Slow Car Movement: 1971-75 Opel Manta

Very often I see and/or think of a car that deserves admiration. I also find these cars fall outside the routine "Cool Car" lists.

Today I saw an Opel Manta parked on O'Farrell Street. White, factory alloys and looking clean. I think these were imported to the US in the 70's, but I never drove/rode/sat in one. This car caught my attention tonight, staying quite stylish when compared to a typical late-model 2-door coupé from Honda, BMW or Infiniti.

The OpelClub.com writes of "two coupes, standard and Rallye. The latter sported a racy matte-black hood, twin upper-bodyside tape stripes run up and over the rump, fog lights, twin chrome extensions on a single tailpipe, tachometer, oil pressure gauge, ammeter, clock, exposed-lug wheels with chrome rings, and a 3.67:1 final drive (versus 3.44:1) for sprightlier takeoffs."

I like "sprightly take-offs"! This implies a car that is eager and energetic, though not one with brute force. How refreshing.

Also from OpelClub.com, "In the day, Car & Driver characterized the Opel as 'uncommonly well engineered for its price," initially a reasonable $2490. "It's German in the same way Porsche's and BMW's are German...The engine has manners...The ride is well controlled and the car never floats or wallows.'"

Sounds like a nicely-balanced car.