1974 A Series Opel Manta Blog

The Opel Project blog has been setup to record the rebuild of my 1974 A Series Opel Manta.
OPEL
1974 A Series Opel Manta Blog
OPEL

The Opel Project is almost complete!

There are a few tweaks left and I’m sure there will be some other modifications and the engine bay does need a paint!  but basically, the Opel Project is in its final stage and its now time to drive the car and enjoy it!!

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Fully restored 1973 A Series Opel Manta
Bodywork

What do you mean it only needs a wash!!

We, today the weather was beautiful down here in Bournemouth, about 15 degrees! So I decided to roll the Opel out of the garage and just give it a wash!! now I have not been able to say that for quite a long time!! I still have the trim to fit and an oil change, but there was nothing as satisfying as just giving it a wash and dry and not needing to really do anything else to it!!

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1973 Opel Manta A Series flatting and polishing
Bodywork

The Finishing Touches

Yesterday i flatted and polished the top of the driver’s door so I could fit the door handle and wing mirror. and today I flatted the top of the passenger’s door ready for fitting the handle and mirror after fitting the new window guide runners. Then it’s time to work my way around the car polishing the rest of it and then I can finally fit the bumpers and last bits of time. If the weather stays nice I will hopefully be ready to be back on the road properly towards the end of Feb, just in time for some…

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1973 Opel Manta A Series flatting and polishing
Bodywork

Polishing The Opel Project

Im not sure how well these will come out but i thought i would post some pics of my paint polishing test. This is the process i will be using to polish the old Opel Project when it gets a bit warmer! Give it a clean and use 2000 grit to remove any dirt nibs etc.. The go over it with the Trizact 3000 discs then the Trizact 6000 dics then its onto a bit of refining with the Cartec Final Cut 9000 Then a final finish with Cartec Ultra Finish 12000 and a hand wax finish. Below are some…

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1973 Opel Manta A Series chrome trim
Bodywork

Quarter windows all fitted

Today i finally fitted all the windows trim and have both rear quarter windows all installed and adjusted up properly. Now I just have the door top trim and gutter trim to polish and fit which I’m going to do as I get time over the next couple of weeks. The next thing to do is when I have a nice day I need to mop and polish the doors so I can fit the door handles & door mirrors so I can fit all the internal door trim. I have some nice new locks fitted to the handles that…

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1973 Opel Manta A Series chrome trim
Bodywork

Chrome trim

My chrome trim was in pretty good condition but with the years of wear, it was never that shiny of some of it a little surface scratch which you can never really get out. And now I have all that nice new chrome on the handles and pillars I needed to do something about the trim around the gutter and at the bottom of the rear quarter window and door top. Drastic action was needed! After a quick test on a spare piece, I have decided to flat all the trim back to remove the chrome plating and give it…

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1973 Opel Manta A Series chrome trim
Bodywork

Chrome pillar fitting

Chrome pillar now fitted to the glass with a nice new rubber strip from ATZ in Germany fitted. https://atz-online.com/p/opel-manta-a-tuerscheibendichtung-an-b-saeule-links-neu/ https://atz-online.com/p/opel-manta-a-tuerscheibendichtung-an-b-saeule-rechts-neu/ These are now all ready to go in once I have fitted the rear quarter chrome trim.  

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