Description:

SUMMARY

Campaigned by Jimmy McRae, Russell Brookes and later Steve Davies/Roger Jones, ADZ 4330 remained a 'Works' entry until 1989. Fully restored and sporting its early Andrews/GMDS plumage, it's been enjoyed by our vendor since 2002 as a much-invited participant in many high-profile rally-related UK events. An important part of British rallying history from the epic Group B era.

DESCRIPTION

The story of the Opel Manta 400 is a familiar one to anyone who was a follower of the crazy days of Group B rallying and their sibling road cars built by the major manufacturers in whatever homologation quantity was required. Developed from its Ascona predecessor, the Manta was always popular with the crowds - lots of power, not much weight and a propensity to attack stages sideways. However by the time it was ready to rally, the game had moved on, the Audi Quattro showing the rest of the field that four-wheel drive was going to be a requirement in the WRC. Nevertheless, that didn't stop the Manta from achieving cult hero status on British and European stages, with its raspy sound, lively handling and iconic liveries, the Andrews Heat for Hire with Russell Brookes and Mike Broad being a particular favourite and winning over a lot of fans.

The homologation Manta road car was named '400' because that was the number of examples of the old Ascona that were required by the regulations at that point, however, by the time the Manta was ready to compete only 200 road cars were required and, having built a total of 245 examples, Manta 400 production ceased. The vast majority of those 245 cars were built in left-hand drive, including all Works competition cars, except for two international rally cars built specifically for UK rally stars Russel Brookes and Jimmy McRae who insisted in having right-hand drive cars.

This Works Group B Opel Manta 400 rally car (ADZ 4330) has enjoyed both national and international success in the British and World Rally Championships between 1985 and 1989 making its world debut with legendary Scottish driver, Jimmy McRae, wearing AC Delco livery in the Lombard RAC Rally of 1985 and finishing 6th overall.

Following on from their outright Championship win in the British Rally Championship in 1985, the famous Midlands pairing of Russell Brookes and Mike Broad were keen to sample the latest factory developments and subsequently took over this slightly later car for the whole of the 1986 season. They went on to finish all rounds, a feat achieved by very few, and were consistently in the top five ending the season second overall in the RAC Open Rally Championship. Their best event result was second in that season’s Circuit of Ireland rally. For 1987 they enjoyed their second season in the car gaining best results of second overall in the National Breakdown Rally and winning the Welsh International Rally outright. The car was then driven in 1988 by the rapid Welsh pairing of Steve Davies/Roger Jones winning the Manx Rally outright and finishing second on the Audi Sport Rally. 4330's final season as a Works car was in 1989 when it achieved notoriety through a very popular second place overall on the Tour de Corse, driven by the quick German pairing of Schar and Muller.

Subsequently, it was acquired in 1990 by a Swiss collector, Mr Kuno Schar, and fully restored retaining its engine, gearbox and running gear and using as many original components as possible before being purchased from him in 2002  by our vendor who was keen to reunite it with its sister factory car which he also owned. It already had a steel cage fitted allowing our vendor to immediately use it in some smaller events where it proved competitive on tarmac rallies for the following few years until 2010 since when it has been used only for demonstration purposes and is regularly invited to the Festival of Speed at Goodwood, Race Retro at Stoneleigh, Rally Days etc.

We understand from our vendor that in his ownership the engine was rebuilt by Swindon Race Engines and later refreshed by Anderson Race Engines. Usage over the last few years has been light with very low mileage, however, it's regularly started and maintained by a professional team. Believed to be 'on the button' but, as with any competition car, interested parties should check the currency and suitability of any safety-related equipment (seats, belts, cage, tank, extinguishers etc.)

Alongside its sibling (ADZ 31), ADZ 4330 is fresh to market for the first time in many, many years and this is another extremely rare opportunity to acquire an important part of British rallying history from the epic Group B era.

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