good) and a spot of rust that had grown up on the top of the sill itself

First, Nitromors the affected area:

Manta49.jpg

Then rub away all the shrivelled paint:

Manta50.jpg

Apply DeOx Gel:

Manta51.jpg

Remove with a wire brush and clean the area up, then apply a few coats of Hydrate80 to stabilise the area:

Manta52.jpg

Looks like this when dried:

Manta53.jpg

That's not very pretty though, so it got lots and lots of coats of stonechip black:

Manta55.jpg

Then some top coat (this is actually the wrong colour, a Volvo shade, it's a very close match and will do for this sort of thing:

Manta56.jpg

Finally some lacquer:

Manta57.jpg

And back on with the sideskirt with stainless fastners

Manta58.jpg

Manta59.jpg

As you can see the colour match isn't perfect but in real life it's barely noticeable. Hell, it's an inner sill, you only see it when you open the door anyway!

Hopefully that will at least slow down the progress of any MOT-failing rot icon_smile.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"pretty gutless"he says.do what you like with your car dude.tell you wot thou,me an me dt250 will shat all over him and his ride..

Er,,,,, Are you quite sure about that.

Apart from my current daily drive I can't remember the last time i was drivining anything with less than 200BHP through the rear wheels...

If I let a DT250 past,,,, it would of been because it went past me.

Racing is for on the tracks mate

And yes mate....... the 1.8 is a gutless 90bhp lump

And also.......... "Will" as in "I will in the future do this thing etc." that is called future tense

Followed by "Shat" as in I shat all over him etc. that is called past tense, as in something you had done.

So I take it you plan to do something that you had already done, it's the only way your comment (apart from being absolute 8ollucs in the first place) can make any sense mate. :thumbup

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When you've jumped out of a bigger more modern engine the 1800 is bound to be gutless compaired to larger lumps.

I haven't though, not really....

Car history:

Mk3 Escort 1600

Mk1 Fiesta 1100

Mk1 Sierra 2000

Mk2 Sierra 1800

Mk2 Sierra 2000

Nova 1400

Mk2 Golf 1054

205 GTI 1600

Nova 1200

309 GTI 1900

309 GTI 1900

E30 BMW 320i

309 GTI 1900

Rover 213

Mk2 Golf GTI 1800

Mk2 Sierra 1800

Mk1 Mondeo 1800

Mk3 Supra 3000 T

Honda Civic 1600

Volvo 940 2300

I don't think any of those are particularly rapid cars!, not by a long shot! Yes I also have regular use of a Nissan 200SX which has a lot more oomph but I'd never compare the Manta to that, it has less than half the power!

The Manta feels relatively urgent compared to my last car, the Volvo, but what wouldn't? At the end of the day the 1.8 (in my opinion) has just not quite enough power to make the Manta completely satisfying to drive. It's not anything to do with straight line speed either, I'm talking about general oomph on corner exits and the like.

It'll do for now though

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...