And figure out how to put this one into production. The Opel Manta is a small sports car that was produced from 1970 to 1988 by Opel, a subsidiary of General Motors. And they even point out that it would be possible to revert this example to its original condition. Keeping sensitivities of the collector scene in mind, Opel is quick to point out that the Manta GSe was created from a car that needed restoration anyway no pristine example has been touched. As a fun touch, the recuperation rate can be adjusted with a classic slider positioned below the central screen. The interior is enhanced with ultra-futuristic display panels, the original airbag-less steering wheel gets a 12-o'-clock mark, and the headliner is now clad with Alcantara. The black hood, a signature element of Opel's sporty models, remains, and the "visor" that takes the space of the grille can display messages, such as the slightly cringeworthy "I am on a zero e-mission." Take this Manta Mirage on eBay for example. Visually, it is a highly successful restomod effort: the glass and panels remain untouched, the chrome bumpers are gone, the quad headlights make way for Opel's current headlight style, and the quad taillamps are replaced with LED units. Up on eBay right now in Michigan ( 260267705177) is a stunning tribute to the Cody Coyote from Hardcastle and McCormick built on the tube chassis version with the Pontiac Grand Am 3300 engine and an automatic transmission. Opel calls the one-off EV the Manta GSe even though, back in the Manta A's time, the GS and GS/E designations were reserved for the upmarket Commodore range. And so Opel's engineers took a Manta A and turned it into a compact, sporty stand-alone EV that makes us long for a time of smaller, lighter cars-and perhaps even look forward to an electrified future. Prices for vintage Manta A models have long been on the rise, and given its cult status, it was a natural fit when Opel was looking for a suitable candidate for a restomod as a showcase for electrification. But while the Manta B was long seen as a tacky pseudo-racer, its image just recently beginning to recover, the Manta A has always been regarded as a real designer piece: a car priced for the masses, but of almost stunning beauty and sensuality. three additional VDO instruments in the center console staffings and matte. Too bad Opel has no plans to manufacture one.įew Americans remember the Opel Manta, even though it has been sold here from '71 through '75 and, as we wrote in our November 1976 issue, "has always found favor with this magazine." It's a different story in Europe, where the original Manta had a successor that was built into the late 1980s. At the top of the series was the Manta 1.9 SR which was a sporty version with i.a. It's small, light, and low on horsepower and range, but we love it anyway.The earlier Manta A has become a cult favorite, so it makes sense that Opel chose it as the subject of a restomod to showcase electrification in the Manta GSe ElektroMod. The Manta was a mildly sporting coup based on the Ascona family car, akin to the Ford Falcon-based Mustang and its various imitators such as the Ford Capri.The 1970s-era Opel Manta was mainly a Europe-market car, although it was sold in the U.S.
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