Ex-Works Manta 400 rally car
 

Not sure if this is allowed, but here's my old Manta 400 Ex-Works Rally car on The International, Killarney Rally of The Lakes.

Sold her after a couple of years to pay for an Audi engine from Lehmann Motorentechnik.

Best 2wd rally car I ever drove! Ahhh, memories...............

Have moved this in to a thread of it's own. It deserves it! I know it'll make Booty tingle between the loins seeing that 400 and rightly so!

Not just booty, i adore these cars !

i know this car well it is the ex works lightweight bertie fisher car, my brother frank ahd one of the ex work manta 400 and an ascona 400 both cars where from rothmans rally team but where converted to right hand drive by taurus enginnering and engine and prep work done by peter maiden , who also did work for dai llwyllen and gwendaf evans too

John, I bow down and pay homage. What a car. Not quite a quattro but every bit as historical. What was the spec and history of this one then......do tell......pppllleeeaaasseeeee?? You must tell....look into my eyes.....

These two cars were at Race Retro earlier this year, Brooksie looked to be enjoying himself in his ANDREWS Manta.

Brooksie always looks to be enjoying himself....he looks for all the world like 'The Jolly Old Fat Farmer who just got his cheque from the corn merchant'. But total respect because the old bugger can still flippin well drive.

Hi Booty
 

Hiya Fellas,

I'm pleasantly surprised by the overall reaction to the Manta - you guys have a wide and varied interest which is great in my opinion.

The car was purchased by me direct from GM in Luton in a deal we struck at the end of the 90's. I was in touch with the head of PR for Vauxhall / Opel. The car came with a GM certificate, stating that it was the last Manta 400 ever built.

I'm a little rusty on the History, but I'll have a go...........

A new car built for Andrew Wood, he completed the following rallies with her:-
1987 Welsh, Fram Filters Rally
1987 National Breakdown Rally
1987 Ulster Rally

Wow and double wow. I have that entire series ( my Coupe is based on Llewellyns car from that series ) on DVD and I did wander. I think from that series there were only certain rallies that they could use the Manta in as Brooksie and Woods both used GTE's for the other three rallies. Brooksie over took Woods on a hairpin at Pembrey on the Fram Welsh and Woods was clearly not happy. Arikkala also used a 400 in the Fram Welsh too as did McRae.
Just a brilliant rear drive car that everyone always looked happy and willing to drive. Probably a very good power to weight ratio too I would imagine.

Oopps soory McRae was using the RS500 for the first time ..doh!!

Youtube Video
 

Here she is in action, (first appearing at 2min40s)............

What a car!!!!!!!!!!

One thing I would love to know is what was the rivalry really like back then in those epic battles between Brooks and McRae. Was it just hype or friendly rivalry? Do you know John with your experiences?

rivalry
 

I know both of these guys personally and have driven on events with them too. To me, they are both legends, and they have never uttered a bad word about each other, that I've witnessed.

However, you just know that they were fighting tooth and nail in those days and that made for spectacular rallying. Look at the variety of machinery in the British Open Championship - golden years, indeed!

What has happened to rallying, guys?

As I probably expected it was more hype then real. Both old skool masters bought up with manners and values then! I'm sure they had their moments though, probably just after team orders were applied!! Rallying just isn't rallying nowadays and I have not really watched too closely this season as it's all too clinical, just like Formula One.
On a side note though one of the most touching experiences I have seen in recent years was last year at Chatsworth when all the old masters, and some newer fraces to, were assembled for ' that photo shoot'. Very very special that to see and I would love to have been a fly on the wall in the hospitality suite soon after and heard some of the tales recounted.
On another side note John did you get to go around with Llewellyn ( stupid question really ) when you filmed for 'Massive Speed' with Chris Barrie??

yes guys the golden age of rallying. Many years ago in the 80s i would marshall on the welsh also service on the welsh for the likes of bob fowden, who had exworks rally cars eg tr7v8 rover sdi v8, ford escort cosworth but to name a few, One years i remember a young henri tovienon, on the welsh been held up by a slower competioner, and as thay got to stage end time control tovienon been the second car in ,behind the slower one jumped out od his car ran to the car in front to navigators side leaned nito the car said bad word in a foriegn lango, lean into the car grabed the interior mirror a said you .............................. do not need this and ripped it out of the car , he was not a happy man ,but a great rally driver