Nelsons 400r SC

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	16v Supercharged Opel Manta 400R built by NELSON STEWART 1995-2000. The 400 race kit was fitted around 1996 and although I continued to develop the car around myself, the exterior was never changed again as it was exactly how I wanted it, uncluttered and sharp. Through the eighties I watched these cars destroy much more powerful group-b Porsches and Quattros on Irish roads. Even in the Circuit of Ireland Rally, the longest most gruelling tarmac rally in Europe at the time, cars like these brought overall wins for GM every year from 1979 to 1985 leaving an indelible impression on those of us who love tarmac rallying. This car was a realisation of a boyhood dream..........................


	BEFORE: This is my 1985 Opel Manta GTE. It is wearing the Manta 400 road car livery and a set of TSW Evos on Goodyear NCT’s. I’d already fitted a Calibra 2.0 16v unit at this stage running stock injection with a Highpower Nitrous Oxide Fogger kit , no diff yet though, so lots of one wheel spinning to slow my take offs with the gas on. The car was taken out this day to my home town of Donaghadee for these photos as it had a date with an angle grinder later on. After which it would realise my dream to own a wide bodied Manta 400 Group-B rally car. The car is sound and running well, the perfect base for modifying and even though all the 400 body parts are sitting in my garage, it’s very hard to start cutting a beautiful classic car to clear the wheels which be filling my new arches.

BUILDING: At this stage the looks have not improved (no shit!). The kit was a good fit. I strengthened all the stressed areas before fitting and shaped the kit to the car with fibreglass over cling film then removed it and bonded it on with polyester resin adhesive (no rivets). There was virtually no filler in the finished car.

The bonnet and 400 Boot spoiler are original Trevor Lewis items and needed no work at all to fit. The back arches have been cut away to clear the new wheels, as has most of the metal work under the front of the car to save weight.

I have a safety devices cage fitted here and all the running gear has already been blasted and coated, before I started the kit.

If you are building one of these cars, PLEASE remember to keep the tight lines of the rear arches with as little filler as possible. It pains us to see 400 replicas with so much filler on the rear arches that they blend shaplessly into the rear quarter panels. If you want to know how to get good sharp panel fitting, just drop us an e-mail.


	The Opel Manta Owners Club Ireland www.manta400.com



	By Nelson Stewart

		Add your car here by emailing pictures and details to: pictures @ manta400.com

AFTER: This car has been designed throughout to be fast, safe reliable and very easy to maintain using few out of production or 'one off' engine/running gear components. The car is a joy to drive and is not lumpy or hesitant at low revs.
With the right combination of body/wheels/engine/interior this car turns heads without looking overdone and is constantly photographed. This car is designed to be a usable mode of transport with tremendous power and fun at the flick of a switch. The engine is strengthened, but not modified heavily so greater horsepower is achievable at the expense of fuel economy if desired (written in 98 before supercharging etc.).

BODY: Lightened Shell with full 400 kit manufactured to highest standard, The kit is designed to be easily removable for access and uses stainless steel hex-socket fixings throughout, the rear arches are fitted with polyester resin adhesive so there was no need for rivets or filler (rear arches are strong enough to support the weight of the car).
All metalwork below has been treated and stitch welded, all metal is accessible. All carbon fibre panels were made by T.Lewis, as was the bonnet, which uses the original catch and is equal to the quality of a steel item without the weight. The irmscher serial numbered 400 boot spoiler and rear bumper were specially made also as the original rubber/plastic Irmscher ones were thought to be excessively heavy.
Quad lights have 2-side, 4-dip, 4-high, lamps fitted. Using filler at all in construction was largely avoided.

INTERIOR: Sparco Super Sport lightweight Recliners with pneumatic lumbar support.
Black Vinyl Head cloth with matching new seals throughout.
Reupholstered Black/Grey Vinyl door panels with speaker pods
Electric windows and remote central locking.
Radio remote controlled ignition,(impossible to hot wire as there are no wires below the dash and remote works directly to injection ECU.)(all electronics are modular to allow easy and inexpensive replacement) Radar/Laser speed trap detection built in to dash centre console
Reupholstered dashboard with silver clocks, central digital display, auxiliary cooling/radar/nitrous and start controls. Centre console contains the Nitrous and Fuel Pressure gauges, window controls, Shift light controller, Gate Type Gearshift.
Safety Devices six point roll cage with rose-jointed removable diagonal. The car has a Sony sound system, but why use it when the engine sounds so good?
Alloy kick panels, gear knob and pedals.

Engine (as in 98):212-260bhp with N20 (switchable) , As the engine utilises the sequential injection when the N20 is not in use, the car has excellent drivability and fuel consumption is equivalent to the Calibra 2.0 16v. The engine is smooth and enjoyable to drive.
Max RPM 8000. Top Speed confirmed at 152 mph (Santa Pod)
Dressed 2.0 16v engine rebuilt with. 2.5" group-A exhaust (oval)
Steel Air Plenum with 500bhp rated pipercross filter
'High Power' 50-100bhp Nitrous Fogger Kit with anodised valves and large11 lb tank.
Carbon Fibre engine Panels and heat shields, rose jointed alternator etc.
Calibra radiator and oil cooler units.

Engine (as in 2000 to date): Modified engine to accept Vortech Supercharger


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