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1800 Hatch Exclusive, 67K Miles, Sawston Near Cambridge.


MANTAMAN
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 i was contacted today by Mr Maidment who urgently needs to sell his late fathers Manta Exclusive -

 

 1987 / 1988 Starmist Black Manta Exclusive hatch, dark grey / black intereior, 67,000 miles from new, all original. £400 ono.

 Contact Mr Maidment on - 01799 501054

 

 Unfortunately failed the MOT with rust in nearside ( passenger ) chassie rail ( thats unusual... NOT !! ) and though not a failer it runs / idles a little rough.

 

 Now before you all run for the hills on reading the last sentance this is nothing like as bad as it first seems, i know this Manta having supplied various parts for it over a number years, including both front wings which have been professionally painted & fitted. For several years Mr Maidment senior only did a few hunderd miles a year locally yet looked after the Manta having any work necessary done to keep it in very good order.

 

 Mr Maidment junior faced with having to part with the Manta, ( no space to keep it ) put it in for a MOT, i have spoken with the mechanic who has looked after this Manta for years and he assures me it is only the chassie rail that is stopping it pass the MOT, the drivers side chassie rail, sills, rear arches etc are good though there has been other MOT wleding in the past but it is by no means a 'patchwork quilt', so this Manta is not car is with one visable bit of rust and the rest of the car rotten through behind the underseal.

 

 The rough running has been investigated and the engine has good compression on all cylinders, the mechanic thinks it might be ignition though it still has the original GM Varijet carb and from past experiance i would put this high on my list of suspects, thats easilly cured with a visit to e-bay and purchase of the Weber equivilant carb.

 

 It has been kept garaged and the last time i saw the car three or so years ago it was a tidy example, wouldn't win first prize in the concours at Billing but would look good at any car show. The mechanic has promised to take some photos of this Manta and e-mail them to me so as i can post them here, ( Mr Maidment is pre digital age and only has 'old school' pictures of the Manta )

 

 It's this loss of a place to keep the Manta that has caused another problem, a new home for it has to be found by this weekend or it could go to the scrap yard as it currently is parked at the mechanics place taking up space he hasn't got to spare, a couple of days leeway may be found but not much, if i had any space i would have this Manta myself as i know with a little work it would be back on the road.

 

 note to moderators - in view of the tight time scale before this Manta might suffer a terrible fate i request that the two week members only restriction be waived, the proirity being finding a new owner for this Manta before the weekend is out.

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 Excellent news !!!

 

 I'm glad this Manta lives on as i've know it for many years.

 

 what sort of condition is it in? as i remember it there were a few blemishes but generally a tidy car, never got to poke around underneath and i know there had been some 'MOT' welding, what sort of standard has this been done to?

 

 Be good if you could post some pictures, before the other half makes you move it on.....

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If I get a chance in the week I will try and get some pictures on a quick look last night just need a bit of TLC to good to break up which was my first plan (spares for my 400r) so may move it on with abit of profit for myself (think I deserve it for the trouble it's caused at home ) currently sitting on my NEW drive hope it don't leak oil other that will be more trouble from the misses

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 Yes, thats much as i remember it, generally tidy, few blemishes here and there but nothing drastic, little bit of work ( certainly a lot less than other restorers are having to tackle ) and this will be a tidy Manta someone can Love.

 

 Whilst i knew Mr Maidment i found two good front wings for it, the bottoms and one wing rail of the originals having corroded, also a new R/H twin light set up after a Pheasant committed suicide whilst the Manta was traveling at speed ! think this also caused other slight front end damage, this and the replacement wings explains the lack of transfers on the nose and sides.

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