1984 Opel Manta GT

Much as restorers may have you believe, you can never return a car to its original condition. Factory fresh, low mileage, unmolested, music to a car enthusiast’s ears!

Our lovely 1984 GT has been family owned from new and has covered just under 12,000 miles. It comes complete with its original bill of sale and service book.

Supplied by Star Motors of Sevenoaks in Kent, the registration document shows just two keepers, the first being the grandfather of the second keeper, who took over the car in July 2005.

The sales invoice shows that options added included the Astro Silver paintwork and a tailgate wash/wipe system. The princely sum of £6,025.97 was paid for all this Opel loveliness.

We are told that the Manta has been professionally resprayed, which is a shame, but other than that the car wears its years well and is sure to delight its lucky new owner.

Mantas in any condition are a rare sight on UK roads these days and prices are on the rise for the very best cars…. of which this is one!

Whilst we would have loved to be able to say that the Manta sports its original paintwork, that is not the case. And let’s be honest, a factory finish some 35+ years ago was never going to be the best. The lacquer was starting to peel, you know the story.

So, our car has been treated to a full professional respray this year and we think that a good job has been done. All the stickers have been reapplied in the right places and the car is now dressed to impress!

Wheels are in good order having been shotblasted and repainted and a new set of Vredstein tyres has been fitted as the originals, lovely as they were to see, were perished and would have been dangerous to use.

The headlights look a little cloudy, but this should be an easy fix. There are some marks to the rubber in places. Other than that, we can find little to fault.

We like the fact that the original dealer supplied number plates are still fitted.

This is definitely a car to take to shows, its rarity and its overall condition will ensure admiring glances.

Oh, what a lovely place to be, inside this time-warp Manta. Other than a little wear to the bolster of the driver’s seat, the cloth material is in excellent condition, the back seats looking as though they have rarely seen any occupants.

A raft of useful gauges sits ahead of the driver in what is a delightfully period dash. An analogue clock and original Phillips radio cassette player completes the look. And who remembers the Fischer C-Box cassette storage system? Time to dig out those Culture Club and Wham tapes and load it up!

The driving position is rather lovely, the three spoke steering wheel and stubby gear lever falling easily to hand. The view out is excellent too thanks to the slim pillars. And let’s not forget that optional rear wiper too.

Wind up windows, no central door locking… we forget how simple cars were back in the 1980s.

Carpets are unworn, though a little grubby in places. Get the steam cleaner out and buy some protective mats would be our advice.

The headlining looks good, with no signs of sagging.

We have spotted a little bit of surface corrosion to the bottom of the doors – catch it early.

The boot is a decent size and is as one would expect delightfully unmolested. Tools and a full-size spare wheel are present and correct. We note that the tailgate struts have been recently replaced. Old age we guess.

In 2020 the waxoyl was reapplied in places, and generally the Manta’s underside is in good order. The sills so show some minor evidence of rust beneath the new coat, and we would be tempted to address this issue properly.

It all looks very original though we cannot claim to be experts in Manta floorpans!

The engine compartment is in excellent order, lots of shiny silver paint and an absence of accumulated dirt and grime.

The one family owner history still has the power to delight. Clearly a cherished and much-loved car, the parting will not have been an easy one.

There is plenty of paperwork, mostly from the car’s early days. Invoices for servicing and all the old MoT certificates accompany the car.

The original service book show dealer stamps and evidence of work carried out.

The car’s more recent MoT history shows that the car was off the road from 2012 until 2020 when it was tested again. A few advisories concerning tyres were the main issues, as well as a brake imbalance, easily sorted.

The MoT expired in April of this year but a new MoT was done this month: it failed on two bulbs that need replacing!

When the test was carried out last year, the garage fitted new rear brake cylinders, new front pads and changed the brake fluid. They also serviced the car and checked all the fluid levels.

There is a modern Varta battery in situ for easy starting and the Vredstein tyres all round look conspicuously new.

Ask yourself when you last saw an Opel Manta. We spend lots of time at cars shows and they are a truly rare sight. Far more exclusive than the oh-so-common Capri!

Not only that, but to find a Manta that has had such a quiet life, cocooned in a dry garage for most of its life is a once in a lifetime find.

The car drives well, looks stunning and other than a new MoT would appear to ready to go.

So, if you fancy cherishing this marvellous old Manta, you know what you must do.

We expect the car to sell for between £9,500 and £14,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and as stated this car is located at THE MARKET HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing to make an appointment. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’