Monaco Blue Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) Thought I'd say hello. Been browsing for quite a while but joined up after not being able to see some of the more recent photos etc. I might be one of the few on here that actually bought a Manta GT/E brand new. It was a Monaco Blue coupe D737SGG. Unfortunately, I had just missed out on one of the original Exclusives. I ordered it from 'Ferguson of Renfrew' which was local to where I was living back then and I paid out around £9500. I wanted Monaco Blue, Dolphin Grey or Steel Grey as all three were new colours back then, two of these being the same as the original Exclusives. I decided to go for Monaco Blue as there would be one available for delivery within a couple of weeks. One surprise on delivery (April 87) was that it came fitted with an Irmscher exhaust with a large oval tailpipe which did sound nice! The photo above was taken at Carnac, Brittany back in September 1991. The following day it left me stranded at the roadside after a fuel pump hose burst underneath the boot. Otherwise, it was pretty reliable and never let me down albeit it was dealer serviced twice a year for most of it's life. I ran it daily for 12 years and around 170K miles before the dreaded rust (front pax side footwell disintegrated) and MOT failure led to an early grave around March 1999. A shame as it still looked immaculate inside & out, but it wasn't worth spending hundreds getting it repaired back then as that was more than the car was worth. If only I had had the foresight however. It was taken away for scrap and I was left with £75. No idea what actually happened to it, but I did see it a few months later parked in the grounds of a house near Lindfield, West Sussex so who knows... On the subject of rust, just before it was 5 years old, I managed to get the front grill replaced under warranty after it started to rust above the headlights. Currently driving a Saab 9-3 1.9Tid Sportwagon. I would like another GTE but nowhere suitable to keep it sort of limits the options. In saying that, I was very tempted by the white Exclusive that sold a few days ago as it looked immaculate. Edited September 28, 2016 by Monaco Blue 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Hi Martin, I'm in Brighton so potentially local, and I know of a few other mantas in the local area.. none currently on the road! If you pick another one up give me a shout Local club meets are currently in Kent though sadly. Roy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monaco Blue Posted September 29, 2016 Author Share Posted September 29, 2016 (edited) On 28/09/2016 at 16:33, Roy said: Hi Martin, I'm in Brighton so potentially local, and I know of a few other mantas in the local area.. none currently on the road! If you pick another one up give me a shout Local club meets are currently in Kent though sadly. Roy Hi Roy, Not far away at all then, as I've been in Burgess Hill for the last 20 years. Good to hear there are some Manta's around if not on the road. I haven't seen a 'Manta B' in these parts for years, however, I do see an active red N Plate 'Manta A' quite regularly parked up at Shoreham Airport. I recall having a conversation with a Manta owner around 1997 who said that there were club meets at a pub in Handcross once a month back then. Cheers, M. Edited October 6, 2016 by Monaco Blue 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiney_norman Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 As far as I know there's still a genuine Manta 400 tucked away in Burgess Hill. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exclusive Opel Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 DVLA say tax was due 1st April 1999. Vehicle details Vehicle make OPEL Date of first registration 10 April 1987 Year of manufacture 1987 Cylinder capacity (cc) 1979cc CO₂Emissions Not available Fuel type PETROL Export marker No Vehicle status Not taxed Vehicle colour BLUE Vehicle type approval Not available Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted September 30, 2016 Share Posted September 30, 2016 19 hours ago, spiney_norman said: As far as I know there's still a genuine Manta 400 tucked away in Burgess Hill. Along with his equally nice Monaco blue exclusive 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 On 29 September 2016 at 20:22, spiney_norman said: As far as I know there's still a genuine Manta 400 tucked away in Burgess Hill. What's the story on that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiney_norman Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 Sean Hovell, was a club member for years but hasn't been on here for a very long time. The car (and user name) was FJZ 400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monaco Blue Posted October 6, 2016 Author Share Posted October 6, 2016 13 hours ago, Danny D114BCW said: What's the story on that? There's a bit of history here: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted October 6, 2016 Share Posted October 6, 2016 Oh right, yeh I know Shaun. Glad he still has them but a shame he is a stranger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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