(Edited by Mark Kinnon)

My first visit to a Manta A meeting was in Germany last September ('06).

I could not drive the car due to the lack of brake and fuel lines (a job for the next winter).

First a little history of this car.

It's still registered as a German car, I bought it in Belgium off a good friend of mine in 1999 and started the restoration.

This model was only sold in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

It is based on a normal A series GT/E base, but with the special paint colour number 200. The seats and the striping are also what makes this car very special.

I believe that only 850 were built and there are maybe 50 original ones left.

The reason they were made is because Opel had the Manta B ready and needed to sell the last A series.

That's why they made a "Black Magic" GT/E and for the ordinary Manta's the "Swinger" and "Sommer Bazar" types (Holiday Specials in the UK...MK).

Note the satin finish on the bonnet and scuttle, harking back to the early Rallye look. MK.