Belkits Opel Manta 400 GR.B

[martinfan5]

Belkits announced at the Toy Fair they are doing the Opel Manta 400 GR.B , looks like its set to be released at the end of 2016, more info to come, stay tuned. 

 

Edited January 27, 2016 by martinfan5

[Luc Janssens]

Finally!!!!

I'm happy as a kid, Thank you very much Belkits, hope you can prove everyone wrong and that Opels do sell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PowerPlant]

I appreciate Belkits' initiative of kitting some of these subjects, but I wish they would also do street cars...

[martinfan5]

[PatW]

Yes! Another rally car I saw very often as a rally marshall in the day.

[Chuck Most]

Just going to point out the fact that this same basic car was sold in the States as the Chevrolet Monza, Pontiac Sunbird, and Oldsmobile Starfire, for those of you who like '70's compacts and don't mind a little conversion work. 

[Rob Hall]

Just going to point out the fact that this same basic car was sold in the States as the Chevrolet Monza, Pontiac Sunbird, and Oldsmobile Starfire, for those of you who like '70's compacts and don't mind a little conversion work. 

 There was a slight resemblance, but I don't think they were related...the US Monza/etc were Vega H-body variations..don't think it had anything in common w/ the Opel Ascona/Manta...

[Chuck Most]

 There was a slight resemblance, but I don't think they were related...the US Monza/etc were Vega H-body variations..don't think it had anything in common w/ the Opel Ascona/Manta...

Yes indeed,  IIRC this Opel/Vauxhall was dubbed the U-Body, and as far as I know, there was no such designation here Stateside. But as far as making one look like a US version, that's where the "not minding a little conversion work" part comes into play. 

[Junkman]

Despite wearing similar corporate styling, the GM H-body Vega/Monza and Opel Ascona/Manta are not technically related and share no parts.
The Mantas are also significantly smaller than their transcontinental relatives. Contrary to the Manta A, the Manta B was also never officially available in the US.

The Manta 400 was designed in cooperation with noted Opel tuner Irmscher and launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1981 as the successor of the Ascona 400.
It was actually a pure race car, but at least 200 vehicles had to be made commercially available in order to meet the homologation requirement for FIA Group B. Powered by a 144 hp 2.4-liter 4 cylinder engine with a Cosworth developed light alloy cylinder head, four valves per cylinder and two overhead camshafts,
it only weighed 960 kg in street trim.
Depending on the area of operation, rally versions could initially have up to the 275 hp limit set by FIA regulations in force back then. Once this limit was lifted for 1982, examples with power in excess of 350 hp - still naturally aspirated - were known.

The Manta 400 was built until 1984 and altogether 245 examples were made, but in reality very few of them were sold to Johnny Public, most of them were shipped to Opel affiliated tuners, like Irmscher, Steinmetz, Mantzel, Lexmaul, etc., who usually prepared them for privateers, utilising an extensive arsenal of go faster hardware offered by the factory. Consequently non raced examples are scarce, to the tune of a mere dozen or so survivors. However, there are probably more clones out there today than there ever were originals.

In theory, buyers even had the choice of 'wide body' or 'narrow body', so there could be 400s that lack the GRP wheelarches and the aero kit.
Talk about wolves in sheep clothing! Sadly no 'narrow body' survivors are known to exist.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Junkman

[aurfalien]

Similar lines to mid 80's Mitsubishi and Toyota;

http://www.spannerhead.com/category/mitsubishi/

http://bringatrailer.com/2014/01/06/61k-mile-1983-toyota-supra-p-type/

 

[om617]

I like the subject but fear it will be curbside? 

[Junkman]

Rather a curbside than none at all.

[om617]

Rather a curbside than none at all.

Dont get me wrong,it is nice with somthing fresh on the market,also there is the MK1 Escort. 

Maby we will see the Audi Sport Quattro and more Group B monsters in the future. 

Crossing fingers for a RS200.. 

[Junkman]

Metro 6R4. Saab 96.

[The Danish sprue wrangler]

i,ll need atleast 3 of these might buy more . Manta B is my all time favorite car . now just waiting for a release date