MrCarlos Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Well I'm back! Not that I really went anywhere since I remained a club member and still attended Billing for the last few years, but I'm back in the sense that I'm going to be a lot more active on the Manta front. Now that the whole divorce / house move / bankruptcy / new business / get married again thing is done and dusted, and having been somewhat inspired by the Manta wedding car when I got married last month I REALLY wanted a Manta back on the road, trouble was my long term coupe project is a million miles from being done - and last Wednesday I read this advert; http://forums.mantaclub.org/topic/30859-manta-gsi-hatch-1985/ Looked promising, I kind of remembered reading the thread of the car being built, and now I'm a full time car dealer I can smell a bargain a mile off lol. Got in touch with the seller Marc, agreed to buy it and collect the following Saturday. Off I went Saturday morning to Wakefield with trusty a frame all exited at buying another Manta. Marc turned out to be a lovely bloke and the car loads better than I expected, every bit the bargain I suspected! Obviously it needed a few small bits for the MOT but I was confident enough to book it in for it's test - I rang the testing station from the M62 on the way back lol. Spent an hour checking the car over when I got back to the unit, sorted a few bits I found then straight down to the MOT station, first time I'd driven the car. Drove really well considering it was straight out of a rebuild. There was no sign of the advertised fuel leak but there was only a thimbleful in it, so I bunged a can full in the boot figuring I'd drip a bit more in just to get it through the test and play later. MOT in progress.....And the MOT test result??? Passed!!! Rear brakes a bit marginal but OK, just needed a bleed ;o) Mr MOT man really enjoyed testing the car - and I had to let him have a go in round the block afterwards.... Zipped round to the post office after putting the can of juice in (still no sign of the leak) to tax it up and job done, Manta on the road. Got bold on the way back and shoved another £10 of fuel in then went playing out with a Manta buddy - still no leaks and it goes like a stabbed rat. 20 miles later and it's misfiring and backfiring, rev counter all over the gaff, experience lead me straight to the coil connections sure enough old and duff - all sorted after 10 minutes. Done another 80 miles since then and still no sign of this fuel leak. If it does develop I have a good hatch tank buried in the parts stash ;o) So her she is all tested and taxed; Proper good nick inside Quality stereo / sat nav system What next then? Well I have a rough list of improvements to make Front drop glass is clear when it should be bronze, and it's from a Coupe too so wind noise on the motorway is unbearable - I have the correct glass in the stash Washer bottle is a temporary MOT lash up, needs the proper thing Crying out for a set of quad lights Marc's made his own decals but I'm thinking it needs a set of proper ones Bigger wheels Englemanns Drop that back end down to match the front Sort out matching key for ignition / fuel cap / tailgate - 3 different plus the high security door locks is driving me nuts New tailgate struts Fit a clock Rear belts so the kids can come out Big front brakes - it has new standard calipers but they fade away when used in anger I have most of the parts I need stashed away, just need to source the rear belts and some better wheels, and those decals. But really the ultimate aim of it all is to inspire me to get the Coupe finished lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fermanta Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Welcome back Carlos.Lovely car - good luck with it & the coupe. Was it you who was keeping a log of Mantas sold through ebay etc. a couple of years back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Nice hatch Carl Give me a bell if you need owt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickappy Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 bargain:) was temped by this as it was only down the road from me.. glad its gone to good home mate.. enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 You got yourself a bargain there. Proper set of decals will finish it off nicely. It'll be nice to see you & the car at Billing this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy18s Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 hatches do look nice in black,looks a good base for finishing to your taste's I've got a set of rear belts to sell if you interested,£10 plus £5 postage Andy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 New Tailgate struts . . http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350479074960?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_2048wt_1185 Ebay Link , I bought these for hatch only a few months ago and work they great Nice hatch - same as mine (coughs) his is better than mine , Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiney_norman Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Nice one Carl! Excellent looking car at a bargain price, hope you're out enjoying it in the sun mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taylorblue5 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Welcome back! Car looks evil! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty2006 Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Its like a love story all over again, im filling up here... i could almost cry! Lovely looking Manta and glad to see you back. Theres nothing better than slapping it in for MOT, passing, then hurling some tax to go and play... Oh and I too have A-framed many a Manta with a mk3 mondeo! hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 yup its a nice car mate, deffo needs them small bits doing and it will be a real stunner. I suspect from driving it too that the engine has been messed with too, slightly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsi marc Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 Nice pics carl, So chuffed the cars ok for you and its getting the attension it deserves, Thanks for uploading some decent pics, All the best Marc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymanc Posted March 28, 2012 Share Posted March 28, 2012 nice car carl , glad your getting back into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCarlos Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Cheers all it is nice to be back :-) yes please to those belts andy ill pm you now :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robah Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Welcome back Carl, hope to meet up with you and the car at future NW meets Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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