Someone Please Save This Opel Manta Barn Find Project
The original Opel Manta was sold in the United States in the early 1970s, but you almost never see them for sale. You're more likely to see a bundle of smaller Opel GTs on Craigslist before you come across a US-market Manta. That's why we're so interested in this one that just popped up on eBay. It's been sitting in a barn for the better part of four decades. Now, it can be yours.
Welcome to You Must Buy, our daily look at the cars you really should be buying instead of that boring commuter sedan.
The car you see here is an Opel Manta A, produced from 1970-1975. Sold in America through Buick dealerships, it could be had in coupe or sedan form (the sedan was called the 1900). Under the hood sits a 1.9-liter inline four sending power to the rear wheels via either a four-speed manual or a three speed auto. This particular car, a 1973 model, is finished in "Luxus" trim, which, according to Hemmings, included a sunroof delete, a blue velour interior, white-wall tires, and wood interior paneling.
As you can probably already tell, you won't be able to walk up to this car and drive it away after buying it. According to the seller, it's been sitting in a barn for nearly 40 years, and judging by the pictures, it needs some serious attention. The interior is complete, but the seats are trashed. The paint is in desperate need of a wax, and we assume the engine won't just start up after an oil change and some new gas. That being said, the car has just 79,469 miles on the clock, and there doesn't seem to be any serious rust. It could be a great candidate for a restoration.
The car is currently up for bidding on eBay in South Hadley, Massachusetts with a starting bid of $800 and reserve not met. If you're into obscurity and want to get started on a new project, this could be the car for you.
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