While the rest of the world gets excited about the British Royal Family, we here in the states tend to idolize captains of industry, or at least those folks who have seemingly been wealthiest the longest. The Astor family, like the Vanderbilts and Carnegies, are among the most recognized names in American wealth, and this homely 1973 Opel Manta here on craigslist supposedly belonged to the late Brooke Astor. She did hail from New Hampshire, so perhaps the car’s location in Maine is a clue.
The seller includes a picture of the title with Ms. Astor’s name and last address. If you want a real kick, Google the address for the estate in Briarcliff Manor, New York. You’ll see that Ms. Astor certainly didn’t live conservatively despite her unusual choice in automobile. Given the estate was sold after 40 years in her family’s possession, I have to wonder if the little Opel was hiding out in the large carriage house on the property which looks like it could accommodate upwards of 10 cars. The seller says the paint is original and the body looks quite nice.
Now, the listing has an asking price of $42,500, which we’re inclined to believe is a case of too many zeroes. While Ms. Astor was certainly a noted philanthropist, her celebrity is not anything meaningful to the collector car hobby. In fact, I’m a little surprised this Opel didn’t end up in some sort of museum or display about Hudson Valley royalty, or something like that, as even the Vanderbilt Mansion near Poughkeepsie keeps FDR’s Ford Phaeton on display. Still, an Opel Manta doesn’t have the same cache as a Cadillac limousine or some other slice of American luxury, so it’s not a shock to see a car like this on the open market.
Just 32,000 miles are on the Opel’s diminutive motor, certainly not helped by the automatic transmission. But did you really expect a member of the Astor family to row their own gears? The seller will include lots of paperwork and other documentation with the car, which looks just fine to me as-is. As far as the seller considering it a “great restoration car,” I’m not sure Mantas have gotten to the point that anyone is doing bare-metal rebuilds on this Euro-American hybrid, but I’m guessing Ms. Astor is one the more famous persons to ever set foot in one. Thanks to Barn Finds reader B. Walters for the find.
If it has a 2 speed automatic then give it a miss. It will have trouble climbing a speed bump if the South African Manta automatics are anything to go by. A close friend of mine bought one and headed up from the coast to Johannesburg with his family of 5 but after having it kick down into low gear 5 times going up only a fairly steep hill, and knowing that there were a lot more steeper hills to come, he turned around and went back for his Chevy Constantia wagon, and this was only 10 miles from his starting point!
Seems like the seller was hoping to start his own climb to wealth with this Manta. The dearth of interested parties should be a decent wake-up call akin to an entire carafe of fully caffeinated coffee infused with Nitro.
Never heard of Brooke.Of course,she’d probably never
heard of me either.
I always thought that these were really nice styled cars,
but it has to be a Rally (Rallye ?).
So someone is thinking that a 71 year old multi-millionaire lady went out and bought this econo-bucket? I guess for those quick mid-night trips to seven eleven for some Ben and Jerry’s.
OK, I guess I can buy that…. the seventies was a crazy time. It could be true… who knows.
This is a base line Manta. The Rallye version with a 4 speed is a much better car. I owned a 73 Manta Luxus 4 speed in blue with a blue interior. Nice car, huge trunk, easy to drive and pulled around 30 MPG. But western NY winter salt ate it despite undercoating. A company named “More Opel” in Oregon had all sorts of performance options that could turn the Manta into a nice runner.
Jeff, your not sure if anyone is doing bare metal restoration.on these? I assure you they do. Opel has a cult following and its sort off anti Volkswagen in Europe…
Your typical Opel owner.
Not sure what’s a taller story, the history, the mileage or the price. Drop the “42”, and you have a deal.
Just choked on asking price
2 Opels in ONE DAY! As I just posted,, we used to have the Rally Opel, same color as the other one posted today.
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oooohhhhhhhhh the memories! We had one of these! As a teen I would sneak out and drive it when my parents were not around, Was a great little car. My dad used it as a commuter car as we lived in the Columbia River area in the country while he worked downtown in the city. ( Long commute back then).
He bought it in the 1970s for the fuel economy. His coworkers did not like it and stuck a bumper sticker on it. “This car is NOT abandoned” for the parking garage.
We finally sold it to the wreckers because it started leaking oil badly and he couldnt find anyone to replace all the gaskets and seals affordably and I was too young at the time to trust me with the task. I was sad to see it go.
Two in one day!!!!! Love this site!
Lovely looking car. I remember cars like this from when I was a boy. I found this, and the Opel GT to be the best looking cars. I still find them attractive today.
I really don’t care who was the previous owner of a rust bucket. And I am sure nobody else in the world gives a 💩 about that name on the title. I am only shaking my head about the price, i wont even dignify it with a comment.
What? No beaver-lined interior? Can’t be a true Astormobile! :^)
Of course the price is absurd. So it’s a pass.
She probably didn’t drive herself. She might have bought this for her maid or a household employee.
Or in a fit of NH bred frugality. Live free or die!
By the way it was a joke on the asking price, love the car and drive it anytime I get! Would like to see it totally restore.
She may have been on the title but may have never even seen the car if it was bought for use by her staff. A more likely scenario.