Brett Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 (edited) B293OKV - anyone know it? has an OMOC sticker in the back window! Anyway. Im its proud new owner! I found it in the local scrapyard today and had to have it, I didnt plan or expect to be owning a Manta this morning when I got up so its a bit of a spur of the moment purchase. Ive given it a wash and its ones of the most solid Manta's Ive ever seen, with around 90k on the clock. Its a sunroofless 1.8S Berlinetta 5 speed manual. Non runner at the moment but she'll go with some fresh petrol and a plugs I am sure. Unsure of my plans at the moment, bash an MOT on it and potter around in it I guess. Redtop is probably inevitable at some point given the ease of the coversion on this one. if anyone knows any history then I'd be interested to hear. Its been of the road since at least 2005. Brett Edited February 9, 2013 by Brett 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulmanta Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Well done, I love silver hatches and that one looks good. you jhave all the right parts to do a 16v conversion and it would make it a quicker car but I always found th e1800 to be quite quick anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutts Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 yes can be made to go a bit better easily, bargain of the year must be well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 Ive driven the 1800 in the Mk2 Cav, I have an SRi model thats was 1800 originally and is now a C20LET. Its a good engine I agree but I do love the redtops. A mate has a Manta GTE redtop and it was a mare to get all the bits for the job so I am over the moon that this is a 1.8. Im now selling a Mk2 Cavalier saloon in white, has 10 and half months MOT and a redtop for £750 if anyone is into that kind of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog321fish Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 How did a car that looks as good as this end up in a scrapyard? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Nice find mate As above - I`m shocked that someone scrapped it in the first place Best of luck with her , The 1.8 are quite nippy as they are , Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bris jas Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Looks like a decent hatchback, well done on saving her from the crusher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 I need a backbox if anyone knows for one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Abbott Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Well done that man :-) Sorry I've only got a coupe back box. Hatch are different. I'll have a look around though to see what I can find. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkB1 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 I got mine off ebay last year for about £30 including postage. It seems ok and I think the seller, based in Poland or Germany I think had both coupe and hatch box's available. I think his id was dream-car but may be wrong. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantadoc Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 How did a car that looks as good as this end up in a scrapyard? Nice find mate As above - I`m shocked that someone scrapped it in the first place Best of luck with her , The 1.8 are quite nippy as they are , Kev As everyone with a welder knows it's not the top of a Manta, it's the bottom, that dictates why it is in a scrap yard and whether or not it's a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB15 Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 As everyone with a welder knows it's not the top of a Manta, it's the bottom, that dictates why it is in a scrap yard and whether or not it's a bargain. Well okay , Depending on how much the boy payed the scrappy for it? It`s still worth a lot in just scrap , (A manta 1.8 coupe without a roof , sump , mounts , gearbox ect is 1 ton in weight exactly , Scrap per ton here in Inverness is £110 , So . .Scrap weight - £110, Sump - £200? , Mounts - £50? , Gearbox - £200? , Dizzy + bracket + Belt - £80, + Any other bits and bobs = So £640 alone in just parts and general weight , , I`d still say its proberly a good bargain for the boy! If it can be saved Great - but if not after all it was already in the breakers - £640 cashback Kev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted February 10, 2013 Author Share Posted February 10, 2013 The same maths as I did in the yard before I made my offer, so I got it for a price I cannot loose at. Although by that point I already knew it was in far to good a nick to break up. I know Mantas pretty well and this looks to be a goodun. Rains stopping play today though which an annoyance as I wanted to have a good poke around it. Ive been around Vauxhalls for over 10 years, member of MIG for all that time and also very active in the Mk2 Cavalier OC. Ive currently got 2 Mk2 cavs and a Mk3 Cav so I know my cars well, and in particular my GM stuff. I'll get a project going on this one when the time comes and stick around on this site for sure. Thanks for the welcome:) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Nice find, and even better being a non sunroof. If I had found something like this it would have had a car put on its roof 10 mins before, Im not that lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msjrb5 Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Wow, cracking find mate! looks like a good one Good to see another berlinetta saved Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 (edited) if anyone can let me know what I require for a redtop conversion other than the engine etc and an exhaust manifold I'd appreciate it... Im famaliar with the 16v calipers and Audi disc conversion so will probably do that too. I already have shocks so I need some suitable springs, I want it to handle so not fussed about lowering! Ultimately a LSD would be nice too. Any pointers on where to look for the manifold? I know for a dizzyless redtop and will buy that this week if I can - I'd like to use a flat flywheel though, can I do that? I'll also fit an earlyer crank which is lighter as I find the early redtops so much 'revvier' than the later ones. I'd like a new drivers seat as am keeping the interior standard - the red rocks! If I take of the rub strips, will I be left with studs where they once were? Edited February 11, 2013 by Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 All 1.8 Mantas were non sunroof wernt they? What a great find, another one saved, well done that man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1900SR Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 All 1.8 Mantas were non sunroof wernt they? What a great find, another one saved, well done that man No, it was optional on the earlier cars and became standard on the UK cars at the same time as the GT/E Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mantadoc Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 All 1.8 Mantas were non sunroof wernt they? What a great find, another one saved, well done that man No, it was optional on the earlier cars and became standard on the UK cars at the same time as the GT/E GTE came in (facelifted as we know it) was from about Y reg in the uk as was the 1.8. Sunroof was optional before the 86 model year and seemed standard fit after and I KNOW I had a 1.8 Exclusive with factory toof. Lost the brochure now but pretty sure standard from 86 model year onwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymanc Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 nice find brett, yes you will have the studs if you remove the rubbing strips perhaps you can cut the top off from the studs and carefully grind the bit whats left. the flat flywheel and early crank will be fine, http://www.opelmanta16v.4mg.com/ has a few tips on xe conversion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brett Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 strips will stay then - its doesnt need any paint for a while! Thanks for your advice and help. I have poked around this car and I will do full pictures tomorrow. I am utterly speechless over the condition now. I can see 4 small patches of welding for an MOT and nothing needed on the chassis legs, which have never been touched and are like new! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1900SR Posted February 12, 2013 Share Posted February 12, 2013 GTE came in (facelifted as we know it) was from about Y reg in the uk as was the 1.8. Sunroof was optional before the 86 model year and seemed standard fit after and I KNOW I had a 1.8 Exclusive with factory toof. Lost the brochure now but pretty sure standard from 86 model year onwards. I couldn't remember when they became standard, but 86 model year sounds about right for both 1800 and GT/E. All UK Exclusives will have had the factory sunroof. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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