In the first part of “Manta Manta”, Gerd and Uschi are not worried for nothing that he might lose the race he bet his savings on. No wonder, because the Opel Manta – as fast as some models may look – is actually just a cheap entry into the world of sports cars. And the choice of that period, from the early 80’s to the late 90’s, was huge.
It doesn’t matter whether you prefer a sports car from America, Italy or Germany: like today, there were high-powered versions of many conventional models that only had parts of the look in common with the original vehicle.
The selection ranges from small to large, from easy to difficult. Even a tiny Renault 5 Turbo has enough power to tear away at any traffic light. Back then, the ones that still are today were particularly elegant. The Italians probably looked the best, while a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth was probably smiled at back then – at least until the engine started.
More than 40 liters consumption – what does the world cost
Speaking of the engine: Consumption didn’t seem to play a major role at the time. Otherwise there would probably not have been cars like the Dodge Viper. The gigantic V10 engine with a displacement of 8 liters is said to have used over 40 liters per 100 kilometers if the accelerator pedal was used insensitively.
In terms of price, there was something for everyone who wanted as much performance as possible. And indeed: the Manta marked the start back then. Those who had 25,000 D-Mark could freely choose from all models – that was a rarity. The Renault 5 Turbo cost almost twice as much.
You could dig deep into your pockets with the usual suspects. A Lamborghini Diablo changed hands for no less than 390,000 German marks. But that’s not to say that only flashy race cars were expensive. The Opel Lotus Omega also played in this league with 125,000 German marks.
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