flatfish Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hi everyone, ( well everyone whos looking!) just signed up to the club ,i have had 2 Mantas in the past (1980,s) but have recently been into American autos. Saw the car i have now on ebay and it turns out to be a club member who was selling. The car in question is a 1979 Berlinetta auto reg YDA174T. Member selling was classichpfirenzasnoot. A very tidy car just had to buy it, seeing as i was on the lookout for a Manta of this era and also a similar model to the Manta my wife and i went on honeymoon in!! back in 1982. Look forward to attending some meets and getting to know club members , regards John 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted October 18, 2015 Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hi John & welcome to the club. You have bought a nice car there, i saw it at our annual meet this year at Billing Aquadrome Northampton & it is a good car with a very good original interior. Hopefully see you some time with your car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 18, 2015 Author Share Posted October 18, 2015 Hello Dave, thanks for the welcome, yes your right about the interior ,one of the details that stood out for me. I take it the white Manta and turquoise ? Ascona are yours? Had an Ascona as well back in the eighties -when i had hair and more brain cells! Ive got the Manta bug again and hope to get to some club meetings and shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 It was it was a very nice car and good to have you in the club welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 Thankyou James love the colour of the one in the foreground ,whats the name of that shade? Am i right thinking it is a 1980? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Bright copper metallic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlinetta Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 Welcome to the club flatfish! I too have the Manta 'bug' for many years and finally located the right car this year (July)...after 15 years of searching! It's a 1978 1.9 Berlinetta Auto Coupe. Not too many auto Manta's around these days?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 19, 2015 Author Share Posted October 19, 2015 why is it automatics are to many people, a bit of a joke? i have always preferred autos with most cars i have owned(about 36 and counting) is it because im lazy ? yours looks a very nice example, my first manta was a 76 berlinetta auto coupe, loved it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted October 19, 2015 Share Posted October 19, 2015 why is it automatics are to many people, a bit of a joke? The automatic transmission in Opels of this era was only three speed and can be annoying when on a motorway running at high revs all the time. A friend has an immaculately restored Opel Commodore A GSi, the only major deviation from original condition is the fitting of a four speed auto which he says has transformed the car, cruises much quiter and uses a lot less petrol. That said i have a 1976 Manta 1.9L auto (pictured in my avatar) and i really enjoy driving it (although it currently has got rust holes in the floor !!!) if you are not in a complete rush to be somewhere it really does roll along in a very civalised manner, a real gentlemans carriage. Just to remind everyone about the car we are talking about here is a picture from the resoration thread - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatfish Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Thats the one, previous owner did a hell of a lot of work on this car, i read up on the restoration and he achieved so much in a short time. I am pleased with this Manta, seems to be very solid. Really only got to do some tittyvating (is that a word?). Did i read somewhere on the forum that a 4 speed auto box from a monza etc could be fitted to a Manta? Might be something for the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANTAMAN Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 a 4 speed auto box from a monza etc could be fitted to a Manta? They are certainly the same bell housing pattern, not sure if there is any transmition tunnel clearance issues on a Manta, the Monza ( Carlton ? ) gearbox is 110mm longer so the propshaft will need shortening accordingly, the rear mount is father back and there is a small ECU that goes with this gearbox but the wiring is very simple. I helped my friend do this conversion tio his Opel Commodore A GSi and from memory the length is the only significant dimentional difference between the three and four speed gearboxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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