Angler discovers Opel Manta wreck in Danube, drawing crowds

An angler's discovery in the Danube River has unearthed a piece of automotive history: an Opel Manta believed to have lain submerged for over half a century. Found near Elchingen in the Neu-Ulm district, the iconic cult car was located at a depth of approximately five meters.

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What the rain washes away can go, but the rest is truly a morbid work of art in the broadest sense.

The vehicle, identified as a Manta A and likely from around 1970, is in a state of severe disrepair. Rust and mud cover its surfaces, the roof is damaged, and its tires are flat. Despite its condition, the car has become a morbid curiosity, drawing between 50 to 100 visitors daily to the Oldtimer factory in Neu-Ulm, where it is currently exhibited. "What the rain washes away can go, but the rest is truly a morbid work of art in the broadest sense," said managing director Peter Wirsching.

Efforts to retrieve the car involved over seven hours and more than 50 emergency personnel, including divers, the fire department, and the Technical Relief Agency. The car's distinctive yellow paint has been partially revealed as the Danube mud washes away. The Manta holds a significant place in pop culture, particularly the Manta B model, which was popular among tuners and enthusiasts in the 1970s and 80s, often associated with a specific youth and working-class culture.

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We have 50 to 100 people every day who come, stand and look.

The owner of the submerged Manta remains unknown. A witness suggested the car was stolen from her ex-husband in 1972, though how it ended up in the river is unclear. The finder has reportedly offered to leave the Manta to the Oldtimer factory, where it continues to capture the public's imagination.

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The Manta sparks the imagination.