Opel Manta B (1975-1988) Weaknesses, Prices: Honest buddy with rust problems

Unnoticed by many, we've all lost a piece of automotive heritage. Coupes that almost everyone can afford are almost nonexistent anymore – and definitely not from a German manufacturer, after VW quietly let the Scirocco die. Okay, the number of slightly lower-slung four-door models is increasing, but they're not the kind of coupe embodied in the 70s and 80s by the Scirocco, the Capri , or the Manta B.

True to the old joke that more money is less, they were always more expensive than their technological counterparts, the Golf, Escort, or Ascona. However, they were still priced so moderately that even a local miner or a precision mechanic at Bosch could afford them without spending more than they already did.

The Manta B succeeded the A in 1975, whose rounded shape makes it seem delightfully antiquated today. Its successor, with a stretched wheelbase, speaks a completely different language and draws heavily on the design of the Chevrolet Monza, created at the same time and designed by GM chief designer Bill Mitchell. Its front end, with its narrow air intakes, doubled in number with the 1982 facelift, appears almost pinched. The rectangular headlights exude functionality, not the googly-eyed charm of the Manta A.

The roof pillars are more slanted, improving all-round visibility from the comfortable seats, which unfortunately don't position you as low as in a sports car like the Cologne rival. To give the Rüsselsheim family coupe, with its astonishingly generous space even in the second row, rollover safety is assured, a roll bar is integrated into the roof near the B-pillars, recognizable by the black stripe across the roof lining.

The GT/E was also available right from the start, featuring the top-of-the-line 105 hp injection engine familiar from the previous model. Auto Motor und Sport meticulously measured a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph) at 5,800 rpm in the top of the four gears. The long gear lever allows for smooth shifting and much more precise engagement than expected. Even today, this evokes a kind of delicately patinated joy in functionality. Classy. The GT/E's performance is good for its era and, for many, justifies the matte black hood—that of the more moderately sporty SR is allowed only a black stripe.

Manta, Manta L, Berlinetta – wonderfully plush with thick velour and vinyl roof – are the names of the other equipment versions of the tightly sprung rear-wheel drive car, whose chassis is basically the same as that of the Kadett B from 1967 onwards, i.e. it uses coil springs not only on the front double wishbones but also on the rear rigid axle.

This chassis later proved itself, in expert hands, suitable for successful rally use, including with Walter Röhrl at the wheel —a great image boost, of course. It was all the more suited to the challenges posed by the bread-and-butter engines, which were ordered far more frequently than the top-of-the-line engine. Their output starts at 55 hp, which, at best, with a tailwind and the police breathing down your neck, are capable of 138 km/h.

Today's young dynamic driver might laugh, but a good 40 years ago, these were normal figures for mainstream cars. And it's not pure performance that counts, but the willingness to perform.

They showed and show basically all of the mostly short-stroke Manta engines, be they the CIH eccentrics with 1.6, 1.9, and 2.0 liters of displacement from the early years or the OHV 1.2 liters with 55 and 60 hp. At the top end, they run out of steam and the will to increase power relatively quickly, unless you go to one of the relevant tuners who found considerable additional power for little money. Of course, they also found additional horsepower in the OHC two-liter engines that arrived in the late 1970s and accompanied the Manta until the end of 1988.

But in the mid-range of the rev counter, which is usually subject to an additional charge, the smooth-running engines, even without tuning, delight with sufficient torque and not exactly explosive, but reliable throttle response - whether they are carburetor or injection engines.

You could accuse them all of being a bit too thirsty, but not of lacking durability. One could say, in a nutshell, that with a little care, all of the engines easily outlived, or at least outlived, the bodywork. After all, as was common at the time, it wasn't really effectively protected against rust.

Sooner or later, the brown plague always bloomed above the headlights, on the uprights, on the fender edges, on the sills and rear axle mounts, at the base of the roof pillars, and even on the trunk floor. Since, for many, the Manta was no longer worth the trouble of being welded through the MOT again, many cars went the way of all things. As a rule, only Mantas that found their way into knowledgeable hands early on survived, and their sellers now know that good cars can only be had for five figures, or with luck, just under that.

Engines and transmissions, on the other hand, live up to the slogan "Opel, the Reliable," although there are certainly individual weaknesses: The 1.3-, 1.6-, and 1.8-liter OHC engines with timing belt drive installed from 1979 onwards are prone to hairline cracks in the cylinder head and wear on the camshafts.

The OHV 1.2-liter and the CIH engines with 1.6 to 2.0 liters are probably the most solid choice if you can accept the occasional leak and don't see a broken water, oil, or fuel pump as the end of the world. Weakening synchro rings (of second and reverse gear) can cause problems with age in four-speed gearboxes, and grinding noises in the five-speed transmissions available since the 1982 facelift indicate premature bearing wear.

We'll spare you any tips for checking out the rare sports versions, the i200 and the Manta 400 with the 2.4-liter four-valve DOHC engine. The rust problems are identical, and anyone who wants to buy one of these truly desirable examples will have to be very well-off and should be able to afford a well-documented example from a trustworthy dealer.

While rivals from Cologne and Wolfsburg only built their popular sports cars in one body style, Opel afforded the luxury of launching the Combi Coupé CC alongside the Manta in 1978 – after all, the Scirocco and Capri II had already scored points with their practical tailgates. The Manta CC appears almost feminine, or, depending on your taste, elegant and modern. Its interior is even brighter thanks to the larger windows, giving it a very unique appeal. There's a lot to be said for warming up to this particular Manta, as its folding rear seat backrests speak for themselves, as does its increased exclusivity due to its lower production numbers.

In 1980, Opel swapped the chrome bumpers for black plastic. Then, in 1982, during the facelift, they were painted in the body color and remodeled into sills and spoilers, which culminated in the late GSi. You have to like that if you're interested in a model from this era. But what are we talking about? Rear-wheel drive. Coupé. Exciting design either way. Why not just do it?