rutthenut Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Thought I'd best introduce myself in this section of the forum, having posted a few messages of late. I had a few different Mantas, and a Cav Coupe, many years ago. Did embark on building one as a rally car, but that project was eventually ditched for a number of reasons. Found a few of the parts from those days and sold them through this forum/ebay recently. Often hankered for another rwd car, especially a Manta 400, but didn't try too hard. Might add, my regular drives are a Mitsbushi Evo and a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I've only owned one fwd car, an Alfa 156 V6, but wanted something with drive to the rear, hence the Evo. Had previously owned a couple of Integrales, Alfas and Jeeps. Enjoyed them all, for different reasons. I've also built a Lancia Stratos replica and used that, quite successfully, in motorsport - competing first in hillclimbs and sprints, then a few years of circuit racing too. Rallying was always what I wanted to do but the idea of doing that in the Strat seems a bit too much to risk. I have been rallying as co-driver/navigator for a few years in a BMW 325, which is great fun, especially in the forests, but sitting in the silly seat is not enough to 'scratch the itch' of rallying as a driver. I might add, I did co-drive on one event in a Manta, with Dan Hart (on this forum occasionally) and that reminded me how much I'd like to be doing that. So, recently took the plunge and bought the V8 Manta rally car with the intention of doing smaller, single-venue, tarmace events with it in the South of England. There's a few jobs I will want and need to do on that car before getting it out there, but my target is the Abingdon CAR-nival Rally in early June. If there are no major surprises with the car, that should be plenty of time to get the car how I want it for that first event. So, fingers crossed that any tasks needed are straightforward and affordable! I look forward to sharing my experiences with club/forum members, if you are interested in hearing it... Regards, John Rutter (aka "Rutter the Nutter", or Rut the Nut) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutts Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 welcome to the club/forum will love to hear about your adventures in the manta. at the moment i am building an ascona a series for hill climbing and the odd sprint event with track days thrown in. keep us informed on your build and any relivant details. rutts- andy rutter also rutter the nutter ha ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymanc Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 hi and welcome just as i thought all rutter are nutter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutts Posted March 25, 2013 Share Posted March 25, 2013 watch it gary, insanity runs in the family name and death on your part could arise . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutthenut Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 Though I don't think all in the family are nuts - I think the lunacy is concentrated in certain individuals hi and welcome just as i thought all rutter are nutter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1393 Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 (edited) Hi John, Paul Holtom. I sold my V8 a series last year in order to build a Sebring MXR kit car. I am working on building the 4.6 Rover V8 engine at present. I can't be very far from you if your in West Berks, I'm in Thatcham. If there is anything I can help you with let me know. Cheers, Paul. Edited March 31, 2013 by paul1393 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutthenut Posted April 1, 2013 Author Share Posted April 1, 2013 Small world - I am just a mile or two to the East from Thatcham! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutthenut Posted April 4, 2013 Author Share Posted April 4, 2013 As I expect this to become something of a 'project', I have now started a thread to keep track of any progress - or otherwise - on the car. See http://forums.mantaclub.org/topic/33558-opel-manta-v8-rally-car/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutthenut Posted April 22, 2013 Author Share Posted April 22, 2013 (edited) Have now received my club membership pack, which included a couple of older Manta Magic mags - a good idea, I think. Looking through one of those, found two links of interest a ) Dan Hart (not Harty) rallying his Manta - I did co-drive with Dan the other year, at a rain-soaked Abingdon, and had a great time with his aquaplaning antics b ) Ian Hill's Manta featured in there too - with a photo I took when his car was at Chatsworth some years ago. fwiw, some other Manta pics I took at that show are at http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=22827399@N08&q=chatsworth%20manta Unfortunately, I bust a driveshaft in my Stratos replica on the rally stage, so had to spectate the rest of the time. Edited April 22, 2013 by rutthenut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymanc Posted April 22, 2013 Share Posted April 22, 2013 was that 2008 quite a few omoc north west nutcases went Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rutthenut Posted April 23, 2013 Author Share Posted April 23, 2013 was that 2008 quite a few omoc north west nutcases went Yep, that's how long ago it was. Real shame the show is no longer on - it was much better than the Castle Combe Rally Day, but guess the costs and income didn't match up :-( 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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