Registration: IOM-Reg
Chassis: WOL000058F6110662
Odometer: 24,000
Transmission: Manual
MOT: Exempt

• A genuine low mileage example
• Huge amount of paperwork
• Original factory specification
• Find another one if you can

Every now and again a very special example comes along that probably cannot be compared to anything else out there at this moment; this may be it. Here we have an Opel Manta GTE Coupe finished in black with beige Recaro trim, as they were at the time. This is enough to make this special, however it goes on. It was originally bought by a Mrs Phillips on 18/10/1985 from Victoria Garage in Leigh, Lancashire, and registered in the UK as ‘C946BDB’ which it will most likely be put back on when re-registering, as it is currently registered on the Isle of Man as ‘2026 MAN’. Mrs. Phillips took the Manta to her home on the Isle of Man where it has lived ever since. In all that time, it has only covered 24,000 miles, amazing. The GTE has an IOM registration document, in fact it has two, the current one and the original yellow one.

Going through the paperwork tells us that it was driven up to 2001 and 24,000 miles, which is demonstrated by the service book which contains nine stamps. It was then put away for 24 years; we don’t know why, it probably doesn’t matter. Then our vendor came across it and went about waking it up so to say, hence what we have before us now, a genuine Opel Manta GTE Coupe with 24,000 miles and only two owners. Like we said go and find another one! The paperwork is huge with lots of invoices and receipts from dealers showing the history, as well as a lot of beautiful handwritten invoices from the garage that has looked after it. This is backed up by a lot of old tax discs and even a letter from Mobil Oil answering a question the customer asked about the correct oil to use. Just things you don’t see any more and such a nice thing to have within your history but it gets even better. We have the full and complete book pack and manuals complete with the aforementioned service book, even down to the original instructions on how the alarm (still fitted) works, and the spare keys.

The Manta itself sits well, and having had new plugs, fuel pump and tyres, is good to go. When you look in the boot area and under the bonnet, you just know that this is a genuine example in the original factory specification - even down to the radio cassette and the spare wheel. What we think is nice is that it has not been dressed up to sell; it is just as it comes. It may have had a little fettle along the way but it is genuine and with a bit of love could make a concourse show winner. It would not be difficult to do and would probably be very enjoyable as well.