Curbside Classic CA Vacation Edition: Super-Rare 1971 Opel Manta

by Paul Niedermeyer

Published: December 31st, 2009

curbside classic ca vacation edition super rare 1971 opel manta

You never know what will wash ashore on the beaches of Half Moon Bay. Heading for the coffee/wifi cafe to send these dispatches, what do I find in the parking lot, but a pristine 1971 (or ’72) Manta. As you may remember, the best I could in Eugene was this ’74 in a carport that probably hadn’t been driven in some ten years.

But this Opel is still taking its elderly driver on her errands. And it was a stick too. There’s no doubt in my mind that this is a one-owna’ Manta. Even has the after-market/dealer installed rubber side protection strip. Must avoid parking lot dings, and keep the old Manta looking good for another decade or two! Parts? Why there’s that Buick dealer in San Mateo…

#LastManta #RareOpel

Paul Niedermeyer

More by Paul Niedermeyer

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 44 comments

Dave7 on Jan 04, 2010

Fantastic find. Always liked these but always thought that the front and rear styling looks like its from different cars - perhaps even different decades (rear 60s, front 70s).

Like Reply
Autobahner44 on Jan 04, 2010

I had a '74 Manta in college. I called it the "poor man's BMW" and it was a really fun and simple car to bang around in. Burgundy corduroy seats-chicks dug 'em...

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Doug brockman There will be many many people living in apartments without dedicated charging facilities in future who will need personal vehicles to get to work and school and for whom mass transit will be an annoying inconvenience
Jeff Self driving cars are not ready for prime time.
Lichtronamo Watch as the non-us based automakers shift more production to Mexico in the future.
28-Cars-Later " Electrek recently dug around in Tesla’s online parts catalog and found that the windshield costs a whopping $1,900 to replace.To be fair, that’s around what a Mercedes S-Class or Rivian windshield costs, but the Tesla’s glass is unique because of its shape. It’s also worth noting that most insurance plans have glass replacement options that can make the repair a low- or zero-cost issue. "Now I understand why my insurance is so high despite no claims for years and about 7,500 annual miles between three cars.
AMcA My theory is that that when the Big 3 gave away the store to the UAW in the last contract, there was a side deal in which the UAW promised to go after the non-organized transplant plants. Even the UAW understands that if the wage differential gets too high it's gonna kill the golden goose.