PP Tuning in Louth has made a complete stainless steel exhaust from scratch for a 1972 Opel Manta 1900. The car needed a new system and the owner could not find a suitable replacement, so the workshop on Fairfield Industrial Estate built one to fit.
Not many cars from the early 1970s turn up at a modern workshop, and fewer still leave with a hand-built exhaust. That is what makes this job worth a look. It also shows what a custom exhaust can do for an older car when the shelf parts have run out.
A 54-Year-Old Manta Needing Something New
The Manta in question is over 50 years old, and its original exhaust had given up. Finding a ready-made replacement for a car like this is rarely simple. Production of parts for older models often stops, and the few that survive can be expensive or the wrong shape. The owner searched without luck and brought the car to PP Tuning.
Jason at the workshop took the job on. Instead of adapting a system from another car, he fabricated the whole exhaust from scratch to suit the Manta.
Why Mandrel Bends Matter
The pipework is mandrel bent. In simple terms, a mandrel supports the inside of the tube as it is bent, so the bend stays smooth and the pipe keeps its full width. The cheaper alternative is crush bending, which can squash the tube at the corner and narrow the gas path. PP Tuning says the mandrel method avoids both narrowing and crushing, and it uses the technique across its custom exhausts.
The Manta's system is stainless steel, which resists rust far better than the mild steel exhausts that were standard in 1972. On its business page PP Tuning describes its systems as made in-house from Grade 304 stainless steel.
What Else the Workshop Makes
The Manta is a good example of a wider speciality. PP Tuning builds custom stainless exhausts for cars, vans, motorcycles and classic vehicles, from everyday models to heavily modified performance builds. We have also covered a 1996 camper that received a stainless steel exhaust. The firm also remaps engines, and there is more on that, along with its address and phone number, on its inLouth page.
If You Have an Older Car Needing an Exhaust
PP Tuning's advice is simple. If you have an older car and cannot find a replacement exhaust, get in touch, because a custom-made system may be the answer. The workshop's website has a shop for ready-made systems, mostly for VW vans, and a route to a quote for other vehicles. The full story of the Manta is on the PP Tuning blog, and the workshop's home page shows the rest of what it does.
The website says fabricated stainless pipework that PP Tuning supplies and fits carries a five-year warranty, with the terms set out on the site. Check them for your own car before you book.