automotivebriefs
8:24in productionCh. 1 · Born from the Ascona/ 8:24 · ceiling 15 min
Road · Rally

Opel Manta

George Gallion · 1970

A rear-wheel-drive coupé that proved sporting intent didn’t need a racing budget — just a sharp silhouette and a family-car foundation.

The Opel Manta A is a rear-wheel-drive German coupé launched in September 1970. Built by Opel on the Ascona A platform, it offered a clean two-door, three-box silhouette and competed directly with the Ford Capri. It was never sold in the UK under Vauxhall until the Manta B. Its name comes from the manta ray. 498,553 were built before 1975.

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Chapters & takeaways5
  1. 0:46
    Born from the Ascona

    Launched in September 1970, the Manta A was Opel’s answer to the Ford Capri — a rear-wheel-drive coupé built on the Ascona A family car.

  2. 2:03
    Two Doors Only

    The Manta A offered only a two-door body. The hatchback arrived only with the Manta B in 1975.

  3. 3:17
    RWD All the Way

    Rear-wheel drive defined both generations — a deliberate choice that shaped its handling and rally potential.

  4. 4:18
    Named for the Ray

    Its name came from the manta ray — a nod to fluid motion and silhouette, not marine biology.

  5. 5:15
    Half a Million Sold

    Nearly half a million Manta As were built — proof of mainstream appeal without mythmaking.

Worth your time?

Yes. Drive the whole thing.

3.5/ 5
What works
  • road
  • rally
  • sports-cars
What does not
  • electric-vehicles
  • supercars
  • formula-one
  • off-road
Drive it if
  • enthusiasts
  • rally-history-readers
  • design-students
Skip it if
  • daily-drivers
  • luxury-buyers
  • modern-performance-seekers
The written brief1 min read

What the car is and where it came from

A rear-wheel-drive German coupé built by Opel from September 1970. First generation (Manta A) was a two-door, three-box body based on the Ascona A. Named after the manta ray.

How it works, in terms someone would actually use

Rear-wheel drive. Two-box coupé layout. Based on the Ascona A family car chassis and suspension. Driver feels direct mechanical feedback through the steering wheel — no power assistance, no electronic intervention.

What it gets right

The two-door Manta A’s clean three-box silhouette. Its rear-wheel-drive balance. Its role as a credible, accessible alternative to the Ford Capri. Its rally credibility earned through privateer success, not factory dominance.

What it does not

It does not offer front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, automatic transmission as standard, or any form of electronic driver assistance. It does not have a hatchback in the first generation.

What it changed

It proved a compact, rear-wheel-drive coupé could be built affordably on a family-car platform and still hold its own in rallying — without needing bespoke engineering.

Who it is for, and who it is not

It is for enthusiasts who value mechanical simplicity, clear design lineage, and rally-adjacent authenticity. It is not for buyers seeking luxury, refinement, or contemporary safety or efficiency standards.

Is it worth your time

Yes, if you want to understand how German mass-market coupés balanced practicality and mild sportiness in the 1970s. No, if you expect modern performance metrics or driver aids.

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