1973 Opel Manta "A" Series

In 1973, an engineer treated himself to a new Opel Manta ‘A’ SR. Clearly a man who knew his own mind, he opted for orange paintwork, all the better to reinforce the Manta’s sporting credentials.

Because ‘HPN 363L’ also has the 1.9-litre, 90bhp engine and sweet-changing four-speed manual gearbox. The SR trim level he paid extra for brought with it wider wheels and tyres than the base model ‘S’, plus pinstripes and an uprated instrument pack.

The car became his passion and he showed it regularly, maintaining it himself until he passed it to his son in 2019. The handover included an assessment of the car by an expert member of the owners’ club, who is said to have rated the car as “one of the best and most original in the UK”.

His son kept it for a couple of years before handing it to his son, who in turn sold it our vendor in 2023.

Delightfully original, it has never been modified, welded, restored, or resprayed. Always garaged and driven carefully, it has never been in an accident either – and when it collected the inevitable marks and stonechips every car accumulates, the owner painstakingly touched-up each one by hand.

Well-known and documented in Manta circles, the current owner has maintained it to the same high standard, even paying £400 for a new-old-stock indicator switch.

It was fitted with a new clutch and gearbox service at the beginning of 2025, a head gasket and engine work last summer, and a new carburettor in 2024. The cooling system also benefits from a custom alloy radiator, which was crafted to look like the original, and we were touched to see the seller fitted the correct coolant hoses, which he had to source from Germany.

So please, if you are the winning bidder, don’t start fitting parts from Halfords, will you?

Unsurprisingly, it boasts the latest in a run of advisory-free MoTs and was magazine featured back in 2003 and Octane magazine has recently tipped the Manta A as One to Watch…

Intended to be the seller’s ‘forever car’ a change in circumstances makes it available on the open market for the first time in its 53-year life!

There’s something about cars that have never been restored, isn’t there? The panel alignment, the shutlines, the paintwork; you might get them neater, or tighter, or shinier but you’ll never make it look like a factory finish.

And this one sits well, with a good stance and a wholesome air about it. The lamp lenses are bright and free of cracks too, and the badges, including the iconic manta rays on the lower edge of either front wing, are in great shape.

The chromework is straight and shows only light scratches, and the glazing is etched with the car’s registration number, further proof of its originality.

You want more proof?

How about the fact the tyre pressure decal is still inside the passenger door aperture? Or the original pinstripes have faded over the years but been left in situ rather than replaced? Or the presence of what appears to be the supplying dealer’s sticker in the rear window?

It has also clearly been touched-up over the years, and these are noticeable. However, we think they’re charming and far better than an inappropriately-glossy respray; after all, a car is only original once, and we don’t think an honest patina is anything to be ashamed of.

You could treat it to a machine-polish though, which would minimize the marks and freshen up the paintwork without causing irrevocable harm.

The replacement alloy wheels, which were professionally refurbished in December 2023, are all in a great condition and they’re fitted with 185/70R13

Nankang CX-668 tyres. All are matching and have decent tread, but they date back to 2010, so should really be changed.

Nonetheless, we will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

Pressed aluminium numberplates are another lovely touch, and we love the brace of Hesketh Racing teddy bear stickers. A badge in the windscreen also proclaims membership of the UK Opel Manta Owners Club, and that’s never going to be a bad sign, is it?

As for flaws, the nearside front window has a small chip on its trailing edge and the windscreen rubber has perished, but we don’t think you’ll need to worry about them for a while.

However, you will probably want to address the small areas of rust at the base of the windscreen, the bottom of the offside A-pillar, and underneath the offside door mirror.

The interior is in an even better condition than the coachwork.

Yes, there are a couple of small chips around the ashtray but the fact we can lead with the Manta’s issues tells you everything you need to know about the rest.

Because anyone who spends £400 on an indicator switch isn’t going to let the rest of the car slide, are they?

The front seats are still nice and firm, and the face material is in an almost unbelievably good condition with no rips, holes, or other damage. Barely any softening to the outer bolsters or base, either.

As for the rear seats, if we were told they’d never been sat on we’d have no trouble believing it. Quite, quite remarkable.

The lettering on the gearknob is still very readable too, the simple two-spoke steering wheel is free of wear ‘n’ tear, and the carpets look like they’re only a couple of years old.

The headlining is taut and free of damage, the rubber boot at the base of the gearlever is pliable and undamaged, the top of the dashboard is free of cracks and splits, and the pedal rubbers have deep tread.

Even the push-button radio is still fitted.

The boot lining is excellent and the boot floor is solid. Of course, the spare wheel matches those fitted to the four corners.

If you’re looking for jobs then the rubber boot seal has flattened a bit and the ‘wood’ veneer on the dashboard has worn away in places but if it were ours we’d leave well alone because maintaining a car’s originality is to walk a tightrope; if you’re too fussy you can end up ruining the very thing that attracted you to the car in the first place.

As the current owner puts it: “Apart from the main dealer servicing noted in the original service book, the first owner carried out all maintenance himself ...

steady mechanical maintenance added to significant recent expenditure means the car still drives very well indeed and is ready to enjoy at shows, for touring or even use every day.”

Our man reports that the Manta “runs and drives very well”, which is high praise indeed from a man who normally restricts himself to a grunted “yeah, it’s fine”.

The video demonstrates this sweet-running, free-starting example needs nothing more than the love and attention to which it has become accustomed plus, perhaps, a tweak to the tickover, which is a bit high when the car is warm.

There are a couple of other minor jobs.

The first is to fit the new-old-stock fusebox cover that comes with the car. However, the seller warns: “It will break when fitted as there is a wire in the way. The wire needs to be pulled through a bit or extended so it sits in the right place, then the cover will click into place.”

The second is to fit the new oil pressure sensor that’s included, and then reconnect the gauge.

Of course, the engine bay is a delight. Clean and very nicely presented, you could pop your bonnet in any company without fear of embarrassment.

The underside is just as good. Sure, the paint is peeling a little around the edges, but those edges still look solid, and no MoT tester has ever had cause to write about rust or structural corrosion. Clearly the first owner’s dedication to rustproofing his pride and joy is still reaping dividends.

The Opel also comes with a small selection of spares and the seller reminds us that parts for these cars are still available, although you may need to source them from Europe, and the owners’ club has been a great resource.

The Opel’s MoT, which is valid until December 2026, was issued with no advisories. Just like the one before. And the one before that.

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two keys, two Haynes and one Autobooks workshop manuals, copies of the magazines it appeared in, an annotated photo album documenting its maintenance and condition, the original Owner’s Manual, membership papers from the Opel Manta Owners Club UK, a brochure, and more.

Much, much more, in fact, including many invoices, some of which are as recent as the middle of last year for work on the engine and ignition system.

Helpfully, many have a Post-It note attached explaining what they are for, which makes it easier for those of us who don’t speak German.

The Manta was more expensive than its blue-oval rival when it was new, although this premium wasn’t too much of a problem as contemporary road tests generally placed the Opel higher than the Ford.

The premium has since shifted in favour of the Ford, which is good news if you’ve kept the faith because we estimate this unrepeatable slice of fried gold will sell for somewhere between £15,000 and £18,000, which is considerably less than the equivalent Capri.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.