Then, apart from a triple success in Ireland, it was all over, and the Opel Manta 400 had lasted even less time than Group B itself. When the factory team stood down in 1984, McRae’s AC Delco Manta took the British rally title, and Russell Brookes repeated the feat the following year in his Andrews Heat for Hire car. Vatanen and Henri Toivonen tried their very best (Henri’s mad charge through the Italian hills on the last night of San Remo I will always remember) but it was Jim McRae’s third place on the RAC Rally of Great Britain that gave the car its best ever WRC result. The Rothmans Opel RallyTeam hedged their bets in ’83, starting the year with the more developed Ascona, and sticking with the saloon for Ari Vatanen to win the Safari, before moving into the Manta. It was the logical development to the 1982 Driver’s Championship winning Ascona 400 (Walter Rohrl), but with twowheel- drive and a mere 275bhp it didn’t stand a chance against the potent 4WD, turbo machines lining up on the World Rally stage at the start of the Group B era. The Opel Manta 400 was out of date even before it turned a wheel. In a way, it’s a reluctant motorsport hero. With a build cost far exceeding our upper estimate including a brand-new Gerent Phase 3 engine and with good Manta bodyshells becoming increasingly tricky to source, this is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of a beautifully constructed and rapid rally car that in the right hands could be highly competitive.Fancy owning a motorsport legend? Paul Davies looks at true classics that made their names on rally stages and race tracks, and still provide fine drives today
#1984 opel manta 400 for sale registration
There is an MSA Logbook with the car and a new V5C will be supplied ready for transfer or export as the registration number in our images does not form part of the sale. Since the build was completed, this impressive Manta has only been used in two short charity demonstration runs and can just be considered freshly run-in. A new custom-built 400-spec fuel tank has been fitted and the cabin is nicely finished with new Corbeau seats with 3’’ harnesses.
#1984 opel manta 400 for sale full
A heated front screen is fitted and full tinted Perspex. The car was totally rewired using reset fuses and VDO clocks to 400 spec. 5 quick steering-rack, 9 x 15 Revolution wheels and new alloy hubs with all arms rose-jointed as per the original 400 specification. Handling is enhanced with brand new Bilstein 'Group 4' suspension with spring rates matched to Russel Brookes’ tarmac car, a new 2. A high-quality stainless exhaust system was custom built by Simpson Exhausts. Final drive is handled by a 400 'Phase 3' limited-slip differential and stopping power is provided by the correct AP calipers as per the original spec.
4-litre, 'Phase 3' historic tarmac engine was commissioned from Gerent in Germany and mated to a new dog-leg 400 gearbox with correct ratios from GR boxes in Italy. With no expense spared, a brand new, dry-sump 2.
Presented for auction at Race Retro 2023 is this beautifully constructed 1987 Opel Manta 400 Rally Car, expertly built using an excellent 1988 Manta shell modified to 400-spec by a highly regarded motorsport engineering workshop. This lot will be auctioned via Silverstone Auctions, Race Retro Classic and Competition Car Sale 2023 on Friday the 24th of February - Saturday the 25th of February, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh Rd, Coventry, CV8 2LG.
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