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Eleanor. My '87 Red Top Manta Hatch


Mantaboy83
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Having been bitten by the Manta bug from an early age (my grandad owned a '79 Cavalier Sportshatch, then an '85 Manta 1.8 GTE) I bought my first Manta, an '84 GTE way back in 2003. After some old biddy drove into the back of it and wrote it off I was on the hunt for a replacement...

I saw an ad on this very website for a Manta GT/J with a Red Top conversion, unfinishied project, only 20mins drive from my house. I had to go and see it! As expected, after seeing it I wanted it! It ran a bit rough but I just had to have it! The rough running turned out to be the wrong ht leads and spark plugs :rolleyes: The love affair began...

That was way back in 2004/5.

Over the years since owning Eleanor she has been off the road longer than she has on it and has always been a rolling project (If you'd like to know more and what I've done over the years give me a PM). I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed a few car shows in her (Did you know you can fit a single sized air bed in the back of a Manta?!) but the time has come for us to part company :(

Last year she suffered a terrible misfortune. Whilst negotiating a roundabout some 'pheasant plucker' came hurtling from the left, didnt look to see if anything was on the roundabout and flew straight out in front of me, I took evasive action which resulted in me mounting a kerb with some force. Enough force to bend the offfside front wheel into the wheelarch, thus damaging the suspension on that side. I limped Eleanor home, parked her on my drive, and there she has sat ever since.

Now that I'm moving house the time has come to bid farewell to Eleanor. I'd love to keep her but what with hemorrhaging money on just buying a loaf of bread these days, let alone moving house, I cannot afford to keep her.

I know she is worth a bit more in parts but I do not have the time to strip her down so would rather her go as a whole. I did notice there is a red Manta hatch on a very well known auction website at the moment which is ripe for a heart transplant from Eleanor....

2 cars = 1 good car.

Spec:

2.0 16v Red Top engine. Port polished (makes an incredible noise. Scared the bejesus out of my mate when he first went in it!)

Steel manifold leading into a stainless steel / steel exhaust. I had a piece specially fabricated for me at Zero Exhausts.

Lowered 30mm

Getrag 240 gearbox. Needs a new layshaft bearing / seal

Carlton 2.6 front discs and Vectra SRi calipers

Now, how much I hear you ask? Offers around £500.

Please PM me for more info / my number.

I live in Ashford, Kent. Viewing welcome by arrangement.

P.S. This is the only place Eleanor is advertised at the moment as I'd much rather her live on in the hands of a Manta enthusiast

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Having been bitten by the Manta bug from an early age (my grandad owned a '79 Cavalier Sportshatch, then an '85 Manta 1.8 GTE) I bought my first Manta, an '84 GTE way back in 2003. After some old biddy drove into the back of it and wrote it off I was on the hunt for a replacement...

I saw an ad on this very website for a Manta GT/J with a Red Top conversion, unfinishied project, only 20mins drive from my house. I had to go and see it! As expected, after seeing it I wanted it! It ran a bit rough but I just had to have it! The rough running turned out to be the wrong ht leads and spark plugs :rolleyes: The love affair began...

That was way back in 2004/5.

Over the years since owning Eleanor she has been off the road longer than she has on it and has always been a rolling project (If you'd like to know more and what I've done over the years give me a PM). I have attended and thoroughly enjoyed a few car shows in her (Did you know you can fit a single sized air bed in the back of a Manta?!) but the time has come for us to part company :(

Last year she suffered a terrible misfortune. Whilst negotiating a roundabout some 'pheasant plucker' came hurtling from the left, didnt look to see if anything was on the roundabout and flew straight out in front of me, I took evasive action which resulted in me mounting a kerb with some force. Enough force to bend the offfside front wheel into the wheelarch, thus damaging the suspension on that side. I limped Eleanor home, parked her on my drive, and there she has sat ever since.

Now that I'm moving house the time has come to bid farewell to Eleanor. I'd love to keep her but what with hemorrhaging money on just buying a loaf of bread these days, let alone moving house, I cannot afford to keep her.

I know she is worth a bit more in parts but I do not have the time to strip her down so would rather her go as a whole. I did notice there is a red Manta hatch on a very well known auction website at the moment which is ripe for a heart transplant from Eleanor....

2 cars = 1 good car.

Spec:

2.0 16v Red Top engine. Port polished (makes an incredible noise. Scared the bejesus out of my mate when he first went in it!)

Steel manifold leading into a stainless steel / steel exhaust. I had a piece specially fabricated for me at Zero Exhausts.

Lowered 30mm

Getrag 240 gearbox. Needs a new layshaft bearing / seal

Carlton 2.6 front discs and Vectra SRi calipers

Now, how much I hear you ask? Offers around £500.

Please PM me for more info / my number.

I live in Ashford, Kent. Viewing welcome by arrangement.

P.S. This is the only place Eleanor is advertised at the moment as I'd much rather her live on in the hands of a Manta enthusiast

Please give me a call 07917 403075 v.interested in buying

Edited by Manta again
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I know she is worth a bit more in parts but I do not have the time to strip her down so would rather her go as a whole. I did notice there is a red Manta hatch on a very well known auction website at the moment which is ripe for a heart transplant from Eleanor....

2 cars = 1 good car.

:thumbup Ah, thank you very much.

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