Buz Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Good evening . Almost to the minute , 14 days ago , I was in a similar position to this very evening , tired and feeling the effects of gin . It was during this point that I decided to place a bid on an orange Manta b , only one bid which I assured myself would be outbid by the morning .... apparently not as I woke up to a " congratulations you have won " notification 😂. Anyway. , I collected the car yesterday after a 400 mile round trip and although it's rusty/ rotten in most places I love it . I'm in two minds whether to restore it or do a 400 replica , with the latter being the favourite as I grew up with group b rallying and live on the doorstep of Shelsley Walsh and fancy a bit of light competition . Nice to meet you all and I can't wait to get stuck into it but have a couple of other projects that I have promised to finish first . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted September 15, 2019 Share Posted September 15, 2019 Hello and welcome, best place for manta help right here! Seems your not pushed what direction this goes, any car ive done to date was kinda planned, not set in stone, but i did know from the offset. Its all depends what you want out of it, use, ownership length etc. Is a modified 400r worth more than a original b,? Will it cost more to restore, buying parts for original or modified bits. What about a poll ! Get some pics up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 I'm definitely leaning towards a 400 replica , it just seems a shame to not restore it but at least it's another one saved 👍 I will post some more photos when I get back. The cars on a ' p ' plate , registered 7th November 1975 so it's quite an early B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 WOW My first stated life looking like that back almost 28years ago! And its a coupe! brilliant 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Is this the Coupe you have bought ? Please consider keeping it as it is as its a very early rare surviving 1.9 SR Manta Coupe. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 16, 2019 Author Share Posted September 16, 2019 I most certainly is. I'm now 99 percent sure that I'm going to restore the car rather than do a 400 replica. I think it deserves it. A few engine mods are allowed though surely And the tow bar can definitely go 😜 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monaco Blue Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 8 minutes ago, Buz said: I most certainly is. I'm now 99 percent sure that I'm going to restore the car rather than do a 400 replica. I think it deserves it. Indeed it does. Very definitely the best decision! More so given it's a 75 model, and complete with the headlamp surrounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1200bandit Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 welcome to the club, l know all the information given out on here is the correct information Put a better engine in as the shell can take the extra power Many many years ago l put a Bedford 2.3 engine into a 1975 manta it was very quick 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapierdave Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 Nothing wrong with doing a few mods in the engine dept, 5 speed box, lowered (a bit) & banded Rostyles but keep the car looking largely as it came out the showroom including the satin black rear panel which was a feature on the early Manta B SR's. Why not do similar to this 1976 Manta SR that i owned a few years ago (mods not done by me) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 17, 2019 Author Share Posted September 17, 2019 So I'm now fully committed to restoring the car to original with a few engine mods . Could somebody enlighten me on the headlamp surrounds as I have noticed some cars do and some don't also I just wondered what everyone thinks of the colour ? I'm still trying to convince my wife that this is the best £400 I have ever spent and how easy I have made it for her to buy me presents now ............ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
®evo03 Posted September 17, 2019 Share Posted September 17, 2019 1 hour ago, Rapierdave said: Nothing wrong with doing a few mods in the engine dept, 5 speed box, lowered (a bit) & banded Rostyles....... Yep, agree, it has to be one of the earliest, only sold from 1975 onwards. Need to find you a photo for some inspiration! 5 minutes ago, Buz said: So I'm now fully committed to restoring the car to original with a few engine mods . Could somebody enlighten me on the headlamp surrounds as I have noticed some cars do and some don't also I just wondered what everyone thinks of the colour ? Yep keep the colour! Suits early b's and gte's Headlamp surrounds where an optional extra, not all had them, think they where an after thought to direct light forward, and to keep it off the edge of the light I'm still trying to convince my wife that this is the best £400 I have ever spent and how easy I have made it for her to buy me presents now ............ Yeh just tell her when was the last time you bought a dress or shoes and for them to be worth tens times that and upwards, when done. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H-400 Posted September 19, 2019 Share Posted September 19, 2019 (edited) Great you are restoring the car to original, hope we can meet you at "your project" . @Rapierdave: Your pic was like a time-lap back to 30 years ago, was my first Manta, original 1.6S B1 but soon a 2 liter with 5 speed and some upgrades: Edited September 19, 2019 by H-400 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Yep. I will start a new project topic when I eventually am allowed. I’ve been told I have to finish off my other projects first ....... life so unfair 😞 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 31 minutes ago, Buz said: Yep. I will start a new project topic when I eventually am allowed. I’ve been told I have to finish off my other projects first ....... life so unfair 😞 Just get a big cover for it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 20, 2019 Author Share Posted September 20, 2019 Spent all weekend last weekend clearing out a shed to store the manta in , threw away loads of stuff that I had previously said was important to keep . Once it's in , I'm going to start a project post and decide on its gender , I understand that gender isn't " pc " , but I don't want to keep calling it " it " I'm leaning towards feminine ... thoughts ? Quote your project 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted September 20, 2019 Share Posted September 20, 2019 It’s your decision, regardless if the fringes don’t think they like genderising property. since they do not identify as a Car, I guess it is OK 😉 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Would be lovely to see it restored to original. Very early car (first six weeks of deliveries) and I could only find one VIN number lower when I researched it in my ownership. Has some very unusual early features that were deleted after the first year. Good luck with it whatever you decide. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 22, 2019 Author Share Posted September 22, 2019 (edited) I'm now totally committed to restoring the car . The plan is to restore the body back to original condition , fit some bbs rs wheels , tune the engine and fit some twin webers, and recon the interior ( houndstooth and black leather ) , something like this ...... But with the steering wheel on the other side 😂 Edited September 22, 2019 by Buz Altered photo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 22, 2019 Author Share Posted September 22, 2019 At the risk of sounding lazy , where do you research vin numbers , and which features does it have that were deleted . Someone has already mentioned headlamp surrounds . Small things have massive impact, when I collected the car and noticed the mantaray badge behind the wheel on the front wing , this was when i first thought that it might be best to restore it rather than do a 400 replica 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessopia74 Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Don’t go Webber, go for throttle bodies and efi 😍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stradacab Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 Here goes:- The front scuttle has drain holes in the wiper recesses the wiper arms have external bolts for the arms, not caps. the manual console has a cutout panel around the handbrake (deleted for reasons of cost and they never fitted well but retained on the automatic) Different gearstick gaiter the spare wheel well has a bracket welded beside the rear wing to store the jack and tools (replaced by a vinyl bag) flat glove box release button front panel has a bracket and pipe running to the air cleaner (again, simplified and cheaper on later cars) MPH only speedo with numbers at 10, 30, 50 etc which was replaced by mph/kph and numbers at 20, 40, 60- easier to read at a glance Thats all I can remember off the top of my head.!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buz Posted September 22, 2019 Author Share Posted September 22, 2019 WOW........... i have nothing else to add Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droop snoot hp firenza Posted September 22, 2019 Share Posted September 22, 2019 (edited) i was very close to buying that car myself from James. i viewed the car and thought it was great. but the timming was wrong. also i was paying around £1000 for it so you have got a real bargain . great you are keeping it mostly orginal. as its one cool manta . the colour also i think is great. would love to see a fresh painted panel. im sure it would look great. in the original colour cant wait to see more photos as the resto takes shape. best of luck any help i can give will do. also james is the wizz on the manta so any help or advice from james is top Edited September 22, 2019 by droop snoot hp firenza 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny D114BCW Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 Great car. We are just completing a full restoration 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droop snoot hp firenza Posted September 23, 2019 Share Posted September 23, 2019 2 hours ago, Danny D114BCW said: Great car. We are just completing a full restoration looks great nice colour 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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