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  • Frequently Asked Questions

    • Admin
      Frequently Asked Questions about how the club is run etc
      Following on from the informal chat we had at the National Meeting at Sywell in July 2023, we thought it would be useful to put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions…..afterall, If you are thinking it, chances are someone else is too.
      Let’s see if we can give some answers…
      I used to get four magazines a year and now I don’t get any?
      We as a Committee are aiming for one magazine a year. Ideally, we would like this to be two. Unfortunately, printing and postage costs have risen steeply, along with everything else around us. Our 2022 magazine cost £1020 for printing and close to £700 for postage. When the Club produced four magazines a year, it cost nearly £1000 for both printing and postage of each magazine run.
      We also must take into account the increased usage of social media, (I know it is not for everyone). Also, a magazine can only be printed if we have content to print. Many club members put their news on social media now, making it out of date by the time a magazine arrives at your door so the nature of the magazine has had to change. We used to provide news of events coming up but now it seems more sensible to do this online and look back at meetings and provide feature articles in the magazine.
      If you have material that you think would be interesting to include in a future issues, speak to the Magazine Editor and you could see your work in print!
      How does the Forum work for us?
      The OMOC website is a safe, secure and moderated site which holds a whole host of useful information for members. You are able to communicate with other members and make contact with Committee Members. Members can share their technical knowledge and list parts for sale which are vital to others when keeping their cars on the road. Events can be shared on the Forum so that members can see what is happening around them, whether it be near to them or far way.
      Many members feel that posts are easier to find and go back to when using the Forum as opposed to Facebook. For this to happen, we do have to pay for Web Hosting. This is at a greatly reduced cost as it is done at cost price only with time volunteered by a Club Member. Last year this cost the Club £470.
      How do I benefit from the Club Liability Insurance?
      Our Club insurance covers all Club Members for all shows and events, either that they host or attend. We understand that not all members are able to attend the yearly Sywell Show. However, any local shows for your area, any Pub Meet, any gathering of Club Members; you will be covered under the Club Liability Insurance - as long as the event is organised by the OMOC. This covers things such as accident or injury to yourself or damage to your car. The last payment we made for this was £430 but this covers every member of the club for 12 months and not just a single event.
      Why are we still paying Zoom Membership when Covid is over?
      Our Zoom monthly membership is now £15.59. This does in fact save the Club money. Prior to Covid, Committee Members would travel to a convenient place to meet. Fuel costs were claimed for those members who wished to do so. With the Committee being wide-spread, fuel costs would amount to more than the monthly subscription to Zoom. Having this facility also allows us to meet more often now. We meet every 6-8 weeks which is allowing the Club to be more productive with plans that we have for the future.
      We are currently looking at a more cost effective way of keeping in touch, potentially by using something like Microsoft Teams, which most of us use already. If we can save this money next year, we will look at doing just that.
      Why do we pay a VBOA Membership at £326 for a year?
      As a founding member of the VBOA, the OMOC are able to attend the annual show hosted by them, (which has been held at Sywell for the last 3 years). The VBOA historically has run purely on income from the annual show, which is very costly to operate. Subscriptions from member clubs help to ensure that the VBOA have enough money to host a show and meet all of the criteria for that show to be enjoyable and safe.  Membership of the VBOA was free for the first 30 years but now we need to pay £1 per member of the club so this figure will change yearly.
      2023 is the first year the membership fee has been mandated and the OMOC paid the VBOA £340 to be a member of the association for this year. In the past, the VBOA has been able to operate on the proceeds made from the various events they have organised but, since the pandemic, this has not been possible for a variety of reasons. The VBOA has acquired a large amount of kit and equipment which costs money to store, along with the other running costs such as web hosting etc. The club subscription fee give the VBOA funds to run even if the show doesn't happen (eg covid or is a complete washout etc.)
      It has been noted that the VBOA are hoping to bring back parts day and maybe some other events in the future. Membership of the VBOA gets OMOC discounted pre-booked show tickets and OMOC members are entitled  to show their cars with the VBOA at events even if the OMOC are not attending.
      Why do we pay to be a member of Historic Vehicle Federation at £179.54 for a year?
      Admittedly, this is something that we should make more use of. We receive a hard copy of their magazine throughout the year from this. This is something which should be accessible to all members. There has been a recent post on the Forum and on Facebook (paid up members only) with instructions to register yourselves with your own login. You will be able to access their website, the magazines and much more.
      As a club we pay a subscription to be members of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. We are aware that we could be using this so much more than we do but each member of the OMOC is able to register as an individual member of the FBHVC and receive updates and new directly from them (as we are a member club). There is a lot that you will have access to, including their bimonthly magazines, classic car news and even what is going on with government legislation to do with our hobby. These are the people that represent all of us classic car enthusiasts to the government and try to keep us all informed about what is coming in the future.
      From an email to Louise recently: ..
      The best way to do this is to ask members to register for access by creating their own login in https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/register  and ticking the ‘member of a club’ box, then selecting the Opel Manta OC from the drop-down list.
      Why does Parts Production seem to be so Slow?
      We do have to commit to selling a certain number of each part we ask to be produced before production can start. This means taking deposits from members and being certain that we will then receive final payments. The Club isn’t in a position to pay completely upfront for a batch of parts which we then have to sell. We also have to be mindful of covering ourselves as a Club when entering into parts sales for Liability reasons.
      Some members will have benefited recently from windscreens and battery trays which were produced and sold with a discount to Club Members.
      The process for making pressed steel panels is also a very complicated one and there are only a small number of manufacturers that can do this. They have very long waiting lists for parts to be made and the truth of the matter is that if the MG club pay for 100 MGB rear panels to be made, these will go to the top of the queue as they know they will be sold. We are somewhere near to the bottom of the pecking order, which is why we need to confirm numbers up front and give the manufacturers some money to show our commitment.
      I don’t go to Sywell or the NEC, why does my Membership money contribute towards this?
      We know not everyone attends these shows. This isn’t something that we can control. As is life, people have the choice to attend, to live closer to certain shows, to have the finances to attend etc. We appreciate this, however, these shows are there, they do happen, we can’t run a club with no shows because some people can’t attend. These shows will always involve a financial element for them to operate. The Club is always mindful of acting in the best interests of the Club and spending wisely.
      Try and make the most out of your membership by attending events and meeting club members. It’s a bit like paying for Gym membership and then never going – you don’t feel the benefit!
      Why are we paying for Storage?
      We now own a large selection of items which are used to host events and Club Get Togethers. This is too large a collection to store at one person’s address, therefore has to be stored in a central place where it is accessible. Some Area Reps have in the past asked for items that they can have and keep in their area to use for local shows and events. This is something which the Club has been happy to provide. If you think there is something that you would like for your area, please submit a request with some costings to the Committee. This will then be reviewed, and a reply given. Storage last year was £378 Jan – Sept.
      We used to insure our cars with Adrian Flux.
      We now promote a competitive Insurance Scheme for Club Members when using Cherished Insurance. This is of no cost to the Club. In fact, we receive £10 per policy that is taken out from a Club Member. The new scheme is run by real classic car enthusiasts and some of them are also Opel drivers, so they know our cars well and keep in touch with us as a club quite regularly. They are also willing to help sponsor events and be active with the club in many different ways. Coupled with all that, they are also very competitively priced and speak our language when it comes to Manta Valuations.
      What are we doing as a Club to help with Costs?
      We are looking to stop using Paypal as a way for members to renew as this takes a considerable amount of money from us each year. Members will be able to pay via Bank Transfer instead. We are also looking at using Stripe on the website, which should cost the club less than PayPal does but will allow members to pay with cards still.
      We are looking at discontinuing Membership Cards. As much as some people like to have these in their wallet, these cost a large amount of money to purchase. We are looking into alternative options so that members would have acknowledgement of paying and being an active member within the Club.
      We are thinking about asking members to register if they are happy to receive a digital copy of the magazine to reduce postage. We are also looking at alternative ways to present the magazine to save printing and postage costs.
      We asked for £5 from club members towards the cost of the BBQ at Sywell 2023, with the OMOC subsidising the rest of the cost of BBQ hire and food. This was still we feel, a competitive cost for the quality of the food that was bought in for this. 
      Membership Fees
      You can probably see that costs to the club are rising. Postage has gone up massively in the last few years, Insurance has also increased and we now need to pay out for things like Web hosting, Online Meetings, Card Processing fees and Storage – all of which are relatively new costs for the club to absorb. We have an annual budget that we need to operate to and with these rising costs, the operating budget will soon exceed our income if we are not careful.
      Unfortunately, the Club Membership Fee will need to rise. It hasn’t risen since 1997 and that is 26 years ago. Everyone must agree that the cost of living has risen considerably in this time. For us to continue to provide what we do, we must also raise membership fees. We think that this will be proposed and voted on at the 2024 AGM.
      How is the club actually run?
      The OMOC has a set of rules that we use to run the club and provide guidance on how to manage things. This in called the “Club Constitution” and was written many years ago by Ron Daymond. Ron was involved in the British Telecom Sports and Social club and he modified a version of their own Constitution for the OMOC to use. We have updated this numerous times over the years but each time, we must propose these changes and ask the membership to vote on them at an AGM. The constitution also sets out the rules for all the positions and how they are managed and gives guidance on running the Annual General Meeting.
      Important things like the Membership Fees, executive committee posts and how the club funds are spent are also documented in the Club Constitution, so it really is the club “Bible”. A copy of the current club constitution is always available on the club website at the following link:
      https://mantaclub.org/club/constitution/
      Committee Positions
      A question was raised about who runs the club and how they are voted in. The executive Committee positions are all voluntary unpaid posts and need to be proposed and seconded at an AGM, where the members can vote on who they think is best to fill a position. The Executive posts are Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Secretary.
      If someone steps down during the year, someone can step in on a voluntary basis to help out as an “acting” committee member, until they are officially voted in at the next AGM.
      There are other non-executive committee posts that do not need to be voted in. These are positions like Magazine editor, National Meetings organiser, Area Reps, Publicity Officer etc etc.
      There is also an Honorary position of Club President. You may remember that Ron Daymond was club President for many years until his sad passing in 2019 when the position was vacant for a while. The club constitution states that the President role is filled by the longest serving chairman, which then fell to Paul Brennecker to pick up, which he did when he passed the Chairman role on to Lewis Price in 2022.
      The Committee is run by volunteers who give up their spare time and resources in order to run the Club. The Committee have the good of the Club in their minds at all times and volunteer because they want the Club to be successful. If you feel that you have a skill that would be useful to the club, why not speak to one of the committee about how you could help out?

    • Irmscher Man
      Fitting the Decals :
      Initially, make sure the decals are flat. If they have any ripples in them, they will not fit properly. Ensure that the area on the car is clean and perfectly dry. Wash the car first, then wipe over with meths to remove any wax or residue.  Now make sure that you know where the decals have to go. The blitz obviously sits centrally on the front panel. The “Manta GT/E” on either side of the car with one word on the door and the other on the wing. These fit just above the swage line.  The  remaining GT/E’s go on the front lower airdam and the bootlid. Without removing the backing paper, lay the decal in its intended position to ensure fit and layout. If the decal needs to be aligned with something, ensure that you know where it has to go.  If you need a guide to ensure the decal goes on straight, use masking tape which can be removed after the decal application.  When you have the positioning sorted out, spray the surface of the job liberally with a weak detergent solution from a trigger spray bottle. A few drops of Baby shampoo mixed in clean water is ideal for this. Hold the decal up and remove the backing paper to expose the adhesive. Spray the exposed adhesive liberally with the detergent solution.  The detergent solution allows the decal to be positioned correctly, (it allows the adhesive to slip on the prepared surface). If the decal won’t slip easily then there is not enough detergent in the mix. The detergent also allows you to squeegee the air bubbles out from under the decal.  When the decal is in the correct position, use a squeegee to force the detergent solution from under the decal, so that the decal sticks to the surface. At the same time you are also bursting tiny beads of adhesive that make the decal sticks properly. Work from the middle of the decal to the outside, to remove all of the liquid and air between the decal and the paintwork. Use a clean paper towel to dry up as you go.  Allow the decals to dry for at least 24 hours in a warm area if at all possible. You can download these instructions and print them out if you need something to refer to in the garage. Simply click on the file below to open.
      Decal Pack sheet.pdf

    • Irmscher Man
      When the Opel Manta was launched in 1970, the world was a much simpler place.
      Fashion and Style - This was a decade when men wore stylish leatherette or Faux Suede and as far as colours were concerned, modern science had discovered a way of imitating the distinctive colour only usually seen when very young calves have an upset tummy. 

      Panache - With every Manta ordered from your main Opel dealership came a guide on how to wear your Leatherette sports jacket over your shoulder, in fact in 1972 a Common Market directive made this compulsory for both men and women.

      Sex Appeal- Way back in 1970, sexism hadn't been invented and it was important that both men and women were the target of the Opel press machine. In fact it was very important that women realised that they could climb onto the bonnet of their husbands new Manta to perform those simple household chores like cleaning the windows or repairing the roof of the garden shed.

      Forward Thinking - A little known fact was back in the 1970's due to the power shortages and coal miners strikes, every new car owner was presented with a pair of white nylon slacks for use if they needed to recharge the car battery. 5 minutes of country dancing would produce enough electricity to fully charge a 55Amp hour battery.

      Environmentally Aware - Even as far back as the early 1970's, Opel recognised the need to preserve wildlife. With every purchase of a new Opel in 1972, the proud new owner was able to choose from a Great Dane for S denoted models, A Black Panther for SR models and African Elephant for all range topping GSI models.

       
       
       
      It surely must go without saying that naturally, none of this is true but the 70's sure were the most awesome decade!

    • Irmscher Man
      There have been a few books printed that feature the Manta. Naturally, some of the best ones are from Germany but there are several english language books that are worth picking up, if you can find them.
      Occasionally, we do find surplus copies of some of these books and will keep a small supply of them in the club shop - click here to visit the shop.
      Here is a list of some of the known publications:
      Title & Hyperlinks Publisher ISBN No. Summary Price Guide Supplier Manta A series Haynes 0-85696-157-4 Although some mistakes exist, this is still the definitive Manta A repair guide. The eagle eyed will still find a copy or two at auto jumbles. £5-£15 www.amazon.co.uk  
      Opel Manta-Ascona-Voyage from 1970 Intereurope 0-85666-036-1 Similar in format to the Haynes manual but lighter and less verbose. It still has plenty of data sheets so it makes a good service manual for when you need to check on valve clearances etc. £5 www.amazon.co.uk Ascona & Manta B series 1975 to 1977 Haynes 0-85696-316-X For all 1.6 and 1.9 B series models from 1975-1977. Bear in mind that there is no coverage of fuel injection, 5 speed gearbox or other later Manta refinements. £5-£10 www.amazon.co.uk Vauxhall Cavalier Saloon & Coupe 1975 to 1977 Haynes 0-85696-315-1 For all 1.6 and 1.9 B series models from 1975-1977. £5 www.amazon.co.uk Ascona & Manta B series 1975 to 1988 Haynes 1-85010-578-2 This one covers the lot including the 1.8 ohc engine, 5 speed gearbox, fuel injection and hatchback. £5-£15 www.amazon.co.uk Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Ascona & Manta 1975-1982 Autodata 0-85666-322-0 For all 1.6, 1.9 & 2.0 litre models from 1975-1982. Bear in mind that there is no coverage of fuel injection, 5 speed gearbox or other later Manta refinements. £5   Opel Wheels to the World Princeton Publishing 0-915038-16-1 Opel's own guide to the history of the company from the early days of bicycles and sewing machines, through two world wars and right up to the front wheel drive range of world cars. £25   Opel Manta 1970-75 Brooklands Books 1-85520-3642 A fine collection of road tests and articles reprinted from contemporary magazines. Note that US, South African and Malaysian variants of the Manta A are featured. £16.99 www.amazon.co.uk  
      Das Grosse Manta Buch     Probably the best history of the Manta ever written. However it is currently only available in a German language edition. approx. £50+ www.amazon.co.uk Opel Manta und Ascona 1970 - 1975 Schrader Verlag 3-613-87163-7 Shorter version of the above, covering only the Manta & Ascona A series approx. £10+ www.amazon.co.uk Opel Manta im Test. Manta A und B 1970-1983 Verlag Johannes Kuhny   A collection of road tests and articles reprinted from German magazines. £Unknown   Opel Manta (1970-1988) Transport Source Books 1-85847-008-0 Another collection of road tests and articles reprinted from contemporary magazines compiled by enthusiast Trevor Alder.. £Unknown www.amazon.co.uk

    • mantaray

      How much is my car worth?

      By mantaray, in Body,

      How much is my car worth?
      This is the most common question asked, shown below are typical prices. (2018)
      Concours cars - £10,000+
      Fully restored examples don't come up for sale very often but expect to pay £10,000 + for one with a good build quality and photographic evidence of the restoration work.
      Condition 1 - £5000 +
      These are not concours or mint cars but they must be original in appearance. Restoration work should be to a high standard with correct detailing and not just temporary cosmetic rejuvenation. Bodywork and paintwork should be relatively unmarked with correct panel gaps and shut lines. Interiors should be inviting and undamaged. They should have a current MOT with fit mechanicals. Engines should not display low oil pressure, excessive consumption or smoke. Gearboxes clutch and axles should be in proper working order. History should be available in part or in full. Condition 2 - £3000
      Cars in this category should be of reasonable appearance requiring some attention to paintwork but not requiring major panel replacement. Interiors should be complete and relatively original, possibly needing carpets and localised retrimming. They should also have a current MOT and major components such as engine, gearbox & back axle should be in working order and not require any immediate serious expenditure. Ancillaries like alternators, starter motors, shock absorbers etc. may need replacement. Condition 3 - £1000
      These are not ruins with cob webs, but running cars. They will be tatty and need extensive paintwork and body repairs, mechanical reconditioning and interior work. They will show signs of poor quality repairs and be in part non-original. They will have had many owners and be of high mileage. Further Information
      Prices have started to rise over the last few years. Provided the standard of engineering is high, modifying a car doesn't reduce its value. The Turbo model is worth roughly double the value of the standard model. The SR/Rallye with manual transmission is considered to be the most desirable standard model. The deluxe with automatic transmission is considered to be the least desirable model.

    • mantaray
      What do the numbers on the chassis plate mean?
      The chassis plate is an aluminium plate and is fixed to the body by two rivets.

       
      Location
      It is located on the offside front (drivers side in the UK) chassis rail in front of the brake servo and close to the exhaust manifold.

      This page shows the information you can discover about your Manta A from it.
      Chassis number e.g. 599976542
      This is an x or xx digit number which carries three pieces of information.
      Model Code Year Code Sequential Serial Number 59 9 976542 The 1st & 2nd digits describe the model of the car, UK cars should be 59 which means Manta A 'L' .
      Other numbers could be 57 - Manta A USA or 58 - Manta A.
      The 3rd digit shows the approximate year of manufacture as described in the following table:
      Year Code Year Produced 2 1970 - August 1972 9 August 1972 - August 1973 8 August 1973 - August 1974 5 August 1974 - August 1975 The remaining xx digits are a body serial number.
      So our example 599976542, is a Manta A 'L' produced between August 1972 and August 1973 of serial no. 976542
      Body Colour code & Trim code
      This is a letter followed by two groups of three digits which carry two pieces of information.
      The 1st group of three numbers tell you the paint code/colour
      2nd group of three numbers tells you the trim colour.
      This information can be summarised in the table below:
      Paint Code
      Colour
      Trim Code
      Cloth
      Colour
      Trim Code
      Vinyl
      Colour
      416
      Arctic White
      301
      311
      341
      351
      391
      Beige
      Blue
      Red
      Black
      Black
      711
      721
      741
      751
      791
      Blue
      Light Gray
      Red
      Black
      Black
      408
      Sierra Beige
      301
      341
      351
      Beige
      Red
      black
      721
      741
      751
      Light Gray
      Red
      Black
       
      446
      Citrus Yellow
      301
      351
      Beige
      Black
      751
      791
      Black
      Black
      411
      Ochre
      351
      391
      Black
      Black
      751
      791
      Black
      Black
      529
      Flame Red
      351
      391
      Black
      Black
      751
      791
      Black
      Black
      503
      Cardinal Red
      341
      351
      391
      Red
      Black
      Black
      721
      741
      751
      791
      Light Gray
      Red
      Black
      Black
      530
      Tarragona Red
       
       
       
       
      205
      Logo Blue
      311
      351
      Blue
      Black
      711
      751
      Blue
      Black
      204
      Cosmos Blue
      311
      351
      Blue
      Black
      711
      751
      791
      Blue
      Black
      Black
      134
      Granite Grey
      311
      341
      351
      Blue
      Red
      Black
      711
      741
      751
      Blue
      Black
      Black
      404
      Sahara Gold Metallic
      301
      351
      391
      Beige
      Black
      Black
      721
      751
      791
      Light Gray
      Black
      Black
      235
      Monza Blue Metallic
      311
      351
      391
      Blue
      Black
      Black
      711
      721
      751
      791
      Blue
      Light Gray
      Black
      Black
      412
      Bronze Metallic
      351
      391
      Black
      Black
      721
      751
      791
      Light Gray
      Black
      Black
      304
      Pampus Green Metallic
      301
      351
      391
      Beige
      Black
      Black
      721
      751
      791
      Light Gray
      Black
      Black
      135
      Silver Metallic
      311
      341
      351
      391
      Blue
      Red
      Black
      Black
      711
      741
      751
      791
      Blue
      Black
      Black
      Black
      420
       
      Costarica Brown
      301
      351
      451
      Beige
      Black
      Black
      721
      751
      791
      Light Gray
      Black
      Black
       

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