Opel Manta

Other rear-wheel-drive coupé s are fetching big money and are being imported, so has the Manta’s moment also come? CCW investigates.

Mantas aren’t being imported to the UK in any significant numbers at the moment. ‘I know of only two,’ says Simon Peckham of Suffolk County Mantas (07720 288928). ‘Both were Manta A models that came in from the States.’

It’s the vehicles’ comparatively low values, combined with a preference among UK Manta enthusiasts for right-hand-drive cars, which has kept the demand for imports low, says Simon. The high-performance ‘i’ models are exceptions to the rule but, generally, the Manta hasn’t been precious enough to import.

Simon looked at buying from South Africa a couple of years ago, but the values at the time didn’t warrant the expense. ‘Since then, though, there’s been a knock-on effect from the rise in values of Ford Escorts and Capris,’ he says, adding that enthusiasts aren’t necessarily looking for Mantas especially – they just want rear wheel-drive retro cars.