If these get you in a Classic Ad Watch sort of mood, you might enjoy checking out our favorite Super Bowl Car Ads, then keep going with our Top 20 Vintage Datsun ads, Top 20 Vintage Toyota ads, and Top 20 Vintage Chrysler ads. If that's still not enough, you can go to the Top Car Commercials Of The 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. And now, our favorite (non-Chevrolet) vintage General Motors ads from North America, Europe, Australia, and South Africa:

1962 Oldsmobile Jetfire Turbo	1942 Oldsmobile B-44	1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette	1988 Pontiac Grand Am
1956 Oldsmobile 88	1973 Pontiac Grand Am	1968 Pontiac GTO	1970 Pontiac T37
1982 Pontiac 6000	1981 Vauxhall Cavalier	1969 Pontiacs	1985 Pontiac Fiero GT
1990 Geo Tracker	1979 Holdens	1973 Opels	1972 Holden Kingswood
1985 Pontiac Fiero	1971 Oldsmobile Delta 88	1985 Vauxhall Nova	1992 Opels (South Africa)
1985 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera	1970 Pontiac Firebird	1968 Opel GT	1982 Holden Station Wagons
2001 Pontiac Aztek	1986 Holden Astra	1960 Opel Kapitän	1974 Cadillacs

Back in high school and middle school the wedgie (or as we called it, the wedge) was something you most certainly didn't want, under any circumstance and you definitely didn't appreciate it when it came along. But in car design, the wedge is something you can appreciate.

The beautiful and technical shape was used by many of the top design houses of the seventies and was a signal the future had officially arrived. While not the most aerodynamic form in practice, it certainly looked the part and helped usher in a new era of automotive design. Italian design houses ItalDesign, Bertone and Pininfarina were at the forefront of the movement, but the Japanese, Germans and the U.S. jumped on the bandwagon shortly thereafter

10) 1972 Lotus Esprit M70

First displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, the Lotus Esprit M70 was designed by Giugiaro at Ital Design and was built on a widened and lengthened Europa chassis. After positive reviews from the public Colin Chapman decided to put the Esprit into production. The final design was completed in 1973 with many of the concept cues intact and when the then GM owned Lotus decided to build Peter Stevens redesign in 1987, many of those original cues remained.

Fun fact: that you couldn't call yourself a car guy without knowing already: Roger Moore drove a submersible version in the 1977 James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.

9) 1989 Vector W8

In 1989, after nearly two decades of development, Gerald Wiegert revealed his Vector W8 to the public. Extensive use of aeronautical building techniques were to be W8s selling point, but shoddy quality and a lack of funding eventually brought down the U.S.-built Lamborghini competitor in the mid-nineties. The W8 drew its inspiration from the 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo and many other wedge cars in our list and is still a beautiful car today and you can pick up one of the few examples for a steal; nearly 20 percent of the original $685,000 asking price.

Fun fact: The Vector W8 was featured briefly in the 1993 movie, Rising Sun.

8) 1972 E25 BMW Turbo

The E25 BMW Turbo was initially built to celebrate the upcoming 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, but was later used as the inspiration for the M1, 8-Series, Z1 and the new M1 Homage concept. BMW built the Turbo concept as a rolling display for new safety and engineering technologies as well as showing that BMW had officially left the difficult 60's behind. Penned by BMW's French head of design, Paul Bracq, the Turbo concept was styled after the most dramatic Italian supercars of the day and featured an advanced radar system that warned the driver of close objects such as curbs and cars.

Fun fact: The Turbo featured two BMW badges on the rear – symbolizing BMW's exceptional quality – a cue that made it onto the production M1 and M1 Homage concept.

7) 1978 Dome Zero

Dome was and still is a race car manufacturer in Japan and in 1978 they gave the world the Dome Zero concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Intended to show Dome's intention of building a homologation special for a new line of sportscars; it was unable to pass Japanese homologation. In 1979, Dome debuted a revised Zero, dubbed the P2, with U.S. market bumpers and safety equipment added to the design. In the same year, a racing effort was launched at Le Mans but the ‘Zero RL' failed to finish the race. Shortly after, investors pulled their funds and the Dome Zero was officially dead.

Fun fact: The Dome Zero was featured in Gran Turismo 4, Auto Modellista on the PS2 and Sega GT on the XBOX.

6) 1970 Lancia Stratos Zero

At the 1970 Turin Motor Show, Bertone showed off a styling exercise called the Lancia Stratos Zero. The Lancia Stratos HF roadcar was based very loosely off of this concept though the similarities are few and far between. The futuristic Zero stood 838mm tall and was so low that conventional doors could not be used and to gain access, drivers would have to raise the windshield and walk into the car.

Fun fact: The Stratos Zero appeared in Michael Jackson's 1988 film, Moonwalker.

5) 1972 Maserati Boomerang

In 1971 the Maserati Boomerang was shown at the Turin Motor Show as a mockup and then in 1972 the Geneva Motor Show saw the debut of the fully realized Maserati Boomerang concept. It sat next to the Lotus Esprit M70 as both were designed by Giugiaro at ItalDesign. At 1070mm high, it's not the shortest wedge in the list, but it did have a 15 degree windshield rake – the steepest rake you could achieve while maintaining visibility, albeit very little. ItalDesign used the Boomerang as inspiration when designing the DMC Delorean (most noticeable in the rear view) in the eighties.

Fun fact: Intended as a showcar, the Boomerang was registered as a roadcar and was actually sold in 1974 to a private collector which brings us to 2005 when it was auctioned at Christie's for a cool $1,000,000.

4) 1969 Holden Hurricane RD001

The Holden Hurricane was an experimental concept built in 1969 and was the first product of the GM Holden Research and Development group. The Hurricane's ultra low 990mm stance would have made ingress and egress difficult with traditional doors, so an electro-mechanical powered canopy was used and swung forward over the front wheels. Also included were power elevated seats that both rose up and out of the way along with the steering column to make exiting the Hurricane easier. When climbing into the car the seats would lower to a semi-reclined position and the roof would close overhead.

Fun fact: A similar canopy design was used on both the Saab Aero X and the Batmobile from the Tim Burton Batman movies.

3) 1970 Ferrari PF Modulo

Painted black for the 1970 Geneva Motor Show and then re-sprayed white for its debut at the 1970 Turin Motor Show; the Paulo Martin penned Pininfarina-Ferrari Modulo concept gained quite a reputation and won numerous international design awards – 22 of them – for a car that almost wasn't produced. The cars release was held for over a year because of an apprehensive Sergio Pininfarina. Developed using the Ferrari 512-S racer as a basis, the 935mm high PF Modulo was built to explore new construction technologies and to show off the raw passion of the Italian design house.

Fun fact: Paulo Martin was sketching a Rolls-Royce Camargue dashboard when the idea struck him to make the first sketch of the Modulo. You could say he was more than a little bored with the Rolls.

2) 1971 Lamborghini Countach

Designed by Gandini for Bertone in 1971, the original Lamborghini Countach concept was the most pure version the public would ever see of this car. The wild scissor doors were first seen on another car in our list (the Alfa Romeo Carabo concept) and were used primarily because of the extremely wide chassis, but we think the real reason is because Gandini knew every rice boy would want them on their econo-hatch some day. The Countach name was derived from the dialect of the Piedmont region in northern Italy, literally meaning astonishment and amazement. The pure design of the concept translated loosely into the production LP400 though it was short lived when splitters, wings and U.S. bumper requirements were added to the mix in the LP400S, LP500 and QV models.

Fun fact: The Countach was featured in the 1981 movie, The Cannonball Run, and is one of the most replicated cars to date.

1) 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo

The 1968 Alfa Romeo Carabo is the most significant wedge car and paved the way for many of the cars on this list. Designed by Marcello Gandini of Bertone fame, it was revealed at Porte de Versailles in Paris in 1968 to an absolutely stunned crowd. The Lamborghini Countach concept that arrived 3 years later drew inspiration from the Carabo in its wedge form, wheel house openings and its notoriously cool scissor-doors, though the Countach wasn't the only car that took inspiration from the Carabo. You can see inspired cues from many sports cars and supercars like the Diablo, 4th gen Camaro and Vector. Vector took the inspiration quite literally by duplicating many of the shapes of the front and side profile in its W8. Many wealthy individuals tried to purchase the Carabo including an Arab prince or two, but thankfully Bertone decided to hold on to it and now the Carabo spends its days relaxing inside the Alfa Romeo museum in Arese, Italy.

Fun fact: The unique name "Carabo" and its green paint were derived from the small green beetle, Carabus Olympiae.

Honorable Mentions

Narrowing down our search for the top ten wedge cars was difficult and we couldn't let this list pass without mention of a few other notable wedges. The DMC DeLorean was the hardest to leave off the list based on its cult follow from the Back to the Future films. Another difficult car to omit was the popular Triumph TR7/TR8 which was produced from 1974 to 1981. In the gallery below you'll find the rest of the cars that we thought were worth mentioning. Enjoy!

[via Lotus Esprit Turbo]

Finally, when heading over to San Francisco one day, I found the Manta in the parking lot of the Alameda ferry terminal. Normally I don't like parking-lot shots for DOTS, but I'd had enough frustration trying to catch this Manta.


But then Akier took the initiative, tracking down the car's owner and convincing him to bring the car out to the former Alameda Naval Air Station for a photo session. I'm going to put my photos and the much more picturesque Akier shots in separate galleries. Hooray for our first DOTS Opel!



Here's what Akier has to say about this car: I first spotted this Manta near Mosswood Park in Oakland. I was driving by and did a cartoon double-take. Is that really an Opel ... ? After capturing the Opel Blitz firetruck a few weeks back, I suppose the ghost of Adam Opel must guide my hand.

Evan rescued this from his friend's mom, who had bought it new and put only around 70,000 miles on it. It looked a little rough, and Evan's put some work into it to get it back up to a reasonable state of repair. A nice respray, yellow-coated inner headlights, a Weber instead of the fussy SU carb, and a lot of elbow grease and the old girl looks pretty nice. No tin worm, and despite admittedly needing a tune-up, the 1.9 growled nicely as we took a spin 'round Alameda Point.

Designed to fight the Ford Capri and Vega Cosworth, the Manta shares much (i.e., all) of its running gear with its stablemates, the GT and 1900. There is the umbiquitous all-iron 4, with the semi-OHC setup - cams horizontal to the valves up in the heads, rather than on top of the valves - to make the engine surprisingly compact. Front discs and a well-designed live rear axle located by Panhard rods mean this light (<2200lbs) car handled pretty well back in the day. In Euro trim, the Manta made 90bhp, but the US versions made 75. With the Weber upgrade and a tune, Evan's is probably splitting the difference.

Fittingly, this Manta lives in Alameda full-time, with a Corvair and a Valiant.

This is the star of the show; the top seed. A seemingly indestructible 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1 that runs from the law in a glorious 40-minute chase scene.
The local country radio reporter's ride, a Ford that might as well have "dorky" painted all over it.


A drop-top Ford with questionable structural rigidity that gets hit in the side so hard it splits neatly in half. Ridiculous, but funny.
The Belvedere rent-a-cop with a German Shepard. Attempts to chase down a tow-truck stealing a Challenger, and fails.


A burgundy Roller stolen in broad daylight from the airport drop-off curb; chauffeur left the key in it.
A Fleetwood serving as personal transportation for the ring-leader of the operation. An arranged assortment of sunglasses on the dash, and enough room for the whole crew to cruise around.


Stole a Challenger right off a dealership lot, then outran security even with the Challenger still attached. The star of the second best chase in the movie.
A poor little Type 3 that got flipped on its roof by Eleanor, starting a huge pileup. Cute car, humiliating role.


The Dodge carries the flag for all the cop cars in the movie. They're cool rides burdened by somewhat inept drivers.
One of the "girls" on the hit list, though it only appears on film for a moment. Not a hearse, but a custom station wagon.


License plate reads "OOO GAL." The Dodge was a stolen car wearing VIN tags from a wrecked donor; An identity thief before it was popular. Sadly, it had to go to the crusher once people started getting wise.
A new Plymouth out on a test drive gets smashed by a cop in pursuit of Eleanor.


Lyle Waggoner's Intermeccanica Italia swiped from spaced-out stoner cleaning it.
A stolen Corvette in a sizzling color. Not on film very long, but it leaves an impression.


The undercover cop that started the epic chase with Eleanor. It Went toe-to-toe with the Mustang, but couldn't quite keep up.
A nice bright green Dodge that suffered the fate of being crushed by a garbage truck rolling onto it.


An old sedan DeVille ridin' low. Occupants seemed to enjoy smokin' the herb so much that they drove the Caddy to self-destruction.
A Rolls limo big enough to carry a fully-assembled bicycle in the back seat with room to spare. Just wait for the chauffeur to leave the car unattended, insert the bike you rode up on, and drive away. Petty theft made high-class.


Don't get distracted by the girl, this DeTomaso is what you really want. She's just askin' for it, leaving the keys in the car like that.
This Jensen Interceptor is practically good enough for JFG, and it's apparently good enough to make the South American client's, list as well.


Fantastically obscure Manta Mirage stolen during a test drive. Salesman gets out to switch seats, thief slides behind the wheel and takes off.
The Maserati is another car on the list only appearing for a moment, but it's pure style.


A Cadillac filled with drugs, one of the few things to survive in the remake movie from 2000. How do you get rid of all that white powder? Burn it. Who cares if it's worth a million bucks on the street; these are responsible criminals.
The hopped-up Plymouth was on the screen for only a quick flash, but we're sure it's even quicker down the strip.


Parnelli Jones' Baja Bronco is the icon of off-road racing. But that didn't stop anyone from stealing it in the movie.
The Lamborghini is elegantly beautiful, but forgettable in this context.


Epic cool car and JFG resident, but it's too bad we can't see it's wacky suspension in action.
Who needs a high-tech anti-theft system? Just keep a tiger in your Cadillac.


Another limo left unattended and vulnerable. All the coolness factor of death with none of the emotional struggle.
Hard to say what exactly has been done to this Chevy Vega, but it sure ain't stock. Another one we'd like to see actually driving.


It looks plain on the outside because it's supposed to. There were two identical Fords used for scouting out all the cars on the to-be-stolen list before the day of the big hit. Equipped with walkie-talkies too!
Nothing says "Malaise Era" more than a Stutz. And this one was stolen right in front of a confused old lady. Classy.


[Screenshots are property of the movie's copyright holders; not Jalopnik]

• • Opel Manta Rallye with 4-Speed Transmission: $3061.02
  
• • Tinted Windshield: $23.97
  
• • Sunroof: $107.95
  
• • 4-Spoke Sport Wheels: $20.40
  

  Total Price: $3213.34 ($12,479.23 in 2007 dollars)

  
  
  

  1975 Capri 2800

  
  Before you hand the Buick salesman your cash and zoom off to catch some self-indulgent Jimmy Page solos, better walk across the street to the Mercury dealership and scope out the '75 Capri. With the Capri's 2800cc V6, you got 109 horses to the Opel's 81 (and keep in mind that Ford's 302 V8 put out only 129 horsepower in '75), and parts were a lot easier to find. For a few bucks more than you'd pay for the Manta above, here's what you get with the Capri:
  
• • Capri 2800 With 4-Speed Transmission: $3105.00
  
• • Sunroof: $121.82
  
• • Decor Group (includes console, simu-leather interior, map light, etc.): $152.56
  

  Total Price: $3379.38 ($13,124.05 in 2007 dollars)

  
  So make your choice, put on your finest polyester threads, and head straight to the car-stereo place to install an 8-track player (you'll need to listen to "Trampled Underfoot"- which probably cuts off in the middle of the song on 8-track- as you head out to the Zeppelin show).
  
  

By the time the Opel Manta B dropped, GM's Rüsselheim Krush Krew had dropped the silly nonsense regarding Egon and his new auto. Instead, it was all about the power, strength and beauty of the cheetah. Seeing as we're suckers for both Mantas and really freaking fast cats, it put a little bit of the giddy in our step and a twinkle in our eye. Manta Manta Manta Manta...

Related:
Ad Watch: Leaked Opel Manta Spot: Sportlich! [Internal]

Call me "Ich-Manni." Here in the electron-bright pages of tha Jalop, I have often implored manufacturers to bring back a simple, lightweight RWD sports coupe. We collectively have bemoaned the lack of availability of certain European models built by American manufacturers but not sold on our shores. And of course, I have professed my love of the Opel Manta so many times that it borders slightly on the ridiculous. Kind of like the time in college when I used to piss off the guy in the Doobie Brothers shirt by playing "Louie Louie" incessantly on the guitar while he attempted to extoll the virtues of Dave Matthews. But I have hit upon an idea, and if General Motors does not grab hold of it and run like a 400-meter relay medalist with a lit roman candle protruding from his keister, they're hopeless. And here is what I propose: Mssrs. Wagoner and Lutz, bring back the Manta.

Think of it. Fuel prices are rising, but the hoons still need to play. You've got a small, RWD platform that you've already shown is somewhat extensible (the Chevy Nomad concept of a few years ago). There's a hole in the market for such a vehicle that comes in below the V6/V8 ponycars or tanklike Japanese iron in the form of the 350Z. You could easily build this car, GM. And what's more, we believe you should.

In Europe, Manta is a storied marque. Sure, it's got a kitsch culture attached to it, but so does the Camaro, and that didn't stop people from collectively flipping their wigs and requiring a change of undies when you decided to resurrect that nameplate, did it? The Manta is Europe's Camaro, and we think while Americans weren't quite ready for it in the 1970s (and given the atrociousness of the Kadetts that beat it into Buick dealerships a few years beforehand), there's a wide open market for such a car right now, and Hyundai seems like the only company willing to do something about it.

The current Ecotec mill is an evolution of Opel's "Family" series, developed by a global team of engineers from Rüsselheim, Detroit and Trollhättan. Referred to as "Family II," its lineage can be traced back to the the engine originally designed to power the Ascona B, which, of course, was the basis for the Manta B. And the Manta B, of course, begat the Manta 400, which of course, raced in Group B. What's more, the current iteration of the General's corporate four-banger is capable of making staggering amounts of power, having crested 200 numerous times at Bonneville. And die Mantafährer love tinkering with their rides.

And what of Oz? Clarkson absolutely loved the Vauxhall Monaro that you tried to sell us as a reborn GTO. Seems to us that fuel-price-conscious hoons with tired Silvias would love to slip into something like a new Manta. We know you've said that it isn't cost-effective to make Kappa in an RHD configuration. But if you had a world-beating, segment-defining car that the rest of the automakers have left behind, wouldn't it be worth it to make sure it was available around the globe? You'd need to stretch the platform somewhat to make sure Egon, his girlfriend, her parents and little brother could come along, so while you're at it, figure out a way to sell it to the wacky nutters who continue to drive on the left. After all, it's not a Manta unless we can see it on Irish roads.

As it's probably too much to ask in this day and age to sell the car as an Opel the world over, we will accept a Saturn Manta, which would make the Opelization of the Spring Hill Chicken brand truly complete. And we're sure the Aussies wouldn't turn their noses up at a Holden Manta. Just do us a favor and don't ever sell it as a Vauxhall Manta. Somehow, that's tantamount to sacrilege.

So what say ye? Come on GM, let's turn dining back into eating. – Davey G. Johnson

"Fast as a Shark" is a weekly electronic broadside aimed at what has been historically right and terribly wrong with the autmotive industry and culture. We wonder if the song was originally, "Fast as a Manta," but Udo decided that it worked better with a monosyllabic cartilaginous fish.

More Mantas; Manta - der Film: Total Geil!

We're assuming the soundtrack is the theme song to the film Manta Manta, which we have only seen pieces of. Regardless, for all mulleted men named Manni out there, it is a must-watch. That means it's obviously mandatory for you to see, dear reader. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
'Oh Nein. Die Mantas.' 'Manta Manta' Ladies!; Adam vs. Enzo — More 'Manta Manta' [Internal]

A Finnish fellow, name of Tapi, restomodded a Manta A. And then he dropped in a Buick Grand National mill with a 2004R behind it and made donuts. Well, after all, wouldn't you? – Davey G. Johnson

Tapi's Vehicles

Related:
Rover, Schmover! An LS1 Manta!

In a measure of respect to the almighty Mr. Diddley, we offer up this video of a man towing a Manta 1,110 miles kilometers to the tune of one of a song Bo appeared in a video for, as played by a guy from Delaware and some naval vessels. And what a sweet little Manta it is! '71 Manta A. We would so roll Gaffey Street and Pacific Ave. trolling for the laidies that it's beyond funny, broseph. We'd get takeout calamari, cruise down to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and feed it to said chix while our Russian houseboy Vasily cooled them with fans made of the finest grape leaves and Cannoli leather Swedish kroner can buy. Due to the multitude of acquired babes, Vasily would likely have to walk. Remind us to give him a raise. – Davey G. Johnson

Related:
Plural Opel Coupes, Black Metal, Mantas! [Internal]

Truth be told, my Manta fixation goes back over 25 years. As a kid visiting Northern Ireland, I was inextricably drawn to GM's Euro ponycar; it seemed the most American thing on the road, coiffed, as it was with cues that spoke of Yankee muscle. Camaro ducktail here, Monza curve there. Okay, fine. I was influenced heavily by 1970s muscle-appearance cars. But the Manta just looked like the baddest-ass thing on the road in what was then a fairly poor country. That said, I knew that Manta drivers, even back then, were revered for their manliness and reviled for their loutish nature. Eleven years ago, eight years after Manta production ended, I studied in Germany. Although nobody mentioned Mantas, per se "Manni" was shorthand for your stereotypical Bitburger-swilling, mulleted hoon. Which brings us to Manta - der Film.

Jalopnik has procured a copy of this fine example of Teutonic cinematic excellence. I cannot exactly call it Bruce on Film. I can, however, call it a fantastically kistchy coming-of-age fable that parallels my own. At age 14, I inherited a 1975 El Camino. I admit, I've always loved El Caminos, but '75 wasn't what one would call a prime year for such vehicles, especially in 1990, when California smog regulations mandated regular engine swaps if one wanted to extract a modicum of performance from the 2bbl, single-exhaust, early-cat vehicle. My dad, recently able to afford mechanics, had had enough of dropping his own transmissions to save a few bucks and the paltry recompense earned from mowing lawns would have put me on schedule to buy a TPI motor in roughly an eon. Some friends thought my El Camino was awesome. Most of them were guys. Dorky guys. I wished I had a GTI numerous times. But the El Camino had an "I-will-hit-you" factor that no GTI could possibly hope to hold a candle to. And in the end, "My first car was an El Camino" carries way more cred than "Daddy bought me a GTI."

Manfred Grabowski (Sebastian Rudolph) ultimately learned the same lesson. At film's start, he's daydreaming at driving school, imagining his hottie classmate, Tina (Nadja Therese Brennicke - who looks eerily like a blonde version of my teenage French girlfriend with less in the way of T&A) menaced by a Manta in a parking garage. He sweeps in, rescuing her in a white GTI, when his gold-chain, Mantafahrer instructor shakes him out of his reverie just as he's about to get some. Through some turn of events I don't quite get (Mein Deutsch ist rusty), Fred — as he refers to himself — wins a Manta.

At his eighteenth birthday party, he's showered in foxtails, snakeskin low-cut cowboy boots and of course, the all-important foxtail. Meanwhile, having won Tina's affections after rescuing her from a bunch of lecherous GTI drivers scoping her in the shower at the squash court — after which the Manta drivers are goaded into a chase by Phil, the lead GTI-driving soft-core pornographer — Fred goes to meet Tina at work. She happens to be a hairdresser (apparently a Mantafahrer stereotype in-joke) and has just cut Phil's hair. She's also completely distraught that Fred shows up in a Manta, to the point of forcing him to drive down the street past her salon before she'll be seen getting into his car.

A scene at a club follows, where a couple of sartorially-challenged bouncers force Fred unknowingly into Mantafahrer attire, leaving him to be heckled by a horrendous lounge singer in front of Tina, who runs off with Phil to take sexy, sexy pictures at his place. Fred keys obscenities into Phil's hood. Tina catches him, slaps him and runs off. Despondent and furious at the hand the Automotive Gods have dealt him, Fred breaks out the Jerry can and attempts to set his Manta ablaze. At the last second, a six-wheeled Manta appears to push Fred's steed out of harm's way, reversing away as quickly as it arrived.

The next day, Fred swings by Sascha's garage, and the Russian emigré wrench hammers the bent bumper into place with his bare hands. The driver of the Glorious Mantamino teaches Fred some sort of lesson.

Later, a scuffle ensues, Fred ends up inducted into the Manta Club, he donuts an Opel logo into the gravel in the Manta Club's lot, and ends up chosen to compete against Phil in a Manta-vs.-GTI race. Having pleaded with Sascha for help, Fred gains use of the six-wheeled Übermanta, dons a foxtail-adorned Manta jacket and becomes "Manni." Phil tricks him into a crash during the race after luring Tina into the car, on a quest to retrieve the negatives of her sexy photoshoot. The Übermanta is halved on its longitudinal axis, but somehow still operational. In the end Phil's goons accidentally blind their leader with a banner and send the GTI into an end-over spiral that culminates in Golf flambé. Manni sets the three-wheeled Manta down, rescues Tina and carries her off to a refinery backdrop where, bruised and battered, he lives his fantasy from the beginning of the film, truly embracing his inner Manni. In the interim we're treated to a lavender Mantamino, a Polizei Manta and best of all, an amphibious Manta hatchback with questionable rear suspension. Seriously, this has to be one of the greatest automotive films of all time. If you're a fan of bucks-down Kraut hoons, that is. And what individual with any self respect isn't?

Sorry I was so long on plot, but for our Bruce-deficient readers, I thought it prudent. And ultimately, it brings me back to the reason I've fixated on both Mantas and El Caminos for much of my life. They may be dorky. They may be mulletmobiles. But they carry an inextricable aura of awesome about them. And they always have. The same cannot be said for the Camaro. Or the Firebird. Or the Mustang. All three of the latter have had fantastically amazing moments. Boss 302. COPO 427. SD455. But Mantas and El Caminos? They're always rad. They just require embracing your inner metalhead. And in some cases, your inner Teutonic mullethead. Might we recommend starting with Restless and Wild? – Davey G. Johnson

"Fast as a Shark" is a weekly electronic broadside aimed at what has been historically right and terribly wrong with the autmotive industry and culture. Somehow, we like to think that when Accept was first starting out, Udo Dirkschneider drove a Manta.

Related:
Mein Gott! Manta, Der Film! [Internal]

We can't believe we spaced on this, seeing as Venom frontman Cronos has been known to show up at Spinelli's old LasagnaFarm project from time to time. But if you needed further proof about the supremacy of the Manta, please note that Venom, who likely were attempting to be the scariest band in the world, manned their guitar chair with a bloke who called himself "Mantas" for a period of 25 years. One Manta may be poop-yer-pants awesome, but to really welcome the kids to hell, you need a bunch of 'em. Yep. – Davey G. Johnson

Drill, Mantas' New Band [Myspace]

Related:
'Oh Nein. Die Mantas.' 'Manta Manta' Ladies! [Internal]

Oh man. Where's our fruit hat? We're scamming a ticket to Ecuador from an unsuspecting produce wholesaler, just to get all immersed in the country's third-most-economically important city. A city, of course, named for Rüsselheim's most important export, the Opel Manta. Plus, it's got the largest seaport in the country, which makes it sort of like Pedro. And let's face it, harbors + Mantas + fruit hats? How can one possibly go wrong? Wait, wait, don't tell us. We don't want to know. We just want to listen to late-Ozzy-era Sabbath and Mantasize. – Davey G. Johnson

Manta, Ecuador [Wikipedia]

Related:
Isle of Manly, Isle of Manta [Internal]

According to this righteous Manta's owner, regardling the 3.5L Rover V8, "This is a rather lazy engine which is ready to be removed from the car." And that's just what this wacky Norwegian did, getting permission from the authorities to swap in the LS1 from a Firebird. Now we're thinking dry-sump. Now we're thinking over 400 inches of displacement. Now we're going all batshit-googly-eyed over the idea of an LS7 Manta. Mmmm... – Davey G. Johnson

Opel Manta V8 Power

Related:
Engine Swap of the Day: V8 Manta [Internal]

If you're a classy fella looking to impress the frauleins with your distinctive sense of style, you can't go wrong by attaching this beautiful scoop to the hood of your Manta. Be sure to install it using drywall screws! Sorry, matching wing not included. We can feel bristly blond Teutono-Mullets sprouting on our domes, just by looking at this thing! – Murilee Martin

Lexmaul Lufthutze Opel Manta Kadett Ascona [eBay.de]

Related:
eBay Find! Discriminating Mantafahrers Pas Auf! [internal]

How about this right-hand-drive, Rover-powered early Opel Manta? Not only does the body boast the best of Der General's styling, the interior has been upgraded with the addition of tasteful red-and-black upholstery. And since the Rover SD1 engine is technically a GM product, there's no cross-manufacturer blasphemy involved! – Murilee Martin

Robbie's V8 [mantamagic.com]

Related:
Mein Gott! Manta, Der Film! [internal]