MYT
880L - 1973 Manta A 1780 Deluxe Automatic
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Owner: Martin Dodgson
This is a 1972 Manta 1780 Deluxe Automatic in Bronze. It has been resprayed
in a bronze which is slightly lighter than the original shade. I bought it earlier this
year, when my long term daily driven Manta was written off by having an idiot driving into
the back of it. I picked it up in Reigate, and my first journey was the 200 mile journey
home to Yorkshire. |
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The car is totally standard, and the only
change I have done is fitting a period Radio Cassette player. In the past I wouldn’t
have considered any Manta 1780, due to perceived slowness, and lack of flexibility
compared to the 1900, which I was used to driving. Also, the Manta A 1780 I did have
before, was terribly slow and unrefined, despite having a very low mileage. This car,
however has very acceptable, even good performance, and is a good motorway cruiser
(quieter than my previous car – probably because of lower mileage), and is an
excellent car for the 26 miles each way journey to work. |
| I was considering fitting a 1900 engine
and autobox, but I am quite satisfied with the 1.6. I’m not a very slow driver,
either (before people reading this start thinking I’m a doddering old man). I would really recommend a Manta A Auto to anyone. They
are quick (esp. 1900), and although the road tests give the results that the manuals are
faster to 60 by a second or more, in practice this is only the case if you really rev the
engine and change gear very quickly, which is something you don’t really want to do
on your average old manual box, as the gears will make crunching sounds. |
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| The changes are very smooth,
and at times, almost imperceptible. So try an auto, don’t automatically choose a manual (sorry about the bad
pun). |
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