One for you Paul... Can you please confirm the make, so that I can file my pic!!!
One for you Paul... Can you please confirm the make, so that I can file my pic!!!
Picture taken at Bygone while Malcolm was getting it certed under the Neil Fraser's watchful eye.Originally Posted by ERC
One for you Paul... Can you please confirm the make, so that I can file my pic!!!
It is a 1984 factory-built Manta Mirage. Mid-mounted 350 Chev, modified Corvair transaxle, Mustang 2 front suspension. Pin-striping by Shaky Jake
Wow. They made them for a few years (probably not surprising given their McLaren-derived styling). I've got a brochure from the Australian agent, Manta Motors, which dates to the mid-70's. At that time they had 1970 VW or late Karmann Ghia suspension listed in the specs. Nett weight with a small block Chev was quoted as 1900lbs. (under 900kg!!)
Yep. The early ones had VW front suspension which always seemed strange to me. They used a (flipped) Corvair rear so why not use the twin-wishbone Corvair front? They also made the VW based Montage which indirectly came to NZ as the Mararn. The founder died in a racing accident (Formula Ford?) and his brother kept it going for some years but I think they overcapitalised on their C1 Corvette replica.
I loved them ever since I saw one being stolen in the original 'Gone in 60 Seconds'
From Wheels 1974:
That Manta Can-Am is a smart looking car. Must admit I had never heard of it but I guess that they are pretty rare these days.
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