BILLY COLEMAN - Manta 400 Replica
First step was to strip the shell, bolt it onto my spit, remove the rusted chassis rails and weld in new rails and covers, which were also lengthened beyond normal length to increase shell rigidity.
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BILLY COLEMAN
Manta 400 Replica
Ever since I was a small child, my dream car was the Opel Manta 400.
It really started with the 1983 RAC and Manx rallies, and that well known "Dear God" moment with Ari Vatanen and Terry Harryman and the infamous cattle grid..
I just had to build a Rothmans 400 replica, and initially my first Manta was supposed to be it, but that became the Billy Coleman replica, hence this new project car, acquired in 2003 and stored since, was to be the one. Initially I had intended on simply 400 kitting and painting the colour scheme on, leaving the GTE interior factory spec, but delays meant time to rethink, and slowly the boundaries were pushed out, additional 400 features were added, and the workload and cost increased dramatically.
Chassis modifications to 400 specification, 400 roll cage, floor strengthening plates, rear axle top link tunnels, shock turrets, and front wheel clearance bubbles were among the changes to the standard Manta shell.
First step was to strip the shell, bolt it onto my spit, remove the rusted chassis rails and weld in new rails and covers, which were also lengthened beyond normal length to increase shell rigidity.
The boot floor spare wheel well was also removed, ready for a 400 spec battery holder and oil tank, as well as a 400 fuel tank. In the interior, the 400 cage and dash bar were welded in place as tight to the shell as possible, and extended out to the front cross member bolts.
Once the shell prep was completed, it was sandblasted and wire wheeled to the bare metal, before rust preventative RustBullet primer (marine grade) followed by an epoxy primer.
Two pack paint in Opel OP452 was applied to the engine bay, boot and underside (after which the underside was coated with Upol Raptor with OP452 tint). The interior was painted in a satin black, and the dash was wrapped with a pattern vinyl similar to that of the original 400, the restoration of a works Ascona 400 Mota Lita steering wheel, and the acquisition of Russell Brooke's Terratrip ARC to complete the dash was a nice finishing touch.
As it stands currently, my specifications are as follows:
- Getrag 240 Manta gearbox
- Safari spec Grp4 radiator
- 2 turn rally quick rack
- Rally oil cooler below 400 spec Dzus clipped light pod
- 400 style airdam from Tost motorsport
- 400 aluminium air scoops
- 400 aluminum brake duct scoops
- 400 genuine sump guard and carrier
- Spax adjustable shocks
- Lowering springs
- 5 stud Manta 400 front hubs
- Powerflex polybush kit
- 400 TRX front rims with Ronal racing rears
- Michelin rally slicks
- Metro 6r4 AP racing calipers and vented discs
- Silicone radiator hose kit
- Independent heater box
- 400 roll cage with engine bay extensions to crossmember
- Front turrets
- New chassis legs and sills
- Rear arch sheet metal extensions
- 400 spec top links for 400 axle
- Bespoke pedal box
- Brake balance bar and brake adjust dial
- 400 spec co-drivers footrest
- FIA plumber in fire extinguisher
- Rothmans decals direct from Henri Toivonen restored car supplier
- 400 dayface with "Robin Hood"
- 400 wide arches
- Engelmann rally mirrors
- C20XE with Coscast head
- Twin 45 Carbs on C20XE inlet manifold
- 4-2-1 competition exhaust manifold
- Sportex exhaust system (planned)
- Competition ECU
- 400 genuine Kevlar bonnet with deep frame
- Power steering Corsa B
- 400 genuine ex works Mota Lita Manta wheel restored
- 400 spec dash with 400 rev counter
- Terratrip ARC tripmeter ex Russell Brookes
- CB radio & 400 rally radio aerial
- Push button start
- Ex Bertie Fisher 400 Kevlar seats from DIL9482
- 6 point Sabelt rally harness
- Rally intercom system
- Hydraulic handbrake
- 400 Ascona door cards
- 400 polycarbonate front windows/sliders
- Commodore/Manta 400 rear axle
- Manta LSD
- Rear caliper disc brakes
- 400 rear axle setup plates and trailing arms
- Aluminium bulkhead
- 400 wheel holder in boot
- Twin fuel pumps in boot
- 400 battery holder in boot
- Faux 400 aluminium tank
- 1983 RAC event plates
- German style number plates
- 400 style rear boot clips
- 1983 RAC memorabilia
- 1983 Rothmans replica rally suit
- 400 Oil catch tank in boot
Due to busy work commitments, I have no deadline to complete the work, but hope to have the car off the spit and 400 axles fitted, and possibly painted and decaled before Christmas. Hopefully at that point I can fit the real 1983 event plate from the RAC rally to the Kevlar bonnet.
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