Opel Manta 400: the forgotten Group B road car

Before it was banned, Group B rallying produced some of best road cars of the 1980s. The Opel Manta 400 is one you've probably never heard of.

Most spell-checkers draw a wiggly red line under the word ‘homologation’. In essence, it’s the requirement to build a certain number of road cars in order to satisfy racing regulations. It’s also responsible for some of the most exciting cars ever to wear number plates.

Group B rallying, which was banned after several serious accidents in 1986, produced its fair share of homologation specials.

The Audi Sport Quattro, MG Metro 6R4, Lancia Delta S4, Ford RS200 and Peugeot 205 T16… all are household names, and rightly so. But how many people remember the Opel Manta 400? 

The Manta seen here was sold via online auction website Collecting Cars. It’s backed by Top Gear presenter Chris Harris and always has a diverse selection of classics consigned for sale.

The cars here represent few highlights from those listings, starting with the mightiest Manta…

Opel Manta 400 

The Manta 400 uses the same 2.4-litre four-cylinder 16v Cosworth engine as the earlier Ascona 400. That car – the European version of the Vauxhall Cavalier – achieved some WRC success, piloted by the legendary Walter Röhrl. 

However, the rear-driven Manta found itself immediately outclassed by four-wheel-drive rivals, including the all-conquering Audi Quattro.

In road-going guise, the fuel-injected Manta makes a modest 144hp, although a dry weight of 1,128kg means acceleration is brisk. A live rear axle makes for frisky handling, too – despite the presence of a ZF limited-slip diff.

 
 
 
 
 
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Opel Manta 400 (1983). One of 245 made for Group B homologation – and only 59 with those stretched Irmscher wheelarches. Up for sale soon via Collecting Cars.

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A total of 245 Manta 400s were made, only 59 with the Irmscher bodykit seen here. Those steroidal wheelarches stretch over wider Ronal alloy wheels, while a jutting spoiler sits atop the bootlid.

The interior is equally eye-catching, with the Recaro seats trimmed in oh-so-70s ‘Opel Blitz’ cloth. 

This 1983 Manta finally sold for £57,500 in the online auction – a relative bargain for such a rare homologation hero.

Porsche 968 Club Sport 

Porsche is masterful at charging more for less. You want no back seats, fewer luxuries and fabric door-pulls? It’ll cost you. It wasn’t always this way, though. Back in the mid-nineties, the Club Sport was a hefty £5,000 cheaper than a standard 968.

At 1,335kg, it was at least 50kg lighter too. Factor in a 10mm suspension drop and a pair of fixed-back Recaros, and the result was B-road bliss. With only 1,923 built, the Club Sport has since become a sought-after cult classic.

The four-cylinder Porsche isn’t especially quick 0-60mph in 6.1sec and 158mph – but it’s beautifully balanced, the weighty steering alive with textured feedback. It’s less intimidating than a contemporary 911, but no less rewarding.

With just 41,000 miles on the clock, this 968 had been in storage for the past four years. It sold for £40,500, including the ‘A968 POR’ registration plate.

Ferrari 550 Maranello

A V12 Ferrari with an open-gate manual gearbox? Where do we sign? Launched in 1996, the 550 Maranello channelled the spirit of the classic 365 GTB/4 ‘Daytona’, with a 485hp naturally aspirated engine beneath its long, elegant bonnet.

The 550 morphed into the 575M from 2002. However, many Ferrari experts, including Ed Callow of Collecting Cars, reckon the 550 is a sweeter drive. It’s not short on straight-line speed, either: 0-62mph takes 4.4sec and top speed is 199mph.

The 1,774kg Ferrari turns in with alacrity that belies its size. Its clutch demands a determined shove, and that thin metal wand needs careful guidance across the gate. Nonetheless, the reward for getting it right is like little else. The V12 is simply sublime, piling on speed in a linear rush to the redline.

For our money – and you’d have needed £62,500 for the 24,000-mile example here – the 550 suits darker colours such as this Blu Tour de France, rather than trad-Ferrari Rosso Corsa. Just keep your grubby hands off that cream leather.

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Tim Pitt
Tim Pitt
Tim has been our Managing Editor since 2015. He enjoys a retro hot hatch and has a penchant for Porsches.

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