Opel Ascona 400 and Manta 400

Opel won the 1982 world title with the Ascona 400 and then built the Manta 400 for Group B. It was a classic rally car — front engine, rear-wheel drive, beautifully balanced — but it had no answer to four-wheel drive.

Opel Manta 400 — indicative

Engine2,410 cc four-cylinder, 16 valves (Cosworth cylinder head), naturally aspirated, front-mounted
Powerapprox. 260–275 hp (rally)
Driverear wheels
Weightapprox. 960 kg (minimum)
Production245 built for homologation
PartnersIrmscher (body/interior), Cosworth (cylinder head)
Best WRC result2nd, 1984 Safari (Rauno Aaltonen)
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The Ascona 400 and the 1982 title

The Ascona 400 was still a Group 4 car, but was allowed to compete in the transition year of 1982. Walter Röhrl and Christian Geistdörfer won Monte Carlo and the Ivory Coast with it and collected so many podiums that they became world champions despite only two wins. In 1983 Ari Vatanen won the Safari in an Ascona 400. See 1982 season.

The Manta 400

For Group B, Opel developed the Manta 400 together with tuner Irmscher and Britain’s Cosworth. Cosworth supplied a 16-valve cylinder head for the existing engine block, while Irmscher handled, among other things, the exterior with its distinctive spoilers. 245 were built.

In the World Championship the Manta 400 could show well on asphalt and on rough events, but not against Audi and Lancia. Jimmy McRae finished third on the 1983 RAC Rally; Rauno Aaltonen second on the 1984 Safari. The car’s greatest success came in national championships, notably in Britain (where Russell Brookes and Jimmy McRae drove it in those years), and in the European championship.

An Opel Manta 400 in 'Andrews' colours, as driven by Russell Brookes in the British championship.
An Opel Manta 400 in ‘Andrews’ colours, as driven by Russell Brookes in the British championship.Photo: Lukeno94 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Röhrl’s 1982 title-winning car and its Group B successor: rear-wheel drive, a Cosworth cylinder head and most of its success in national championships.

Opel and Group B

Opel then abandoned the idea of a four-wheel-drive Group B car. After 1986 Opel switched to Group A with the Kadett GSi. See Opel for the team, which was led in the title year of 1982 by Tony Fall as director of the Opel Motorsport Team.

Walter Röhrl’s Group 4 Opel Ascona 400, as used on the 1982 Ivory Coast Rally where he sealed the title.Photo: Steffs88 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

European and national championships

The Manta 400 won national titles across Europe: in Germany (Erwin Weber, 1983), France (Guy Fréquelin, 1983 and 1985), Britain (Jimmy McRae 1984, Russell Brookes 1985), Ireland (Billy Coleman 1984, Austin McHale 1985 and 1986) and the Netherlands (Jan van der Marel, 1984 and 1985). See European and national championships.

Results in the World Rally Championship

World Rally Championship podiums of the car (all evolutions), year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982
2wins
10 podiums
1983
1win
2 podiums
1984
0wins
1 podium
1985
0wins
0 podiums
1986
0wins
0 podiums

3 WRC wins · 13 podium finishes, 1982–1986

Photo gallery 4 photos

Historic Group B cars photographed at events, demonstrations and museums; each caption states where and when.

Opel Manta 400R (1985) at Capesthorne Hall, 2014
Opel Manta 400R (1985) at Capesthorne Hall, 2014Photo: SG2012 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
1984 Opel Manta 400 at the Cheruskerfahrt, Detmold, 2016
1984 Opel Manta 400 at the Cheruskerfahrt, Detmold, 2016Photo: Tsungam via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
1983 Opel Manta 400 at Rétromobile 2017
1983 Opel Manta 400 at Rétromobile 2017Photo: Thesupermat via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
1984 Opel Manta 400 at the Cheruskerfahrt, Detmold, 2017
1984 Opel Manta 400 at the Cheruskerfahrt, Detmold, 2017Photo: Tsungam via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Further resources

All Group B resources →

More from Cars

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN), Opel Manta (Manta 400) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opel_Manta
  2. Wikipedia (EN), 1982 World Rally Championship — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982_World_Rally_Championship
  3. Wikipedia (EN), Walter Röhrl — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_R%C3%B6hrl
  4. Wikipedia (EN), Group B (team managers) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_B

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

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Thumbnail photos on this page: Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); HombreDHojalata (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); 先従隗始 (Wikimedia Commons, CC0); Alf van Beem (Wikimedia Commons, Public domain); SG2012 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0); MrWalkr (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0).