Opel Manta B GT/E 2.0E Coupe: Full Side Panel Side Wall Left and Right and Full Rear Panel

[Conor Dillon]

Hi all,

I'm working on restoring my Dad's 1984 Opel Manta B GT/E 2.0E Coupe. Been parked up for the last 23 years and there's a lot of rust in the side panels and rear panel around the lights. Just wondering if anybody knows where I might be able to find the parts as shown in the examples below:

 

1. Rear side panel LHS

 

2. Rear side panel RHS

 

3. Full rear panel

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated and feel free to shoot me a message. Based in Galway, Ireland and prepared to travel overseas if needs be.

Edited December 27, 2024 by Conor Dillon

[Jessopia74]

Absolutely rocking horse now mate, getting good cuts from a breaker might be only option. 
Seen odd ones for sale on FB, but they want the price of a kidney for each 😬

[TheRealExile]

Were the club looking at getting the rear panels done at one point? 🤔

Like Jess said they do come up now and then but they are pricey. 

[Conor Dillon]

1 hour ago, Jessopia74 said:

Absolutely rocking horse now mate, getting good cuts from a breaker might be only option. 
Seen odd ones for sale on FB, but they want the price of a kidney for each 😬

Thanks mate, yeah was thinking about a donor shell for parts but might try contact a few breakers and hopefully might be able to find something. Just a shame it's been parked up for so long but definitely worth saving

1 hour ago, TheRealExile said:

Were the club looking at getting the rear panels done at one point? 🤔

Like Jess said they do come up now and then but they are pricey. 

Thanks mate, yeah will keep looking might be lucky 🤞

[Sutty2006]

Yeah they do come up for sale every now and again but the price for them is often hideously expensive. Any pictures of the damage on the car? Has it been rear ended or just really rusty? Like others have said, there are usually a few breakers out there that will cut a lot out but you might have to weld up the arches or the lower valance etc.

[Jonathan Pounsett]

23 hours ago, TheRealExile said:

Were the club looking at getting the rear panels done at one point? 🤔

Like Jess said they do come up now and then but they are pricey. 

Yes. They will be ready 2035. £2,000 deposit payable now. 

On 27/12/2024 at 12:58, Conor Dillon said:

Hi all,

I'm working on restoring my Dad's 1984 Opel Manta B GT/E 2.0E Coupe. Been parked up for the last 23 years and there's a lot of rust in the side panels and rear panel around the lights. Just wondering if anybody knows where I might be able to find the parts as shown in the examples below:

 

1. Rear side panel LHS

 

2. Rear side panel RHS

 

3. Full rear panel

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated and feel free to shoot me a message. Based in Galway, Ireland and prepared to travel overseas if needs be.

How far gone are your panels? Several companies stock repair sections - new arches and the lower portion are easier to find than the whole rear quarter. 

[Conor Dillon]

9 hours ago, Sutty2006 said:

Yeah they do come up for sale every now and again but the price for them is often hideously expensive. Any pictures of the damage on the car? Has it been rear ended or just really rusty? Like others have said, there are usually a few breakers out there that will cut a lot out but you might have to weld up the arches or the lower valance etc.

Will try get some good photos tomorrow 👍. Nope hasn't been rear ended, just really rusty. Drivers side is the worst. Lower quarters are completely gone both sides but I know you can get those pieces easily enough. Bad around the rear windows but that said they could maybe be repaired. Very new to car restoration I'll be honest 😅

2 hours ago, Jonathan Pounsett said:

Yes. They will be ready 2035. £2,000 deposit payable now. 

How far gone are your panels? Several companies stock repair sections - new arches and the lower portion are easier to find than the whole rear quarter. 

Drivers side is gone from the rear window down to the wheel arch, Passenger side isn't as bad and could probably be repaired. The lower quarters are completely gone both sides. I'll try post some good photos tomorrow

[®evo03]

Are you putting a 400 kit on it.

Doubt you will get quarter panels from any breakers, in Ireland. 

Just a word of caution, if the quarter panels are gone, car would probably be beyond economic repair. 

Original sound deadening is so thick, it's hard to tell sometimes. At least all sound deadening will need removed. 

Was the car sitting on grass, or in a field? 

I have contacts for good second hand panels, but they won't be cheap. 

Wish you all the best, and do hope you can save your dad's car. PM me with what you need, and see if I can help. 

 

 

[Kal001]

Have you tried one of the specialist restoration companies- they may be able to make them for you. 
 

Probably not cheap but worth asking. 

[rutts]

Egbert de boer is best guy to contact in North Netherlands. He has non sunroof roofs, full front and rear ends for sale so maybe quarter panels. Weekend away in a van or estate car. 

[Conor Dillon]

A few photos of the problem areas:

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 28/12/2024 at 20:37, ®evo03 said:

Are you putting a 400 kit on it.

Doubt you will get quarter panels from any breakers, in Ireland. 

Just a word of caution, if the quarter panels are gone, car would probably be beyond economic repair. 

Original sound deadening is so thick, it's hard to tell sometimes. At least all sound deadening will need removed. 

Was the car sitting on grass, or in a field? 

I have contacts for good second hand panels, but they won't be cheap. 

Wish you all the best, and do hope you can save your dad's car. PM me with what you need, and see if I can help. 

 

 

Nope, keeping it all 100% standard and original. It was kept in an open hayshed for 23 years, there was gravel underneath it and it was completely dry but the Irish weather still took its toll on it sadly, as did time. The car is very sentimental to me to be honest, I grew up with it so really hoping it can be saved. I'll PM you regards what's needed. I have got a replacement boot door from Viadanny. 

19 hours ago, Kal001 said:

Have you tried one of the specialist restoration companies- they may be able to make them for you. 
 

Probably not cheap but worth asking. 

I don't know too many specialist restoration companies around to be honest. There is a company in Waterford I think that does auto fabrication but they're not cheap. Don't know of any other companies in Ireland that fabricate panels if I'm honest.

9 hours ago, rutts said:

Egbert de boer is best guy to contact in North Netherlands. He has non sunroof roofs, full front and rear ends for sale so maybe quarter panels. Weekend away in a van or estate car. 

Will try him. Don't suppose you have a contact for him or anything? Send me a PM

[Conor Dillon]

9 hours ago, rutts said:

Egbert de boer is best guy to contact in North Netherlands. He has non sunroof roofs, full front and rear ends for sale so maybe quarter panels. Weekend away in a van or estate car. 

Found him 😅. I'll give him a shout 👍

[Jonathan Pounsett]

That’s not as bad as I was expecting. I’d look at cutting out and replacing patches. Good Luck either way.

[Conor Dillon]

36 minutes ago, Jonathan Pounsett said:

That’s not as bad as I was expecting. I’d look at cutting out and replacing patches. Good Luck either way.

To be fair it held well in the hayshed so could just repair the bad spots. Thanks a mill for the advice 👍

[TheRealExile]

Yeah a good fabricator/ traditional skilled bodyshop could sort that, I have a chap near me but that ain't much help to you, hopefully you can find someone if you can't do it yourself.

[Conor Dillon]

1 hour ago, TheRealExile said:

Yeah a good fabricator/ traditional skilled bodyshop could sort that, I have a chap near me but that ain't much help to you, hopefully you can find someone if you can't do it yourself.

Thanks a mill mate, yeah I know a few panelbeaters near me so hopefully will get it sorted. Will keep you posted 👍

[Sutty2006]

I’d be stripping those rear quarters back as much as possible, get the rear windows out and assess how bad it is. Then you can formulate a plan from there. Having new rear quarters will cost you about 4k by the time they are fitted. A good body shop quote might come in at half that, you never know! 

[®evo03]

Got a few contacts in Galway, I can get you. Big Manta following here, are you on any other sites, can point you in the right direction. 

It is fixable and worth doing. 

What is the rest of the car like, I've never seen on rust there before, ever. Maybe previous repair. 

[Conor Dillon]

Bit of an update guys:

Managed to source all the necessary parts for this now. Rear panel arriving sometime next week or the week after and picking up a left wing shortly as well. Will have a replacement right quarter panel very shortly as well. Thankfully didn't cost me an arm and a leg either for the whole lot! 😉👍

Edited Thursday at 19:24 by Conor Dillon

[Jessopia74]

1 hour ago, Conor Dillon said:

Bit of an update guys:

Managed to source all the necessary parts for this now. Rear panel arriving sometime next week or the week after and picking up a left wing shortly as well. Will have a replacement right quarter panel very shortly as well. Thankfully didn't cost me an arm and a leg either for the whole lot! 😉👍

Well done👍

[Jonathan Pounsett]

3 hours ago, Conor Dillon said:

Bit of an update guys:

Managed to source all the necessary parts for this now. Rear panel arriving sometime next week or the week after and picking up a left wing shortly as well. Will have a replacement right quarter panel very shortly as well. Thankfully didn't cost me an arm and a leg either for the whole lot! 😉👍

Did you find these parts in Ireland or further afield? We will be seeing some progress photos soon then!

[Conor Dillon]

51 minutes ago, Jonathan Pounsett said:

Did you find these parts in Ireland or further afield? We will be seeing some progress photos soon then!

Further afield mate, from the Netherlands and Germany. Absolutely will be posting some progress photos soon, could be a few months down the line but at least it's moving in the right direction! 👍👍