Opel has first launched the Opel Manta 400 as a rally version with homologation no. B237 at the Corsica Rally 1983. This vehicle is the 16th of a total of 38 built vehicles, carries the internal number RM16 and was used by the Rothmans Opel Rally Team. The first mission was at the Greece rally from May 30 to June 2, 1983 with the start number 2 and the license plate GG-CP 680. It finished with the drivers Ari Vatanen / Terry Harryman the 4th place. The next mission was in September 1983 with the drivers Toivonen / Gallagher, the license plate GG-CT 361 and car number 2 at the Manx International Rally. At the end of the season, the car was sold to the Opel Dealer Team Ireland, licensed under the Irish license plate LIJ 9869 and used with the drivers Billy Coleman / Ronan Morgan in the Irish Championship. It could for example celebrate an overall victory in the following races: Circuit of Ireland, Cork 20 International Rally, Rally of the Lakes and Donegal Rally. At the end of the year, the Irish Rally Championship 1984 had been celebrated with the vehicle. Again, at the end of the season, the Manta was sold to the Netherlands and licensed with the license plate LZ-23-RT. The buyer was Jan van der Marel, who contested the International Dutch Championship with Sponsor Lease Plan, including the Amsterdam-BP Rally (1st place), Saturnus Rally (3rd place), ELE-Rally (1st place), Hellendoorn Rally (place 1), Hebros Rally (1st place), Bianchi Rally (outage), Limburgia Rally (1st place) and Grensland Rally (4th place). Also the International Dutch Championship 1985 had been celebrated here at the end of the year, . From 1986 on, the vehicle was used in various smaller runs in Belgium and Holland and was completely restored from 2001 to 2005. It came back to Germany, where it was built, after 27 years in June 2010.
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