400PEL Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Murray Grierson's 1987 Scottish Rally Championship winning car, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGBS Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share Posted March 13, 2017 I have also gotten a reply from the Quaife Engineering employee that first replied to my email: he says that Mick Quaife confirms that he bought the rally prototype from Opel for use in rallycross and sold it not long after since it "was not what he wanted", yet the car was "acceptably fast", per the statement. I am trying to find out more details but it is not easy having to go through an intermediary. This seems to confirm the first part of the story. KGM has yet to reply, which would be great if they did since they are the last known owners of the car before they sold it off. I will, of course, share my findings with the community. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGBS Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 Since all parties we had been hinted towards have either ignored us or refused to cooperate, we have decided to terminate our research towards finding the current owners. Still, much was learned in the process and basically what we know is already in this thread or linked to within. I'm also glad that it didn't get sidetracked too much. May it help future seekers of information about the Manta 4WD prototypes. That being said, thank you to everyone who positively contributed! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1981 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 How is your research coming along? I ordered this book over 1 year ago from Amazon but it seems like it’s not available. Did you get in contact with KGM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted March 5, 2019 Share Posted March 5, 2019 With the forum down got lost in some manta info, chassis 4x4 https://www.ewrc-results.com/carinfo/103-opel-manta-400/?car=3620 https://www.ewrc-results.com/carinfo/103-opel-manta-400/?spz=9853&a=1#start Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenh Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 not related to this thread but ive have been in contact with british engineer for a few years, who worked with opel at russelshiem during this period and beyond (as in physically worked on the cars) i was not quizzing about this car, it just incidental knowledge. he said it was a manta400 gearbox with new bellhousing to accept furguson transfer box, front diff hubs and suspension also furguson. the reason the project was abandoned was due to abnormally short front drive shafts, physically limiting suspension travel (drastically compared to 2wd manta) to the point it was damaging the wishbones. the boxes were converted back to RWD spec and reused, as was the 4x4 manta prototype car. he also said the parts were tried in a kadett D, but only built to rolling shell and then abandoned 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEPETE Posted December 13, 2021 Share Posted December 13, 2021 DIY 4x4 Conversion using Frontera parts? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted March 12, 2023 Share Posted March 12, 2023 There 's some dust on this topic, but suddenly I came across this pic on internet: Shows the special costum made lower wishbones. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 Have found this picture in a article about a Dutch photographer that took pics for car magazines. He said this is one of the strangest position of a car he took pics of. Probably the same location as the black & white pic above: Scanned it, at this pic you can see the coilover above the upper wishbone to give the drive shafts clearence. Also the chassis rails and sliding plates show this car was already used intensiv. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 When you get a view like this it shows just how much difference there is underneath, and not very much original manta floor pan left, and boy its used 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 What is most of a surprise really is they did not convert fronts to complete struts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTEPETE Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 I like the radiator support bracket.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonmonkey Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 (edited) FF also did a conversion for the CF Van. I think for off road telecoms/electricity grid work Someone selling the transfer box, and front diff etc on Ebay at the moment, if anybody fancies making a recreation. Getting that front diff under the engine would be a challenge though https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314430487325?hash=item4935847b1d:g:Z5QAAOSwfj1hM6EZ Edited May 3, 2023 by Moonmonkey Grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 3 hours ago, Moonmonkey said: FF also did a conversion for the CF Van. I think for off road telecoms/electricity grid work Someone selling the transfer box, and front diff etc on Ebay at the moment, if anybody fancies making a recreation. Getting that front diff under the engine would be a challenge though https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314430487325?hash=item4935847b1d:g:Z5QAAOSwfj1hM6EZ Better going for a more modern one as they are a smaller package. Not sure on ratios, but should be something out there to do the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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