Manta Be Like This

From Cars and Car Conversions, July 1983

Anyone who's studied new car prices lately will know that the recently facelifted Opel Manta represents a real bargain, but its clever cosmetics makes it a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing - a factor which is doubly frustrating in view of a high quality chassis and impressive all-round potential. Fortunately Steve Thompson at ST Sport Parts in Walsall has the answer - if that is, you can't wait for the 2-litre injection car - to be sold here very shortly.

The Reliant Regal: Sheer Logic

Seven solid reasons why you can afford a car after all

1. Rising petrol costs: no problem.
   The Reliant 3-wheeler gives up to 60 m.p.g or even more. Top speed over 70. Yet there's plenty of room for 4 people and a large boot for their luggage.
   
   
2. £25 licence: no problem.
   To licence the Regal costs only £10 a year.
   
   
3. HP deposit: no problem.
   Reliant HP deposit is pounds less than for 4-wheel cars. Supervan is free of Purchase Tax too - and down payment could be 25% or less.
   
   
4. Rust: no problem.
   Reliant body and doors are made, not of metal, but of tough, reinforced glass fibre. This is why you never see a rusty-bodied Reliant: why Reliants need no garage. Glass fibre cannot rust, ever.
   
   
5. Maintenance, repairs: no problem.
   The engine block is all aluminium like a Rolls Royce's; it can handsomely outlast a cast-iron engine. And the body, being glass fibre, minimises the effect of any accident, so repairs are cheaper.
   
   The Regal, weighing under 8cwt., is also very easy on tyres. Average life is forty thousand miles. Only three tyres to replace anyway!
   
   
6. Replacing your car: no problem.
   All cars depreciate but Reliants depreciate less than other cars. This means they command a good re-sale price when you buy your next Reliant.
   
   
7. Insurance costs up: no problem.
   You can insure the Regal for as little as £10 a year depending on circumstances and type of cover.
   

See Reliant items for sale in my shop.

The Zagato Zimp

It's the well dressed one...

Small Car takes a longer look at the Imp's rich new relation

From Small Car Magazine, January 1965

Last month we showed you what Zagato could do to Rootes's rather prosaic smallest son with the elegant Zimp. This month we're going to show you what the Zimp itself can do in a full-scale road test. After dogging the stand throughout the Earls Court Show, we managed to grab one of the prototypes for seven days' hard thrashing just before it left to join its fellows at the tail-end of the 46th Salone di Torino.

Minnow-Fish Turbo Avenger

One hundred and fifty bhp from a 1498cc Avenger engine when most tuners are struggling to achieve 120 sounds incredible, but when it's done without spoiling tractability it sounds impossible.

From CCC Magazine, January 1972