Background of the Opel

So here we start off our journey. It was 2016 and I had just sold my 1973 Mazda Rx3 to a guy in So. CA that made me an offer I couldn't refuse. As with all projects I really didn't want to sell it hadn't even offered it up for sale - but he found me (damn car shows), money talked and the offer was well over what I had into it. So there I was, day in and day out, parking my bland reliable "daily driver" in the garage (who does that!), moping around aimlessly with nothing to do but sit on the couch drink beer and watch TV... Life was horrible... The wife says "if you want a project let's replace the front door, remodel the bathroom, redesign the backyard, etc etc". I knew at that precise moment what I had to do. I grab my tablet, beer and fire up Craigslist with my usual search criteria - 1965-1980. I'm scrolling through the list and it's all pretty plain stuff - mustang, camaro, C10, VW bug, blah... Corvair? Eh did one of those already... Vega? Nah it's chopped up for V8... Capri? That could be cool - bookmark. Gremlin? Bookmark. I get to the end feeling like I've exhausted my options - BUT WAIT THERES MORE! Out of area listings from neighboring Craigslist areas. I scroll. What's this? 1975 Opel Manta - 1500 obo - click. I see this beautiful beast sitting in a garage covered in dust, boxes sitting on hood, stuff piled around it. Listing says 82k miles, 4 speed, ran when parked, sitting for 15+ years, must go moving. It was a little over an hour away. I thought back to 2007 when I came across a similar situation - my first Opel - a 68 Kadette Rallye garage find at a estate sale. That was a cool car - slow but in excellent shape - reminded me of a miniature Nova and only required a few calls to Gil to get it up and running. Could I be so fortunate again? I searched online for 75 Opel Manta. 1 year only EFI, last year sold in USA. That's rare - I love it - must have. With a call I was on my way out with a buddy to see it.

I arrived on scene - CSI in full effect. Helped clear some boxes, aired up the tires and pushed it out into the driveway. What a beauty! Looking for rust - nothing. Interior - old, little brittle, but no signs of rodents having made it they're home. Pop the hood - crusted over battery all the vac & fuel lines cracked n shot but full of oil - it's clean and engine turns by hand. I think this thing has a chance! Let's throw the battery jump pack on and see what happens. Key in everything lights up and all electrical works - wow. Barely cranks but spray a lil carb cleaner down a vac line and it spits over! A quick run down the street for essentials at the parts store...

I get to O'Reilly's list in hand - lemme get this battery, some fuel line, some vac lines and a set of plugs n wires for an Opel. "A what?" - OPEL. "I don't have Opel in my computer". I smile - COOL! With just basics in hand and 2 gal of fresh gas I set back to the car.

Spent about 30minutes wrenching, swapping out lines, sanding off the plugs and points and talking to the little old lady about the car. Apparently they were the original owners bought it brand new and her husband drove it. She never learned how to drive a stick so when he passed away the car just sat. The tank was empty long having evaporated away but I wanted to flush it out real quick anyways. Stuck battery in and let old stuff spew into a bucket. Put some fresh gas in and purged that out too. Now is the moment of truth...

I pour the rest of the gas into the tank and have my buddy turn the key while I stand anxiously by the engine. Starts spraying fuel all over. Oooppsss missed tightening that one no biggie. Fix that and have him try to start it. Takes a minute of cranking but then all the sudden BAM - SHES ALIVE! Kicks a lil smoke out the pipe which clears up after 30-45 seconds as I gently walk the throttle back down from a 2000rpm hold. She idles. Purring like a kitten. Well let's let her warm up and see if she develops any leaks. Gets up to temp - sounds good, looks good, no leaks - test drive! Back it out and then realize the brakes are soft - really soft like to the floor but not gone gone. Goes through all the gears no grinds. Get back, jack it up, flush and bleed the brakes - better but still not right. At this point I tell her I'll take it! Fill out the paperwork, hand her the cash and I drove it straight home without a problem at all over an hour away! Pics are of the car as it sat on day 1 before it's first bath in over 15 years. Wife mad cause I didn't tell her AND she knows now all HER projects are on the shelf!