1976 Opel Manta ex Paris Dakar 1985

A true dakar heroes

DAKAR WOOWMOTORS DAY Produced in 1976, this Opel Manta was built to compete in the Italian rally championship in the early 1980s. Born as a Manta GT / E with a 1.9-liter four-cylinder engine, the car is equipped with Solex carburettors and a ZF gearbox. The car was prepared by De Stefanis and took part in the 1983 Costa Smeralda rally as a Fissore-Albarello muletto. The body is modified for rally use and in 1985 prepared to the Paris-Dakar . The interior has been completely stripped, equipped with a roll-bar, a 400-liter tank, Sparco seats with four-point belts, reinforced domes, tunnels and reinforced side members, fiberglass bonnets and doors, plexiglass. Although he spent most of his life in Italy, the most important event was his participation in the 1985 Paris-Dakar Rally. Driven by Adriano Fissore and Mauro Pretto, the car participates with race number 162. Like many participants in that legendary and gruelling event, Fissore, Pretto and their Opel failed to finish due to an accident in the 1st special stage of the race from Ouargla to El Golea in Algeria. The crew retires and takes the car back to Europe by ship. Later the plate was removed and used on another Opel Manta driven by Fissore at the 1985 Rally di Limone. Some time later, the original number plate (CN 585934) is reunited with the car and given to a collector who restores it while maintaining its original patina. The previous owner completely restored the car looking at maintaining the nice patina created over the years. It took place to 2014 Maroc Challenge and in the 2021 Vernasca Silver Flag .