In 1973, an engineer treated himself to a new Opel Manta ‘A’ SR.

Clearly a man who knew his own mind, he opted for orange paintwork, all the better to reinforce the Manta’s sporting credentials.

Because ‘HPN 363L’ also has the 1.9-litre, 90bhp engine and sweet-changing four-speed manual gearbox.

The SR trim level he paid extra for brought with it wider wheels and tyres than the base model ‘S’, plus pinstripes and an uprated instrument pack.

The car became his passion and he showed it regularly, maintaining it himself until he passed it to his son in 2019.

The handover included an assessment of the car by an expert member of the owners’ club, who is said to have rated the car as “one of the best and most original in the UK”.

His son kept it for a couple of years before handing it to his son, who in turn sold it our vendor in 2023.

Delightfully original, it has never been modified, welded, restored, or resprayed.

Always garaged and driven carefully, it has never been in an accide...