Jenson Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi all just rejoined I have been a manta b owner for about ten years. I currently have two mantas my first manta is a 1986 gte coupe in polar white which is a long term resto. My other manta is a 1984 gte hatch in gold which I have just put back on the road. The gold hatch is in original condition with low mileage I brought it from a member of the club in Scotland flew up and drove it back. Sorry Rab. Hope to bring the hatch to billing will be good to meet other members of the club cheers martin. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiffy220 Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Welcome back. I used to have an 86 Polar White GTE coupe 20 years ago. Best car I've ever owned. Hope you manage to get the resto complete one day. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty2006 Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Welcome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi Martin, Welcome! I am in the Derbyshire area and when I was still at school there was an exclusive Coupe in White like the one you have just described. I kept seeing it for a long time and then all of a sudden it disappeared and that is the last I saw of it. I don't suppose by some miracle that it was/is the same Car? I will be at Billing this year and I will see your Hatchback if you bring it up. Cheers, Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenson Posted May 16, 2014 Author Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi jack no it's not the same car it's not an exclusive it's just a gte. I to love the exclusives would love a monoco blue one. I am undecided what to do with my coupe ie keep it standard or make it look like an exclusive?. I saved the coupe from a garage at Langley mill it was heading for the scrapyard I could not let that happen. It had the dreaded factory sun roof which I have just replaced with an electric calibra tilt and slide so it looks stock. Good luck with the hunt for your manta you won't be sorry but you know you can't just have one manta one always leads to two. Hope to meet up at billing cheers Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 Hi Martin, My Godfather's last Manta he owned was a Monaco Blue Exclusive. It was totally Original and I can remember going down the motorway seeing the odd Manta in his Car on the way to Billing back in 2008. Look at my profile picture if you want, that was his Car before he sold it. It is slightly different now though, it has been fitted with Manta 400 mirrors which my Godfather sold for £100.00, and it's sunroof has been taken out and it is a non sunroof now. I would love to see the Car again and if I see it at Billing I am going to be amazed to be reunited with it. My opinion on your Coupe is to keep it Standard, but that's what I would do with it. What are Manta's like to drive? I have not fulfilled my dream of driving one because I was not old enough to take a drive in my Godfathers Exclusive's when he had them. Cheers, Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenson Posted May 16, 2014 Author Share Posted May 16, 2014 My first experience in a manta was with my mate back in 1986 he brought a 1985 gte coupe in silver for his 21st birthday wow back then it was a quick car. He then modified it with a 2.2 peter maiden engine Carlton brakes and so on I think that's when I got the manta bug. I had ownership for a short while I loved that car I have photos but need to work out how to post them up on here I'm afraid I am not very good with computers and stuff. I have come to work tonight in my hatch and everytime I turn that key I just get a big smile on my face the smell and the noise it makes takes me back to 1986 the brakes are fun and the steering heavy when Parkin but it's all part of being a manta owner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted May 16, 2014 Share Posted May 16, 2014 That is a great story. Thinking about buying a new Manta now is something I cannot imagine, such a weird feeling to think that back in the 1980's the Exclusive's were brand new! Why wasn't I born in the 80's? Everyone has to agree with you about the noise they make. I can remember when my Godfather first bought the Monaco Blue Exclusive you see in my picture and he came over to Sheffield in it (when I was staying at my dads at that particular time) and he took me out for a Drive in it. I must have been in my early teens it was that long ago. Also at the time he still had an Original Automatic Exclusive Coupe, also in Monaco Blue how good is that!? Anyway as we were driving over the country roads in it he opened it up in second gear and I saw the revs climb all the way up to 6500RPM!! We were doing over 60 in second gear. I could never get over the noise of the Exclusive, just amazing. My father also owned a Manta Hatchback at one point called 'Sadaam'. Another Monaco Blue one, the story behind that one is my dad wanted an everyday commuting Car and because I really wanted a Manta and because my Godfather had a Manta he got one. sadly I don't think Sadaam is with us anymore looking at the DVLA records for 'D475 SDM'. I would do anything to get him back. Cannot tell you my very first experience unfortunately, may require an in depth memory search. Jack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john p Posted May 24, 2014 Share Posted May 24, 2014 hi martin hope the coupe is coming on well andy smith keeps asking me if im going to sell him mine but I keep telling him no unfortunaltey mines of the road at the moment due to the rear spring hanger deciding to snap off as soon as ive got the mini sorted ill get onto the manta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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