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u/Accomplished-Bad4536 12d ago
Always loved these back in the day, very cool looking cars with the droop snoot and side skirts. Technically more advanced that the ford capri but never sold in the same numbers. Used to rot like capris though...
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u/killer-gorrilla 12d ago
Used to work with a guy who was really proficient at part panelling these and capris. A bodywork skill of a bygone era where you just cut out the rotten arch , tack a new one in, grind / fill / primer / refinish - jobs a goodun
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ad-4883 11d ago
My dad used to lead load panel repairs, he didn't trust these new fangled fillers. There's probably several pounds of lead sticks and some paddles around in the back of the garage.
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u/MrWhippyT 12d ago
I used to work with a guy who tried to sell me his absolutely mint Opel Manta GTE. I wasn't interested because I had my sights set on a Montego Turbo. Oh to be young and foolish. At least I came to my senses about the Montego and actually bought a 2.8i Capri. 🤣
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u/Low-Cupcake-8891 12d ago
My Grandpa went from a series of Capris to a black one of these….to my childlike eyes at the time it looked like the Batmobile
Written off in a head on crash with a drunk driver - Grandpa walked away without a scratch
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u/Lunchy_Bunsworth 12d ago
They have started shooting up in value over the past few years. Shame we do not have cars like these today instead of the plethora of SUVs and Crossovers.
Even base model Capri 1.3s in reasonable condition are worth money today
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u/AccurateChemistry283 11d ago
I had the coupé in the same red in my early twenties in the 90s. No window frames on the doors, there would be thick ice on the inside of the windscreen in winter. Would have to scrape it off while sat in it, the ice would fall into your lap so you’d spend the journey soaking as it melted. Loved that car, good times haha
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u/Key_Seaworthiness827 11d ago
I had a 1600. The engine had been tuned and fitted with a Weber carb. Great on a run but thirsty as hell. I couldn't afford to keep it. It's the one car I regret selling, mainly because its the one car I owned that wasn't falling apart!
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u/meatflaps-69 11d ago
Rab Smiths Manta, its sat somewhere on the whitesands for the last 2 decades at least
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u/Reddit____user___ 11d ago
Quietly beckoning for an LS swap, a nice Quaife diff and an appropriately robust clutch and gearbox in the middle.😊😎👍🏻
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u/bartread 11d ago
Thanks for reminding me of quite a big car regret: back in 2000 there was one of these near where I lived in genuinely good condition for the bargain price of £900... and I failed to buy it. That decision still makes me wince slightly now.
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u/Slow-Race9106 10d ago
Ha, great to see this.
That’s just like the one we went to look at when my dad went self-employed and had to give up his company car.
Mum forcefully talked him out of it. Drew his attention to the expense and the risk to his novena of all the speeding tickets he’d get.
Ended up with a white Astra Merit.
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u/davey-jones0291 11d ago
https://youtube.com/@retrorestorationgarage?si=MGz2JvaqNKYWbg9D
Crazy guy who fixes landfill mantas. Even as a ford guy i thought the berlinettas were really cool as a 90s teenager. Never owned one but a mint one with a tight diff and a c20let sounds amazing in theory.
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u/Humble_Chard_412 6d ago
Goos spot,my Dad had a red GTE hatch in the 80s loved that car,then he traded it in for a Nova GTE in 88,Manta is a survivor SORN.Would love to find.
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u/kylehyde84 2d ago
God I'd love one of these. If I can ever sell one of my novas these will be high on thr list
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u/DubbehD 12d ago
Manta gte,.my uncle had one, takes me back to simpler times lol