Opel Manta A
series SR & Rallye by Mark Kinnon
Overview
Designed to appeal to the 'sporting' driver with options
chosen to give the car a racier look; in the 70's this
meant copious amounts of black trim and extra gauges.
Early examples (1970 & 1971)
are sometimes refered to as "Rallye" and have a
special "Rallye" badge on the boot lid.
Often these Rallyes had optional
matt black paint over the bonnet & front wing tops
the racing theme was completed by thick black side
stripes running the length of the vehicle and even over
the boot lid. Furthermore instead of Rostyle type wheels,
Rallyes had hub type sports wheels very similar to that
on the Opel GT.
Few genuine examples of the Rallye
model remain.
The SR model is relatively
plentiful and is a highly desirable model because of the
higher specification: full instruments, sports wheels,
1.9 engine, etc.
Identifying
Features
- 1900cc engine as standard
(1780cc engine optional)
- Black vinyl interior
- Black headlining &
sunvisors
- Black carpet
- Optional black vinyl roof
- Optional matt black paint over
bonnet & front wing tops
- Optional extra thick black
side stripes running the length of the vehicle
and over the boot lid
- Sports steering wheel
- Dashboard tachometer (rev
counter)
- Pod above centre console with
oil pressure, clock and ammeter gauges
- H1 Halogen headlamps
- Uprated front & rear
springs
- 13 x 5.5J Sports wheels
(rostyle except on early examples)
- 185/70HR 13 tyres
- Twin tailpipe extension on
rear silencer
- "Stingray" badge on
front wings
- "1900" badge on
front wings
- 3.67 - 1.00 rear axle with
manual transmission
- 3.44 - 1.00 rear axle with
automatic transmission
Photo: note the all black interior
considered "sporty" in the 70's
|
