This 1975 Opel Manta appears to represent a good foundation for a project, with a clean body, nice interior, and empty engine bay. These were originally sold through Buick dealers after being imported from Europe, and they still seem to have a small following based on how many pop up for sale today. This one listed here on eBay is in need of an engine and transmission, and the seller is letting it go as his dreams of swapping in a modern powerplant aren’t going to materialize.
The Manta was intended to be a competitor for the Ford Capri, and is another interesting footnote in the history of American car companies importing Euro-spec models in the hopes of creating a sales success. While enough Mantas were sold that you can still find them as projects, I’m not sure how I’d characterize the end result of experiments like this. I’ve always found the Manta to be an attractive car, though certainly not with its front end sprung up and tired blue paint.
This Manta is equipped with an automatic transmission, but only as far as the console and pedal box is concerned. With no engine or drivetrain currently installed, the sky is the limit for your creativity. I’m a slave to originality, so I’d attempt to find a stock motor for rebuild and the parts needed for a manual transmission swap. What would you swap into this Manta – an SBC, LS1, or something different entirely? The seller mentions turbocharged four-cylinders are also an option.
The other popular look is the Rover 3.5 V8, which isn’t a bad option, either, considering it’s sort of OEM correct. All that said, the body looks quite tidy on this Manta and the low bidding at the moment (under $1K as of this writing) seems to indicate to me that you could definitely build this Manta pretty cheaply once the drivetrain was secured. There are only 53,000 miles on the body, and the seller promises it’s rust-free. What engine would you drop in?
I have one of these with a small block in it. It’s freaky.
I would imagine it performs about like a V-8 Vega, which can be from mild to wild–and performance runs the gambit. My old one–the person that purchased it from me–managed to drive it for two incident free years–then departed the road off into the desert at over 110mph–that being the low side estimate–and managed to ball it up around his body–neither auto or driver were good for anything after that. But the old Chevy small block was seen still running–pulling a stocker around the dirt in claimer’s races. That owner bought it from the salvage yard–and really had little needed to get it back up and running fine.
Cute car with potential. No rust is a big plus though I’d probably paint it if buffing the original finish didn’t work out. I’d go for a Hi-Po V-6 to keep the weight down and you would probably want to upgrade the 4-lug wheels though the originals look pretty sharp. It’s a small, light car so a V-6 would make it a good performer and might be easier to fit in that small engine bay. Looks like it will go fairly cheap so it will be an inexpensive base to build on.
Ecotec turbo crate motor. 280 hp and an easier fit than a V8.
V8 in this thing is a mistake! Its a nice well balanced and good handling car right from the factory. Yeah i gota performance idea! Lets put a 700lbs anchor in front of the front axle!
Sold. $1775.00
There is a BMW M3 S14 for sale that should slip right in.
These were a solid reasonable car when I lived in Germany but the hot ticket was the Ambassador that came with a high performance 283. It was a 4 door sedan but would really run on the autobahn with the high reving small block.
The v8 opels of.the 60ties were the Diplomat and the admiral. Available with 283 or 327s.
My favorite body style is the opel commodore A.
Anyhow going back to engine swaps a v8 in an opel of that era (kaddett B and c, manta A or Gt) is very dificult requireing moving the firewalland whatnot. OPEL IS FAMOUS FOR THEIR CAM IN HEAD AND DOUBLE OVERHEAD CAM ENGINES making 150hp out of a 1.9L engine in the 80ties. I think any modern 4cyl from the GM family would do well. A v8 i that thing is simply counterproductive! These cars were so popular in motorsport for a reason- they can bemade to handle great!
The engine choice would depend on how you want to drive it – if you want a semi- track car, the Honda S-2000 engine would fit well with it’s high horsepower at high revs personality – for a GT / Cruiser that would be fun both on cruise nights and for trips, the Rover/Buick aluminum V8 is pretty light- actually lighter than many V6 engines and iron block 4 cylinders at about 320 lbs. Also pretty available, since they were used in various Land Rover models until about 2004, and the Edelbrock manifolds for the 215 Buick are a bolt on. Headers are available from several companies- I believe Sanderson is one of them. In this light car, that little V8 would be quite a mover.
like them or hate them a K24 honda motor is an easy swap and 400 horsepower from a stock block anf ebay turbo kit is easy and reliable. or a 4.8 Ls, but the honda motor is the better option…
Although I really like the idea of a V8 in a small car, I would go with GM I4 on this. With turbo preferably. V8 is just too big and heavy for a small car like this.
Back in 80s you could still get I4 2,2L and 2,4L blocks from Opel. Probably long gone…GM also in late 90s/00s had 2,2L in some US made cars, maybe Cobalt etc? That engine had some issues with timing chain though but I remember there was turbo versions of it?
Twin-cam Fiat, 1600-1800. Light, tough, good parts availability, and the engines are not that hard to find, being in too many cases more durable than the bodies they came in. A popular choice for Morris Minors too.
This is speculation, of course, as my one Manta was in the family for about a year in the late Seventies, and I am assuming that the whole Fiat front drivetrain would fit … although the Lampredi-designed engine was almost certainly lighter and more compact than the relatively elderly Opel lump. I would add that my Manta also had the B-W slush box, which I would never wish on anyone.
Ur idea on the the alu GM 215ci V8 (’53 – ’81) sold to rover could B a swap in. How much duz it weigh? how big is it? Prts still avail (in USA)?
I purchased a Blue Max Special Manta in 73′. These would easily out handle it’s competitors of the day. So much so that after 2-years of SCCA showroom stock competition they were outlawed. The vaunted BMW 2002 was no match for the Manta, but today it is prized… go figure. And by the way… I’m a BMW guy with 4 in my garage.
I’m also a long time engine swapper and my recommendation would be a high output 4-cyl. from the GM parts bin, or an early Lexus LS-400 V8 if you just got to have a V8.
5.0 Windsor series Ford. Lightweight by V-8 standards ( about 450 lbs. ). Narrow in dimension and a ton of performance products. Oh yeah, cheap and plentiful too! pair it with a Tremec and you have an inexpensive rocket.